Front wheel drive trouble shooting...

[Alexx]

I have an 81 subaru DL, and whenever the front axle boots rip open, (it happens every couple of years), my repair shop gives me a pretty good deal on rebuilt axles, so I get the front axle replaced rather than have them charge me almost an equal amount to just replace the boots.

 

However, the last time they replaced the front axles, perhaps it was back in 98, the boots never ripped. So my question is, if the boots never rip, and the front axle eventually wears out, what are the symptoms and how can one tell that the axle is about to go or has already gone?

 

Thanks in advance. This has not been a problem in the past because the boots usually would go and I would get rebuilt front axles, but this time it's been so long I think the axles may be going but I have no prior experience with actually wearing out the front axle.

[calebz]

Most common symptom is clicking from the outer joint on accelleration and more spcifically around corners.

 

 

Less common is DOJ failure, which in my experience manifests itself as a vibration very similar to an alignment problem.

[Alexx]

Yes, I've experienced that in the past.

 

But this time, I was going up a hill, and the car started vibrating, it felt like it was the front driverside wheel, but somehow it felt connected to the powertrain as well. I happened to be near my mechanics so I immediately drove the car there. I coasted the car as much as possible because whatever was wrong felt really wrong, like the connection between the engine and the axle was coming apart.

 

Since I've never gotten past the axle clicking in the past, I am concerned, what if it's not the axle, is this the end of the line for my subie? They will do a further inspection Monday morning.

 

If it's not the axle, can driving the car in it's present state do even further damage? I've owned this car for well over 10 years and it's never felt like this before.

[Alexx]

Just thought I'd bump this.

[monstaru]

ok, first :you need to come to terms with how easy these cars are to work on.second:you need to come to terms with how easy your car is to work on.

 

and last but not least:if you forget one of the rules , refer to first rule.

[Alexx]

ok, first :you need to come to terms with how easy these cars are to work on.second:you need to come to terms with how easy your car is to work on.

 

and last but not least:if you forget one of the rules , refer to first rule.

 

None of the contents are under pressure?

 

I hear the front brakes are hard to work on, no?

[NorthWet]

None of the contents are under pressure?

 

I hear the front brakes are hard to work on, no?

 

No. And no.

[Alexx]

Every mechanic who has ever worked on my car (Probably 4 or 5 different ones) have ALL said the front wheel brakes are hard to work on, that they are different from most other braking systems.

 

Anyway, I had the car repaired for $150.00 dollars labor which included replacing both front axles, the right side tie rod end, balance all four tires, and an alignment. It was well worth it have a real tire / alignment shop do the work.

 

I'm sure there was a mark-up on the parts as well, but still, I'm self employed so to not have to deal with having to do any of the work or get the parts and instead just drop off and pick-up the car was well worth it.

 

My first car was a big old ford wagon, it was my learner car and over time I took off and put back on several components on the car. So I'm not against the do it yourself method, but doing it yourself cuts into time needed to get other things done that relate to my business. Most importantly for me is as soon as the car started vibrating I knew something was wrong and I didn't continue to drive and possible damage the car further.

 

Taking care of a subaru is not solely about being able to personally repair the car, but knowing when something has gone wrong the instant it goes wrong.

The guy at the repair shop took the car for a test drive after the repairs were done and was quite impressed with how well the 24 year old car drove, so was I.

[Numbchux]

maybe they say it's harder cause they're the only car (that I know of, but I'm sure there are others) that have the e-brake go to the front. They're VERY easy to work on!

 

The best way to think of it, is that time really is money, I have hundreds of hours into my car, but now I have basically the car of my dreams, for about $1500! And a solid running car with almost 230k miles on it!