Ok, I just installed two new GCK axles on my 89 Hatch. I didin't replace the wheel bearings or seals since the seals looked great and the bearings haven't given my any complaints. Anyway, I've done this job a dozen time or more, which comes with owning Subaru's, so I feel as if I did it right.

But, know there is a terrible vibration during acceleration as if I have a bad DOJ! It shakes the whole car! The first trip it was just a bit during the first 20 feet or so, but now (after 70 miles on the new axles) anytime I accelerate.

These are the GCK units I bought from the Amazon site, so returns may be a hassle.

 

Any ideas on what else could have caused this? I'll dig deeper this weekend.

they are definitely the correct axles? the noise isn't the splines stripping is it? i know you'd pick up on that, but just checking. can you tell which side it's coming from? did it do this before? you could try reinstalling one of the old axles to see if it goes away.

Really tight new axles will often make other issues more pronounced - like bad transmission mounts or engine mounts. If the mounts suck the tight axle may be moving the whole tranny.

 

GD

Vibration on acceleration that goes away instantly on letting off the gas is a definite symptom of a bad DOJ. I've seen the vibration so slight a mechanic not used to my car didn't notice it; also so bad it felt like the transmission was falling out of its mounts. I'm with the bad DOJ side on this, even if they are new. I'd take them back and replace them.

doj ?

Double offset joint. The inner CV joint is of this type. Really two cv's put together. Keeps the wheels turning the same rpm thru out a turn. Right?

Keeps the wheels turning the same rpm thru out a turn. Right?

That's the outer joint's (CVJ) job. DOJ just adjusts for changes in the length of the axle as the suspension moves up and down since it doesn't have to drastically change angles in a turn.

I've had the exact same thing happen to my GCK axle. I bought it brand new from autozone, noticed it had a bit of a stiff spot out of the box, put it in, and I get a vibration on acceleration. The first couple of hunderd miles were hell, it's gotten a bit better now but it's still there.

 

I'm trying to break it to trade it in on it's lifetime warranty.

I've had the exact same thing happen to my GCK axle. I bought it brand new from autozone, noticed it had a bit of a stiff spot out of the box, put it in, and I get a vibration on acceleration. The first couple of hunderd miles were hell, it's gotten a bit better now but it's still there.

 

I'm trying to break it to trade it in on it's lifetime warranty.

Stiff out of the box is normal; vibration on acceleration is not; if it vibrates on acceleration, it's broken, tell them you want a new one and will turn in the old one when it's replaced.

By stiff out of the box I mean there was one angle you could not make the outer joint go by hand, the rest of it's rotation you could push it through by hand. The right hand axle on my car felt fine out of the box and it's worked great. I've chipped the CV boot on that one though, so I'll have to glue it a bit to keep the grease in.

The car always had a vibration at highway speeds, 60 mph +, but never on acceleration. It feels like its more on the left(drivers) side too. I may have time on sunday to switch out the new GCK with the old ones and we'll see what that does. All because of a torn inner boot! It wasn't even making noise but I wanted to take advantage of the price on amazon.com, which means I may have a hassle returning them!

Its really easy to return, by the way. They are like Walmart (no hassle). Just click the return button in your account on Amazon and explain why. Quite simple.

 

I know, because I had to return an axle because I ordered the wrong one since GCK's application guide mislead me!

Its really easy to return, by the way. They are like Walmart (no hassle). Just click the return button in your account on Amazon and explain why. Quite simple.

 

I know, because I had to return an axle because I ordered the wrong one since GCK's application guide mislead me!

 

Awesome! I was worried about that.

I had a similar problem I took my axle apart and re greased it.. That seems to have fixed the problem

Well, I replaced the drivers side axle and it's still shaking. Aparently there's a problem with something else.

try redoing the berrings its a little more work but my 1980 did the same thing replaced the berring and vibration went bye bye.

As I said - the tight, NEW axle is making something else more pronounced. Possibly bearings sugested by the previous poster. Have to do some digging to figure it out probably.

 

GD

I know, I just don't want to replace everything on the front end in order to fix it. I only paid 400 for the car, I really don't want to put another 400 in it. This isn't the fist time I replaced axles, but it's the first time I had a vibration afterwards.

When I took it apart, the bearings and seals where not the originals, either where the axles for that matter. It does need at least one ball joint so maybe I'll put it back on the "to do list" once I get the parts.