So I have a torn boot on my passenger side and the axle is starting to click. Car is a 2005 Outback XT with an Automatic. My question is this. Is the automatic and manual axles the same? They have a different part# but I know this does not always mean they are different. 2nd part of the question. If they are the same does anyone know if the standard outback and the OBXT uses the same axle. Thanks in advance. Jason
The Subaru reman axle list shows one part number for 05-09 Legacy and Outback "all except Turbo". So looks to me like Auto and Manual should be interchangeable. If you just have a torn boot, the most reliable repair is to just replace the boot...
Is it still good to go with a regrease and new boot even if they are currently clicking or does subaru sell Ujoints to replace at the time of rebuild as well?
Pull the joint apart and inspect to see pitting or wear thru the heat treat....If no then repack & replace boot. You can do a boot without removing the axle completely if its the inner joint. Google search or I can find it for ya
Removing the axle completely does not concern me primarily because on that same side I need to replace the lower control arm bushing so I plan to just replace both sides arms and bushings as well as tie rods and ball joints at the same time as rebuilding both ends of the axle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016VAKVD8/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I34Q9VJ8DFNPFB&colid=259BO8T6OCESG https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QR12FY/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=IKOH418Z6PDR7&colid=259BO8T6OCESG https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C561WY/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I1BXJC1SQPGV67&colid=259BO8T6OCESG
https://mnsubaru.com/threads/axle-shaft-rebuild.26725/ If you're going aftermarket with the TRE and BJ, I'd highly recommend getting them from a local source, as you'll probably be warrantying them. OE ball joint is MSRP of $41.25 (plus hardware), and I grabbed a random TRE off the shelf and it's $49.95, and I think Morries still does the 20% off...
Yes Morries does still do the 20% off. Have you had a bad experience with Moog parts to suggest going OEM? Just curious on your train of thought. I have used pretty much excursively white-line on my other cars I had and never had an issue with any of them but white-line is a bit over kill for this situation being its just a year round daily driver not something I'm trying to get track ready.
Yep, I've used 5 aftermarket ball joints in the past 5 years or so in 3 different Subarus, 2 of them Moog (I have no reason to believe Moog is anything more than a label these days, I've seen Federal Mogul and 555 branded parts in a Moog box). Longest any of them lasted was a year. When I started working here, I realized that the OE ones aren't really any more expensive....I've switched all 3 cars over, and had zero problems with them. I use a lot of aftermarket parts, but OE ball joints are better, and the savings is maybe a couple dollars
Thanks for the clarity and your personal experience with them. This is really my 1st time venturing off into the world of none performance aftermarket so any other incite on items you would advise either OEM or performance aftermarket only is appreciated.
Our 2004 Outback had a Moog axle put in about a year before we bought it. Had to have it replaced right away...so it lasted a year. Sounds like "par for the course" is the proper "insert" here.
I plan to stick with an OEM axle. My plan was to buy a used lower mile OEM then rebuild the one that came off the car for the next time I have one go out.
OEM reman axles are usually around $140-$180 at morries, and in my experience, if the first one last 10-15 years, I'll sure get a second one even at that higher price. Don't replace the balljoint unless it needs to be replaced. Subaru ball joints tend to be really reliable in my experience and last 200k+ miles before needing replacement. Sh*t can seriously go wrong when replacing them too.
I've had good luck with NAPA axles in my lifted Impreza OBS. I replaced the OEM front axles shortly after lifting it, with EMPI brand (which I had heard good things about) and they only lasted about a year. I've been running NAPA front axles for 2+ years now and no issues so far.
To add another side to the discussion, I've had an Empi axle from Vatozone in my car for several years now with no issues. Maybe I lucked out and got a good one. That or my car's just tired enough it doesn't have that axle snapping power anymore.
My suspension geometry is all out of wack due to running the Forester struts without using the subframe spacers to lower everything down closer to the plane that the hubs are on. So the axles are angled significantly more than a stock or lowered suspension would be. I'm sure that doesn't help in my case!
I can confirm there are differances between either the OBXT and the LGT or between Auto and Manual. I got a axle from a LGT manual of the same year as my OBX and they are different. So we are going to give a napa axle a whirl and see how it goes.
