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tow dolly, 86 subaru 4x4

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hello all fellow subaru nuts and gurus, i am planning on towing a gl 4x4 manual trans from pheonex to detroit, do i have to remove the rear driveshaft, or can i just put the xfer case in nuetral, as well as the transmission. ? if i need to remove the shaft, what size wrench is it 12 mm 10 mm. i dont want to bring a whole lot of tools thru the airport, never had a 4x4 gl, i want a rust free western car, i plan on flying out and getting a classified paper, or craigs list.. thats my idea of a true vacation... subie huntin :headbang: any help is much Appreciated

Put 4WD shifter in 2WD and tow with the front wheels off the ground. No need to remove the driveshaft as long as its a part time 4wd manual.

  • Author

thanks mike youre awsome, if i end up finding a cool car, im looking for a unmolested rust free car, 4x4 manual two speed xfer case, dosent even need to run, i have 10 days to pull it off, wish me luck

  • Author

if its an automatic transmission but a manual transfer case(ie two speed )do i still have to remove the drv shaft ?

Manual transfer case? All PT4WD Automatic are pushbutton 4WD, and the rear transfer clutch is activated electronically.

 

I believe with the automagics, you need to disconnect the driveshaft to prevent damage to the transfer clutch. Just unbolt it from the rear diff, then tie up somehow. Or remove the rear section by unbolting it from the diff and the from the front section. Removing the whole driveshaft will cause the fluid to run out. So if you do that, just fill it back up when you get home.

  • Author

cool ,understood, just like the older rear wheel drive cars, thanks man , shoupe rocks :headbang:

Not entirely sure about this, but I would beg to differ about not having to disconnect the driveshaft on manual cars. Without the countershaft spinning, how are the rear output shaft bearings being lubricated?

 

I've towed several soobs on dolleys before, and I've always taken the driveshaft off because it's not worth the risk in my opinion.

 

BTW, all you need is a single 12 mm box end wrech.

Not entirely sure about this, but I would beg to differ about not having to disconnect the driveshaft on manual cars. Without the countershaft spinning, how are the rear output shaft bearings being lubricated?

Then could one tow with the rear wheels off the ground and the fronts on the ground? (I dunno if that'd even be safe?)

Not entirely sure about this, but I would beg to differ about not having to disconnect the driveshaft on manual cars. Without the countershaft spinning, how are the rear output shaft bearings being lubricated?

 

 

Doesn't matter, with the nose up on a dolly, the rear bearings will be bathed in oil (also handy for finding a leaking output seal).

When I got my new place we pulled my brat on a tow dolley, didn't disconnect anything. Granted it wasn't a long trip, maybe like 20 miles. But it didn't have any problems that I notcied

I think it's 12mm for the bolts on the driveshaft.

 

You, sir, would be correct. However on both the brat and legacy I've recently removed the d/s from I had to have two wrenches. The flange didn't hold the bolts at all from turning.

i have towed a couple of hundred miles on all fours with a tow bar and never had any probs afterward.just neutral. thats it.cheers, brian

when i towed my xt-6 i just disconnected the rear drive shaft its 8 12mm bolts takes 5 min and is worth the peace of mind, my car is ft4wd so i had to do it but still its a good idea.

my .02

jeff

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