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02 imprez ob sport wagon rear axles

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Does anyone know where to get these! I have tried all of my local resources and nobody even has a listing. I haven't been able to check the junkyards ( all closed today) But I'm in a jam and need some parts asap.

My wife took the car and heard a loud pop and then it started grinding. I thought it might have been clutch/tranny, but I had her pull foward while I was behind looking underneath the car and I could see the pass side rear axle spinning, but the cars not moving. I jacked up the pass rear wheel and the outer cv joint is stripped...boot is good. My other question is if my car is awd...5sp manual why wern't the other 3 wheels driving the car. My tranny transferred the power to the wheel the was slipping not the wheel that was gripping....do I also have a tranny problem? Any and all help is appreciated. Thanks all. PS tranny replaced @98k with one that had 18k...car now has 151k. 02 impereza outback sport wagon awd 2.5L 5sp manual.

i would contact MWE and order an axle from them or get a Subaru axle (used from a yard or from Subaru). aftermarket axles are junk. you could probably even post in the Parts wanted forum here and get a hit. i can't stress how rare it is for a rear axle to fail, they are a dime a dozen to find used because they just don't break.

 

you could have a differential or transmission (center diff) issue as well. a rear diff problem should have been accompanied by noises prior to this happening and the center diff should have been accompanied by torque bind prior to this happening as well. do a search on here for "torque bind" to see if those symptoms are charateristic of anything you've had. hopefully you rotate your tires and keep a matching set on there. you need to for these 4WD transmissions.

  • Author

Thanks grossgary...I'm well versd in torque bind...that's why tranny was repalced in the first place, no binding now.

no problem.

that's why tranny was repalced in the first place, no binding now.
this may have weakend the axle in the first place.
My other question is if my car is awd...5sp manual why wern't the other 3 wheels driving the car. My tranny transferred the power to the wheel the was slipping not the wheel that was gripping....

 

Can't fully answer this but with an open differential, the wheel with the less resistance always gets all the power. Ever get just one wheel on an ice patch? It always spins.

Ever get just one wheel on an ice patch? It always spins.
huck and moody say the late 90's OBS has an LSD center diff of some sort. just regurgitating though, i have no idea.

I can highly recommend MWE for the axle. I just got two rears for my 97 OBW, fast, reasonable, helpful, and perfect - what more can I say.

MWE ftw!!!!

 

I have a front axle and it's great, came in a timely fashion -esp. since they're so far away from me

  • Author

OK...all's well. I got an axle from local yard....50 bucks...not too bad I guess. Actually I bought both for the rear just in case the other side decides to go out on me. I talked to my tranny guy and he said that most awd's will act just like mine did... he had a vw in two weeks ago that totally dropped one axle an the car would not move at all. As far as replacement goes...the job was a breeze except for that #%&* 10" controll arm bolt. It took about 75 minuets to get that out...total time to get the axle out was an hour and 40min....only 40 min to put her back togther. Not bad for a first timer! Thanks for the help and replys.

Ken.

good score. an actual Subaru used axle is far more reliable than a new store bought axle. the only issue is the rubber boots, used ones have the obvious possibility of being dry rotted or cracked.

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