I get a pretty loud bang from the center when hard accelerating on ice. I assume the basket in the tailshaft is worn. 4EAT 200k miles. 

Engine is a 50k rebuild by https://www.ssisubiespecialists.com/. It's been incredibly strong.

There are plenty of transmissions at the local pick-apart. I want to pick up the lowest mileage one.

I mean. it's pretty much the same job right? The biggest pain as I remember is the preliminary removal of the exhaust and driveshaft, with all those associated corroded parts.

I could remove the rear cover on the new just to check. It's almost worth the $150 to try it. (+$30 for diveshaft)

https://luckyselfserve.com/inventory/?make=subaru&model=forester&listing_order=year&listing_orderby=ASC

Other than you are in the rust belt.  I always pick a car that has been hit hard, at least that way you know it was on the road and driving.  Then check mileage and condition.  Finally, pull the drain plug and put your finger in the hole to check for bad stuff in the pan.  The trans will be drained but there is always some still in there.   The auto trans is very heavy.  

Cleaning the old gasket material off the trans is a pain with it still installed in the car.  Are you going to swap the complete transmission?  

Have you put it into FWD with the fuse to see what changes?

On 3/9/2024 at 8:17 PM, lmdew said:

Have you put it into FWD with the fuse to see what changes?

It only bangs when it's slipping on ice, and there is no ice now.  I'm pretty sure it's the clutch basket in the tailshaft.

I'v pulled the tranny before to seal the separator plate, so I know it's doable.
Yes, the bet on a used transmission is sketchy. A wreck is best, like you said. I think I can go up to 2003 without a TCU change.

Probably transfer clutches. Get them new, and fix it. You don't have to pull the transmission, and a used trans is likely to also have worn clutches.

 

Also inspect all rear suspension and diff bushings. AWD could be engaging normally, but a bushing is clunking when it's loaded.

I picked up an automatic 99 Forester 189K.  Some banging when shifting from Park to Rev and Rev to Drive.  

The FWD mode did not change the symptoms.   Inspection of the driveshaft and rear diff. did not show excessive play.

It does have aftermarket front halfshafts.  When I get to it, those will be replaced with Subaru parts and I'll check the front diff play.

On 3/13/2024 at 11:33 AM, Numbchux said:

Probably transfer clutches. Get them new, and fix it. You don't have to pull the transmission, and a used trans is likely to also have worn clutches.

 

Also inspect all rear suspension and diff bushings. AWD could be engaging normally, but a bushing is clunking when it's loaded.

Thanks. I assumed it was the basket that got grooved, and needed to be replaced, but I don't see many references to that.

I suppose they could be filed out.

The noise is a pretty loud bang right under the center when it hits.

Edited March 29, 20242 yr by uniberp1

Yea, I've heard of people filing grooves out of the cage/basket. But that typically locks the clutches on or off. 

The bang suggests to me that the clutches are working, but something is moving when they engage. I would closely inspect all rubber bushings/mounts before considering tearing into the transmission. It could also be worn clutches not engaging when they should. Or both....

Could it be torn rear diff or trans mount bushings?  

On 4/1/2024 at 10:40 PM, idosubaru said:

Could it be torn rear diff or trans mount bushings?  

My thought exactly, yes.

I had a similar noise with my 98 manual, heavy chunk, sometimes a metallic ‘bang’ when shifting hard on Kansas travel roads (similar to ice conditions). I replaced engine and transmission mounts and cured it. Visually, they looked fine, but once removed I could see the metal to metal contact.