Yo'J Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 I installed a sjr ea81 2" custom lift with new front struts and now I think my CV axle popped out, inside the rubber boot. It makes a loud pop every time I rotate it and it looks like it popped out. I'll bet I cant drive on it, it shakes the whole motor just turning it over. What the hell did I do? Is it fixable? What am I missing? Can I pull it and smack the shnot out of it or is it toast? Do they just fall apart? As a newbie, this is my first lift, strut job, brake job, rear coilover mod and soon rear disc swap. I've never done an axle but always wanted to be able as the shops rip me off and I have to go back to have them fix the mess of a bootie on the other side, not even six months old. I.E I got the car and took it in to have it checked out and the wouldn't let me drive it out with out two new axles and like 3 bearings of course "frozen" for over $1200. Pretty good considering I bought it for $400. Warranty work for them only and never again. I have done one front bearing on my ford...with help. I'm alone on this one in my gravel drive. Why do I always get spellcheck in spanish? Amigo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 There may be some locals around the Seattle area that can help you in person. With the lift as part of the equation it's rather difficult to say what might have happened. It does sound like the axle came apart at the inner joint. Read my write up on rear axles - that will give you an idea of how the inner joint is put together and how to repair it. The inner front joint is the same as both rear joints with respect to how it's assembled/dissasembled. http://home.comcast.net/~trilinear/axle_rebuilding.html GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo'J Posted August 20, 2008 Author Share Posted August 20, 2008 So what you say is I pulled the spring wire off......New booties are at like, napa? I am so down:banana: I am so lame:banghead: So if this shop I went to( I read the prior post) reused all the old components I should get more if they are worn. Can I buy new parts like bearings and cups without the whole axle at the local auto shlop? Heck, I need both fronts done over. Is there a better or worse front and rear (inner and outer I guess) rubber bootie? I Thank you so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 So what you say is I pulled the spring wire off...... Likely' date=' yes. New booties are at like' date=' napa?[/quote'] Yeah - they can get them. Find a VW parts place that carries the EMPI brand - ya know - places that do baja bugs and stuff? They make axle boots and axles for all makes/models and their quality is decent. Or contact these guys - their parts are excelent: http://www.rockfordcv.com/ I am so down:banana: I am so lame:banghead: So if this shop I went to( I read the prior post) reused all the old components I should get more if they are worn. Can I buy new parts like bearings and cups without the whole axle at the local auto shlop? Heck' date=' I need both fronts done over. Is there a better or worse front and rear (inner and outer I guess) rubber bootie?[/quote'] http://www.rockfordcv.com/ can get you component parts of axles, yes. If you are talking about wheel bearings inside the hub then you can get those anywhere. I Thank you so much! No problem. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo'J Posted August 20, 2008 Author Share Posted August 20, 2008 Well, I'll get the parts and do this rebuild. I'll post with the next thing I break. That writeup is very good! I'm so glad you can show me that, I would have a hard time with out seeing it. I hope I can get the stuff from autovice here they do VW. I have to get new throtle shaft bushings anyhow. Which axle parts go out the fastest? Say, if I wanted to keep extra parts on board. Where is the spell check option for english? Is this a common problem or did I break that too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo'J Posted August 20, 2008 Author Share Posted August 20, 2008 Here, is there a way to tell which axles are the right one for your car? I don't trust the shop that replaced the ones I have. If they put in a bad pair, and I find trouble, like bad wear, is that suspect to a off sized axel? How would I know the right one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3eyedwagon Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 I installed a sjr ea81 2" custom lift with new front struts and now I think my CV axle popped out' date=' inside the rubber boot. It makes a loud pop every time I rotate it and it looks like it popped out. I'll bet I cant drive on it, it shakes the whole motor just turning it over. What the hell did I do? Is it fixable? What am I missing? Can I pull it and smack the shnot out of it or is it toast? Do they just fall apart? [/quote'] I wasn't aware that anyone made a 2" lift for EA81s. I checked the SJR site for one, and couldn't find it. I just want to verify that you have indeed installed a 2" lift on an EA81. I see under your profile that you listed only a 1982 wagon, so I'm guessing you are talking about that car. If you do in fact have a 2 inch lift on an EA81, I am curious as to what method is used to lift it. Is it some body lift, and some suspension? Or is it all in the suspension? If you have a full 2 inches of lift from just suspension components, I would be concerned that this is to blame for your axle problems. Putting that much flex on the front axles, AND maintaining proper camber would be enough to pull a front axle apart. At least that is the case in my experience. I am only guessing that you are having this problem with the front, as you mentioned that you have replaced the struts at the same time. Also, be sure to