86subaru Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 i have a chance to buy a 2000 limited edition outback a/t 131,000mi , new headgasket .new tires, timing belt, etc... my question , how hard is it to change the front diff , according to the owner ,which he has it at a subaru dealer , the cost would be 2300 dollars, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon38iowa Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 i have a chance to buy a 2000 limited edition outback a/t 131,000mi , new headgasket .new tires, timing belt, etc... my question , how hard is it to change the front diff , according to the owner ,which he has it at a subaru dealer , the cost would be 2300 dollars, Can I ask, what are the symptoms of a bad front differential? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted September 26, 2007 Author Share Posted September 26, 2007 well i am not sure , i have never had 1 go bad, i have not seen the car , all i know is the owner wants to sell it, or should i look for good used tranny ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 to change the front diff you have to pull the trans, seperate the front diff, replace the front diff , install the trans. let's call it 5 - 6 hrs. labor @ $75 plus the front diff, if you can find one. to replace the trans, remove and install. call it 3-4 hrs. plu the trans. my guess is that the used trans is easier to find and install. where on earth would find a used front diff. now, if you had a used bad trans sitting around for parts, then i might consider just the diff. the work is not that hard, but.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john in KY Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Also don't forget Subaru redesigned the transaxle in 99. This I believe will restrict you to finding a 99 and up transaxle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porcupine73 Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Right, typically the entire transaxle (AT and front diff) would be replaced. It is possible to service/rebuild the front diff though if that is the desired route. Here's where someone did that: http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8718 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 i've been meaning to start a new thread, there seem to be a fair number of failed front diffs. i just picked up a legacy with one. i've seen quite a few 1996 - 200X models with bad front diffs. i don't recall ever seeing any in the earlier models..which are older and tend ot have higher miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted September 26, 2007 Author Share Posted September 26, 2007 thanks for all the help, i may just buy it , it all depends on the price he wants for it, the dealer offered him 500 for it as a trade in , i think it is worth more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 no reason for him not to take $500 - $1,000 from you. thing is they have cushion in the price of their vehicles they're selling to make up the difference...so really they're not even giving him $500. he could take $500 from you and still get them down a couple hundred, but i'd offer him a bit more for posterity anyway. i'd probably go $750-$1,000 to entice him to get it done quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted September 27, 2007 Author Share Posted September 27, 2007 just what i was thinking offering him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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