A Very Sad (new to) Forester Owner - :/ Please help Sub-Vets!! Details INSIDE>

Hi there, fellow Forester Fans -
First, I was 'talked' into buying a Forester after I mentioned to a fellow co-worker/Sub-lover that I liked the way they look..proven to be a bad move thus far.

After I've owned this thing for 2 weeks, a 'click' turned into a 'clunk' and finally; loud banging as the driveshaft seperated from itself. So, I just have a couple quick questions - I won't bother you guys long :/

1. Can you replace just the carrier bearing (I've read otherwise on other forums/people's post, but you can never be certain from those)

2. If not ^^, Which driveshafts will work, are better?, etc? My co-worker/Sub lover insists that the Forester is simply an Impreza with a different body, so I assume those will work.

3. Where do I get one? Are used ones okay if they have no signs of significant wear? Although, I don't want to have to go through this again..

Thank you for all of your help and as soon as this is fixed, be on the look out for a very nice Forester for sale here w/ a new motor ('03 Motor w/ receipts) and quite possibly a new drive shaft. .

It's a '98, Auto w/ a new '03 Motor (60k on motor) - and otherwise no issues besides: (cruise not working, back wiper not working, horn not working).

 

one of the 4 CV axles or the main front to rear driveshaft?

just checking since so many people interchange the term driveshaft.

why sell it? sounds like that is the only major problem.

 

It sounds like the main driveshaft (rear of trans to rear diff).

If so, I don't think the carrier bearing is available seperately. An auto driveshaft from another Forester or Impreza should work, but I'll let Erik or Brian confirm that one for me.

 

Has anyone ever fabbed one up from the existing parts / carrier bearing ? I dont like the idea of using a 'used' drive shaft and being in the same boat two weeks after install..

 

Driveshaft problems are not common, and no you cannot just replace the carrier bearing. I would have no issue putting in a used driveshaft, you'll know right away if its bad, even before install.

 

This is probably the first Subaru driveshaft I've heard of having issues, especially catastrophic failure. A used driveshaft will be a decent bet, like Erik said you'll know right away if one is bad.

 

depends. no, subaru doesn't sell the bearing. no, a dealer will not fix it. they'll tell you to buy a whole new driveshaft. but they'll tell you that about the u-joints too and that's not entirely true either.



But, SOME driveshafts (more common on older ones....) have a flange between the carrier bearing and middle u-joint. remove the 4 bolts to separate these pieces, and you'll find a nut which will allow you to remove the flange. then the carrier bearing/bracket can be pressed off the shaft. and the bearing pressed out of the bracket.

at that point, a bearing is a bearing. some phone calls and a couple internet searches and you'll probably be able to find a new one for pretty cheap (I'd be shocked if it was more then $20).


it's more work than most people would want to put into their car, they'd rather just buy a whole new shaft and be done with it. but....you could buy all the tools to do it (including the press and bench vice) for less than a new shaft from the dealer.


that said, bearing/u-joint failure is very rare (not unheard of. I've had them fail on my cars), a used shaft will probably be a great option. all EJ-series (legacy, impreza, forester, outback, tribeca) use the same slip yoke on the transmission, carrier bracket in the middle, and flange at the rear diff (with the exception of the STis). so the only thing you have to watch out for is length. front half is determined by transmission, rear by model (legacy is longer. so you'll need an impreza/forester one).

 

Thank you, very very much for this ^^...
*buys you a beer*

 

good luck

 

I had one give out on the rear of my old wagon. I pulled it and brought the whole driveshaft in to Clutch & U Joint and they said it was supposed to be replaced as a whole new shaft but they could fix it and NO warrenty. I had them fix it and never had
any issues with it. Just a thought