check the condition of your motor, and transmission mounts. These can both result in CV damage rather rapidly. A little more information would be very helpful in helping diagnose what you have going on here. If you were a little further north, I'd be happy to come take a look at it for you. But, I'm not down that way very often. So, please be as specific as possible, and we can all try to figure out what is going on here. I'm alone on this one in my gravel drive. Don't worry man. Everyone here had to start somewhere' date=' and with a little persistence; you will get this figured out. Just try not to get discouraged. Here' date=' is there a way to tell which axles are the right one for your car? I don't trust the shop that replaced the ones I have. If they put in a bad pair, and I find trouble, like bad wear, is that suspect to a off sized axel? How would I know the right one?[/quote'] It would be nearly impossible to put the wrong size axles in your car. Newer axles (IE; EA82) are longer, thusly; you couldn't put them in your car. If someone somehow did manage to put the wrong axle in your car; you would have known it immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo'J Posted August 20, 2008 Author Share Posted August 20, 2008 Thanks for the vote of confidence! Scott made me a custom 2" lift. I had to use the coilover conversion writeup by Mcdave to get it to work for the rear end. Thank You Mcdave! So, a body lift. At 220k+ I'm sure the motor mounts are shot. I'm just trying to limp this thing along till I can get my 90 legacy home and apart to do the swap. I figure the lift should be first. I was thinking of using a polyurethane for custom mounts when done. I probably pushed down to hard when pulling the strut out. On that side it was fairly stuck even after a good cleaning and a good spray with creeping oil. Should have seen the strut go back in before I realized the axle popped! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3eyedwagon Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 Thanks for the vote of confidence! Scott made me a custom 2" lift. I had to use the coilover conversion writeup by Mcdave to get it to work for the rear end. Thank You Mcdave! So' date=' a body lift. At 220k+ I'm sure the motor mounts are shot. I probably pushed down to hard when pulling the strut out. On that side it was fairly stuck even after a good cleaning and a good spray with creeping oil. Should have seen the strut go back in before I realized the axle popped![/quote'] I think I need a little more information to clear up any confusion.... So, you have a 1982 wagon with a two inch lift... * It has a coil over conversion done to the rear, in place of the stock shocks??? * You are calling this a body lift? A body lift would consist of un-bolting the front cross-members, and installing a total of 12 lift blocks between the cross-members, and body. It would also require putting blocks in the rear of the car, in between the torsion bar, and the body. This would also require either blocks between the "moustache bar" / body, or a custom "moustache bar" setup. If you used blocks for all of the rear; that would consist of 8 blocks. If you did not do this, we are not really dealing with what I would consider a "body lift". I am only guessing that you have relocated the rear end of your car, lowering it to improve the angle of your axles. This is a balancing act on the EA81s, as they have short, weak rear axles. I find this especially true in the heavier station wagons. If you could tell me exactly what your lift consists of, what steps you went through to mount it; that would be really helpful in figuring out what problems you are having. My first suggestion would be to use GeneralDisorder's write-up, and modify yourself a set of rear axles. That would fix alot of your problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McDave Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 Thanks for the vote of confidence! Scott made me a custom 2" lift. I had to use the coilover conversion writeup by Mcdave to get it to work for the rear end. Thank You Mcdave! You're welcome, but it wasn't me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo'J Posted August 21, 2008 Author Share Posted August 21, 2008 Mcdave, Subeman, Your all the same.... helping folk on this board! Thanks anyway for future help then! Oh and thanks Subeman for the write up! Threeeyedwagon So, yes its a body lift, like six blocks in back and ten up front. I couldn't find rear shocks in back just two inches longer, so, it seems to be the coilover from the ea82 4 wd (as the 2wd is longer still by two inches) to make the rear work. The listed rancho shocks on Scotts site is for a 4". I did the back first and drove it (I needed the car for my fathers B-day and didn't want to drive my 66' f100. Too much gas!). I tore into the front the following day not realizing I should take the steering shaft while the car was still on the ground for ease work. Put it up on stands and put a jack under the engine behind the oil pan. Then I procceded to unbolt the "what ever they are" by the tranny mounts and then crossmember and do those blocks first, the "what ever they are" called blocks. Not realizing of course that the slight incline I was on would make lining up the holes a little difficult. But they are all in. I did say "CUSTOM" lift right? You down yet? Scott does seem good like that. I'll take photos after I fix my windows machine, this linux box (which has saved my life) I'm still not compatable with. So update time! I pulled the axle and tore it apart today to find the cup has a big crack that I couldn't have made (maybe driving, I have hit the trails a few times) and the little tin seal that keeps the lube from running