Helo all,

I'm new to Subaru's as I just bought one to fix up a bit and use as a daily. I got a 1995 legacy L and I'm pretty sure the rear diff is gone. I was driving home home (the Diff was bad when I purchased it, only paid 400 so what can you do) it was making a howling noise then clanked 3 times and all the sudden no more noise. It didn't lock up and I still got the car home but after looking to see what happened I found small chunks of metal and some shavings. I can't tell exactly what the chunks are but they're thin maybe some form of spacer? Anyone have knowledge with this kind of issue? Thanks for any help in advance.

Edited September 15, 20169 yr by Mwood92

Just curious. You found chunks of metal but no mention of leaking differential fluid. Wondering how the chunks, if they originated from inside the differential, ended up outside the case without cracking the case. 

Well the diff itself is not leaking, this is what I found in the fluid after draining what was in there out. I'm still not exactly sure what the pieces are. The car still drives, and there's still no noise coming from the rear but I'm still unsure. Tomorrow morning I'll have the car up on Jack stands so I can actually take the cover off.

They were thin smaller chunks just a small amount but still not normal obviously. Not from any bigger parts but still didn't cause it to lock up...

OK, now I understand. Don't know about your locale but around here Subaru differentials are a dime a dozen. 

Well I haven't gotten around to looking yet as I just got the car 2 days ago, it still drives and what not without any weird noises now but I'm afraid something worse could happen. Over all for 400 I can't complain the rear diff is the only issue everything else works great. I drove it around the block and it seemed OK but it bugs me that I don't know what got crunched up in there. I see a good bit of Subaru's on the road where I live in AZ so I'm assuming do ding a replacement shouldn't be too difficult but now I just want to feed my curiosity and find out what exactly happened

Well I haven't gotten around to looking yet as I just got the car 2 days ago, it still drives and what not without any weird noises now but I'm afraid something worse could happen. Over all for 400 I can't complain the rear diff is the only issue everything else works great. I drove it around the block and it seemed OK but it bugs me that I don't know what got crunched up in there. I see a good bit of Subaru's on the road where I live in AZ so I'm assuming finding a replacement shouldn't be too difficult but now I just want to feed my curiosity and find out what exactly happened

Edited September 16, 20169 yr by Mwood92

LKQ or car-part.com

 

must be same final drive ratio as front diff

Edited September 16, 20169 yr by 1 Lucky Texan

Spiders maybe broke. Presumably you have no drive to the rear wheels.

 

A chunk could migrate and make something interesting happen.

Broken gears would have left big chunks but they may not be able to get out through the drain plug.

 

Possibke the trans or rear diff were replaced before and the final drive ratios were mismatched.

The automatics have some problems with the transfer clutches and can cause the transfer drum to shear off. This causes no drive to the rear wheels which would give you front wheel drive only.

On wet pavement or dirty take of quickly to see if the awd is working or if there is no power going to the rear wheels.

Well I wasn't able to get the rear up today but I did try taking off on some more slick areas not much seemed to happen besides just forward movement, maybe I need to gas it more but I'm hoping tomorrow evening after work I can get it lifted up and take a look