Gloyale Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 I've got a 93 legacy here with a really nasty woble in the front end. Motly the front end though it feels like it actually wobbles the whole car abit. It is most prevalant under load. I.E. acceleration, and worst between 10-30 mph then smooths out. The steering rack had a bunch of slop, I replaced it but the wobble is till there. I rulled out the center carrier bearing by using the FWD fuse, no change. It feels excactly like a worn strut top or strut. That was my firt diagnosis, before the rack even. But eximination shows no play, slop, or other oddity in the struts. Perhaps ever so slight play in the Pass. side. But I am convinced this has to be it. The ONLY other possibility, Is the trans. More so the differential. The stub shafts have alot of play in and out. And alot of Backlash too. Could a sloppy differential feel like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Dave Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 try swapping wheels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98obster Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 engine mount or a bad tire, that's it..that's all I got :-\ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted December 21, 2007 Author Share Posted December 21, 2007 engine mount or a bad tire, that's it..that's all I got :-\ If it was the tire, it would wobble just rolling along. This only happen with throttle. It isn't the engine mount either. You can feel the wheels of the car shaking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njdrsubaru Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 i've seen this before but cant quite remember if it was the rotors or balancing of the tires... ohh yeah rotors! wable at low speed or acceleration... have your rotors cut it should take care of the problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOthis Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 Wheel Bearings?....Ball Joints? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 Sounds like a bad DOJ on one of the front axles. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted December 21, 2007 Author Share Posted December 21, 2007 It just feels like the wobble is at the passenger wheel. Not inboard. You can feel it in the wheel. And you can watch and feel the nose of the car wiggle left and right down the road. I think tommorow I'm gonna gonna have my buddy drive while I hang my head out the window to peep the wheels. Feels like the Passenger side. But the Axles, wheel bearings, ball joints and now even tie rods are all new. Feels excactly like a loose strut top if you've ever felt that. But the strut top seems to be fine??????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericem Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 I suggest you get the car to a shop and get the vehicle in the air so everything can be checked for play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted December 21, 2007 Author Share Posted December 21, 2007 I am a shop and the vehicle has been in the air. Replaced the steering rack, see above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 Those symptoms are typical of DOJ failure. They bind as they turn and shake the whole car. I've had some that were scary bad. But if, as you say, the axles are new..... it could be something else. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted December 21, 2007 Author Share Posted December 21, 2007 Those symptoms are typical of DOJ failure. They bind as they turn and shake the whole car. I've had some that were scary bad. But if, as you say, the axles are new..... it could be something else. GD 1 is new, and one is "newish". I am going to swap axles tommorow and see if the shake follows the suspect side. Thing is, it would be the "NEW" one that was bad so it can be warrantied! Cheap chinese axle I'll bet. Customer is a good friend, and it's my old car. I don't want to spend any more on parts without some real verification of the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted December 21, 2007 Author Share Posted December 21, 2007 Could differential bearings be causing this. There does seem to be alot of play in those stubs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 Could differential bearings be causing this. There does seem to be alot of play in those stubs. Not typically. Is the play on the DOJ, or the actual stub with the DOJ removed? GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted December 21, 2007 Author Share Posted December 21, 2007 I haven't removed the axle. But I can tell I'm moving the whole stub when I woble it. I think. I will ee tommorow when I pull the axles. What would you think about the idea of pulling the front axles out, and going for a very short drive. I know EA hubs require the hub to have the axle bolted through it to stay together. But EJ hubs are pressed into the bearing. Could it withstand a short drive with no axle? It would be asking alot of the pressed bearing. probly not a good idea. However if it worked, I think I would still feel the vibration if it was from a strut but not if it is the DOJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edrach Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 I'm with GD on the bad DOJ. Typical symptom is vibration under acceleration which goes away on trailing throttle. It can be a minor vibration or so bad one thinks the transmission is falling out. I've even seen it on axles which I just installed. I would not suggest driving any distance with the front axles removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted December 21, 2007 Author Share Posted December 21, 2007 I'm with GD on the bad DOJ. Typical symptom is vibration under acceleration which goes away on trailing throttle. It can be a minor vibration or so bad one thinks the transmission is falling out. This feel like the Right wheel is going to fall off. But you guys got me abot convinced it could be DOJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edrach Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 This feel like the Right wheel is going to fall off. But you guys got me abot convinced it could be DOJ.Lets hope we're correct; it's the least expensive cause...especially if it's the new axle. My opinion isn't 100% sure, but I've seen the same symptoms on at least a half dozen subarus over the last 10 years and it was always the axle. Once when I brought the "new" axles back to the shop where I bought them (a wholesale supplier of auto parts) I just put the axles on the counter and before I even said anything, the partsman had another rebuilt set for me; he didn't even ask me for an explanation or paperwork. Fortunately the 2nd set worked just fine; but I did change suppliers. Good luck with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted December 21, 2007 Author Share Posted December 21, 2007 My opinion isn't 100% sure, but I've seen the same symptoms on at least a half dozen subarus over the last 10 years and it was always the axle. Shaking like the front wheels are trying to go different direction? I've felt DOJ vibration before. This would be by far the worst case I've ever felt if it is the DOJ. I'll post results Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njdrsubaru Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 hey Gloyale i had the same problem and today i had my rotors resurfaced, it took care of the problem, check your rotors... my car had a wable that you could see the front of the car going left and right under acceleration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted December 22, 2007 Author Share Posted December 22, 2007 hey Gloyale i had the same problem and today i had my rotors resurfaced, it took care of the problem, check your rotors... my car had a wable that you could see the front of the car going left and right under acceleration It was in fact the Axle. Once I removed it it was very easy to feel the lop in the DOJ. It was bad. Axle was less than a year old. I had hoped to get it warrantied, but there are no Advance Auto parts in Oregon. I tried at Schucks since they are a "partsamerica.com" distributor as well, but they won't do it. Had to buy one. I may be able to get my money reimbursed for the new axle if I jump through hoops with Advance Autos warranty department. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edrach Posted December 22, 2007 Share Posted December 22, 2007 It was in fact the Axle. Once I removed it it was very easy to feel the lop in the DOJ. It was bad. Axle was less than a year old. I had hoped to get it warrantied, but there are no Advance Auto parts in Oregon. I tried at Schucks since they are a "partsamerica.com" distributor as well, but they won't do it. Had to buy one. I may be able to get my money reimbursed for the new axle if I jump through hoops with Advance Autos warranty department. Glad you found the trouble; even more glad GD and I gave you the right advice. It's just amazing how a bad DOJ affects the car. The first time I had an issue with our '86 wagon the vibration was so slight that our mechanic insisted there wasn't a problem (n.b. this was before I learned how to do my own axles). The second time was with a newly rebuilt axle and the vibration was so bad I thought the transmission would fall out of the car. Both times the tip off was the vibration happened only during positive throttle and acceleration. The vibration stopped completely as soon as I let off on the throttle and coasted. Keep your paperwork and try to get some satisfaction from Advance America. I've gone to MWE for my axles now. I usually keep a Pull a Part spare on hand for unexpected failures to tide me over until I can order a "new" one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now