into the splines folded in half and the worst bent wire clip. The bearings were also out of the race and floating around. So $135 for a new one or $45 for a used one up here and steal the cup. I still haven't checked or pulled the other side. Its raining and getting dark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3eyedwagon Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 Threeeyedwagon So' date=' yes its a body lift, like six blocks in back and ten up front. I couldn't find rear shocks in back just two inches longer, so, it seems to be the coilover from the ea82 4 wd (as the 2wd is longer still by two inches) to make the rear work. The listed rancho shocks on Scotts site is for a 4". I did the back first and drove it (I needed the car for my fathers B-day and didn't want to drive my 66' f100. Too much gas!). I tore into the front the following day not realizing I should take the steering shaft while the car was still on the ground for ease work. Put it up on stands and put a jack under the engine behind the oil pan. Then I procceded to unbolt the "what ever they are" by the tranny mounts and then crossmember and do those blocks first, the "what ever they are" called blocks. Not realizing of course that the slight incline I was on would make lining up the holes a little difficult. But they are all in. I did say "CUSTOM" lift right? You down yet? Scott does seem good like that. I'll take photos after I fix my windows machine, this linux box (which has saved my life) I'm still not compatable with. So update time! I pulled the axle and tore it apart today to find the cup has a big crack that I couldn't have made (maybe driving, I have hit the trails a few times) and the little tin seal that keeps the lube from running into the splines folded in half and the worst bent wire clip. So $135 for a new one or $45 for a used one up here and steal the cup. I still haven't checked or pulled the other side. Its raining and getting dark.[/quote'] I'm down. All Subaru lifts are a little "Custom" I think you would be best off utilizing GeneralDisorder's rear axle DOJ swap. But, it all depends on the angle of your rear axles at rest as to where you may be breaking them. I have had problems with my 82 wagon breaking axles from over-compression of the rear suspension. Nobody seems to take into consideration that wagons are capable of this due to all the extra weight of a longer steel roof, and more windows. A soft rear suspension can definitely cause these problems. So, a picture of your rear axles at rest would be great. They should only be about an inch or so higher at the differential than at the back of the hub. Just FYI: The prices you quoted for those axles seems pretty super high to me. I would take the time, and tools to go to the local Pull-A-Part (try the one in Smokey Point - WELL worth the drive for you), and find all the axle parts you need there. Then you can make yourself a complete axle, and only get charged the $22 or so dollars they cost there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo'J Posted August 21, 2008 Author Share Posted August 21, 2008 There are a few yards I have still yet to try. The axle swap does seem easy, add on a can of cleaner and it still makes sense to do it yourself. Its always a fight, and a learning experience when you try things. I well remember the first time I broke a bolt deep into into my engine block. I really was so just hopeing to be on the road already. I guess if I get an incomplete spare set I can always run rwd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo'J Posted August 22, 2008 Author Share Posted August 22, 2008 Well it was $50 for a used axle but its in and on the ground. No ticket from the po. I did it all in front of my house on the street. Thanks GD. The axle slid right out without a fuss. Thanks Edrach for the axle writeup and for your concern Threeeyed. I've almost got a full axle in parts and self confidence to do it again. I got to hit the yards farther out of town! Stuff in town or just on the outskirts are so expensive! A steering shaft to go (just delivered) and rear discs, a brake bleed and alignment after I get new tires on the pugs and I'm on the way to an EJ! All my parts are here! (right...:-\ ) I really would not be able to do this with out you all! (Tearfull sob) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3eyedwagon Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 Well it was $50 for a used axle but its in and on the ground. No ticket from the po. I did it all in front of my house on the street. Thanks GD. The axle slid right out without a fuss. Thanks Edrach for the axle writeup and for your concern Threeeyed. I've almost got a full axle in parts and self confidence to do it again. I got to hit the yards farther out of town! Stuff in town or just on the outskirts are so expensive! A steering shaft to go (just delivered) and rear discs' date=' a brake bleed and alignment after I get new tires on the pugs and I'm on the way to an EJ! All my parts are here! (right...:-\ ) I really would not be able to do this with out you all! (Tearfull sob)[/quote'] Glad to hear you got it. I remember that it wasn't too long ago that I had no idea of how to go about changing a axle on a Subaru, and it seemed kinda like a big job. Now I can do one (especially a rear) REALLY quickly. Let me know if there's any way I can help in the future..... I'm always excited to see another '82 on the road.... especially a wagon! Good luck on your future endeavours, and look up any of the northern gang if your in Mt. Vernon some time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo'J Posted August 23, 2008 Author Share Posted August 23, 2008 Word! 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