Differential side bearing retainer problem?

[ttmuench]

Well I'm a bit baffled. I have a 1994 Legacy L wagon with an automatic transaxel. I notice the my front passenger side inner CV joint had moved away from the center differential. Additionally the spring pin is still in place. In fact, it appears that a portion of the center differential has come free and moved away from the differential with the axel. I can see the cross hatched sections on the differential output shaft.

 

I have not yet begun trying to remove the axel in order to get a better look. Has this happened to anyone else? Is there anything I should do or avoid doing when I take things appart. Does the side bearing retainer screw into the differential case? Is it reasonable to think that this might be repaired with the transaxel still in the car? Please comment.

[tcspeer]

I dont know how much movement you are taking about, but mine also has some movement in and out. I also dont know if it is normal, but it has been that way for years.

[avk]

The stub shaft is held in the diff. with a C-clip. It probably just snapped out. Don't know why but maybe you do.

[ttmuench]

Re: Differential side bearing retainer problem?

The stub shaft is held in the diff. with a C-clip. It probably just snapped out. Don't know why but maybe you do.

 

 

 

I recently changed my struts, perhaps the c-clip somehow worked itself loose while the steering knuckle was detached from the strut.

 

Will the internals of the differential fall out of place if I fully remove the stub shaft? Guess I'm wondering if I can take the stub shaft out without causing more problems.

[avk]

If the clip and everything else isn't damaged, the shaft should snap back in. That's what the book says but I didn't have to do it myself.

[idosubaru]

nothing should be damaged. normally this isn't a big deal at all. like just mentioend those splined stubby shafts just pull in and out. they are typically tough to get out, just require a little yanking. you can probably push it back in without even taking anything apart. just get under there and push it in by hand or use some tools to get some leverage. might get away without requiring any parts removal or anything.

 

if you needed more axle play to get it in you could loosen the axle nut to give you more play. but i can't imagine you'd have to do all that. just get under there and press it back in.

 

i would not keep driving it like this. i wouldn't drive it like this at all. the CV sholudn't have enough room to pull all the way out but at highway speed or torquing around a turn i don't want to know what could happen.

[ttmuench]

Well I've gotta give the site some props. Your prompt replies were all very helpful... thanks.

 

So I put the car up on a lift this afternoon and pulled the axel (had to do it anyway... outer CV boot was leaking). Then I was able to pull the axel stub out from the differential and it came out with no resistance. I inspected the female and male splines, cleaned the axel stub and pounded it back in. Next, I check for axial play in the axel stub and found there was very little (perhaps this answers tcspeers question). So I proceded to replace the CV boot and put everything back together. Case closed.

 

I feel like I dodged a bullet...was thinking it could have been much worse... Guess, I should have taken a bit more care when swapping out the suspension dampers.