another view from the bottom sorry bout the crappy quality you can see the left front driver wheel barely able to move in comparison with passenger side left front wheel, possible bad wheel bearing? 

 

close up 

noticeably more grease seeping out of the cv joint boot area where the clamp is than the passenger side

Edited January 27, 20179 yr by louipaw

Bad lower ball joint?

I had the exact same thing and it was the the short shaft between the axle and the trans that was bad.  Thought it was a bad tranny cuz the whole car was lurching around, but was the short shaft.  I see your front wheel spinning and the right wheel going.  That would fit.  

I had the exact same thing and it was the the short shaft between the axle and the trans that was bad.  Thought it was a bad tranny cuz the whole car was lurching around, but was the short shaft.  I see your front wheel spinning and the right wheel going.  That would fit.  

 

Im going to give it a shot, thanks!!

I'm really hoping that's what it is, thanks so much for your input

So I figured out what the problem is! I pulled out the axle and ran the test again with all wheels in the air and on D position and sure enough the clunking you hear in the videos is coming from inside the differential arghh!    ! I hope this helps someone in search for an answer to their clunking noise coming from the front suspension, in this case, the driver side. This bad bit*h is going to the shop immediately and will be back and rumbling!

Edited January 30, 20179 yr by louipaw

Thanks everyone!

I didn't help much- I thought the video you shot earlier was of the rear diff!

You still tried to help so that is what matters! Thanks for your time. I am either going to buy a new or used diff and replace it myself apparently it isn't that hard of a job or just take it to a well known local subie shop and have them rebuild the whole tranny at once.

If the front pinion gear is chewed up you're almost better off to just get a used trans.

It can be swapped but the trans has to come out of the car to do the work anyway. Changing a differential and pinion shaft isn't just a parts slap kinda job. Clearances have to be measured and pinionndepth and backlash has to be set properly or the new diff will just get chewed up and you'll be right back in the same situation in a few months.

Not sure what year/model, but if you get a used trans from 2004 (if your car earlier) or from before 2004 (if yours a 2004) there will probably be some parts in the tail housing that need to be swapped.

You guys are absolutely right! I'm just going to get a full rebuild. Thanks all! I hope this thread can be useful to someone looking for answers!

I think my 01 Fozzy just developed this.  Daughter was driving it yesterday and big clunk, then a big clunk each tire rev that got worse apparently.  Got it towed home.

 

Jacked it up with all four wheels off the ground and in drive to do some testing and without engine load there is no noise.  Spinning the wheels by hand does not generate the clunk.  Once you give it some gas (~2k rpm) the wheels spin with enough power to feel the clunk.  I thought it sounded like a bad inner CV joint on the passenger side.  I replaced the passenger half shaft and the big clunk is still there.  

Edited April 20, 20187 yr by upnorthguy

Install the FWD fuse, what happens?

Is it still drivable, it drove home?

Definitely not driveable more than a few feet without feeling like one of the wheels is going to fly off.  The clunk is very significant.  I had it towed home (I realize my statement that I "got it home" was way too generic!). 

 

For shiz and giggles, I'll install the FWD fuse later and see what happens.

 

After searching for a decent walkthrough of the 4EAT removal/install, I just finally found it in the FSM (it was in the engine section,  not the transmission or transmission/differential).  I think I'll be in the market for a used tranny.  I think best fit is a 4EAT from a 00-02, right?

Edited April 20, 20187 yr by upnorthguy

Both of these sound like the old L series auto box failures - the diff loses oil, pinion bearing runs dry and dies. The pinion shaft then walks itself into the diff centre. Can be a very nasty way to stop your car!

 

I'd be keen to see some autopsy pics to see what was causing the clunk.

 

Cheers

 

Bennie

Hey whats up guys, my problem was a chewed up front diff.

 

I replaced it, added a six inch lift and was beast till I wrecked it.

 

Here is a picture of my outback.

 

On 4/21/2018 at 7:26 PM, el_freddo said:

Both of these sound like the old L series auto box failures - the diff loses oil, pinion bearing runs dry and dies. The pinion shaft then walks itself into the diff centre. Can be a very nasty way to stop your car!

 

I'd be keen to see some autopsy pics to see what was causing the clunk.

 

Cheers

 

Bennie

 

If autopsy pics become available I will certainly share!

Update: No "open body" autopsy was done.  Diagnosis was likely a bad pinion gear (or more) and the entire transmission was swapped.

Edited July 9, 20187 yr by upnorthguy
Update