Can anyone help with identifying which model/version my rear driveshaft is please ?

It's fitted to a 2009 WRX Hatch (GH) - it's WRX shell but has STI R180 diff fitted.

The one at the top is an STI 2008-11 GH R180 shaft which is the heavy duty STI 26mm thick shaft, sadly not what i needed as it's approx. 20mm too long :-( i assume because STI is wide-track

The one at the bottom is what i need - roughly 20mm shorter (800mm complete end to end length) and also a thinner 22mm shaft. it has 27 spline inner and outer fittings (so i think that means it's R180 and STI hubs? as wrx would be something like 21 spline outer) so i think it's an oem STI shaft, but is shorter than the STI one i got

any ideas pls on what spec/version/year my bottom driveshaft is ?

i don't think it's off any of the older STI's as they all seem to have the outer CV joint which is stepped rather than flat where it mates to the hub (if that makes sense)

Thanks for any ideas that may help with this :-)

 

its most likely the std Hatch WRX rear shaft as from memory they already use an R180 variant unlike the earlier cars where only the STi type cars used the R180..........

 

ahhhh - that would explain things if the WRX used the R180 as well, that would be a far more straight forward (and cheaper) explanation than i had imagined it would be :-)

Thanks Alyn - appreciate your help as always!

 

Attached are the driveshaft info for both model years 08 and 09 for both EU Impreza and WRX (GH) and WRX STi (GR)

KA model is the Australian model variant.

 

Thanks so much for this your an absolute legend! this may well explain things ...

The none-KA WRX shafts are shown as being a fair bit longer than the STI shafts (which would suggest they're R160), so not what I'm looking for except for that KA Australian model variant which is slghtly shorter than the STI. So that suggests it was the Aussie version only which had WRX (so none-widetrack, none-STI) fitted with R180 as standard

I've measured mine and it does seem to match the 326.9mm axle length shown there for the KA model.

I've pinged a few people who are breaking UK WRX GH's on ebay and they're all so far saying they're R160 diff.

So next step ebay Australia i think! are these Aussie versions known to be well sought after for the R180 setup if your converting a WRX ??? (although that's probably a pretty rare thing to bother to do i guess)

It's a shame i can't fit the UK STI versions as they're the heavy duty 25mm shaft instead of 22mm. I'm assuming the extra length on those would cause big issues ? (it's on a rally car so the drivetrain gets severely abused)

 

don't suppose you have the spec info on the JDM WRX ? i'm wondering if JDM WRX hatch also had R180 fitted as standard, or just the Aussie version

 

you would have to check the 'plunge' on the shaft as its likely it wouldn't have enough and could potentially bind / snap.........

don't have a WRX Hatch to hand to check but fairly sure none of them use an R160 rear??

 

have checked some part numbers and the Hatch WRX and Hatch STi BOTH use the same part number for the rear diff casing - R180.......

38312AA030

 

Interesting - thanks. I wonder if the folks who have got back to me so far from ebay just assume that the GH WRX is R160 but haven't actually checked (as i think WRX's pre-hatchback were R160 weren't they? so perhaps it's an easy assumption to make).

ICP are backing you up as well Alyn they list the R180 casing for 2007-11 WRX R180 Diff Housing

I've got a very helpful guy who is breaking this one on ebay and said he'll measure the diff bolts for me but that won't be until Tuesday 126427551851

any kind people with a 2007-11 WRX hatch (not STI) on the drive who can confirm if their diff bolt distance is 80mm as well pls ?

 

so ... it seems to be a real mixed bag.

Most WRX hatches that are being broken i'm finding have R160's in them, but some do have R180's.

I read that the WRX came with 5 speed box standard, but 6 speed could be specified as an option. However I'm not finding that the R180's were in because of a 6 speed upgrade, they seem to be just fitted to some WRX's with 5 speed boxes (all UK spec).

I'm buying a set of rear shafts from a chap who's breaking a WRX which has the R180 fitted, watch those turn up and be a completely different driveshaft shaft

 

AFAIK the only GH European Impreza with a 6MT box was the diesel version from MY09 onwards.
This runs the 38312AA000 diff housing as also used for the JDM 2.0GT Imprezas (equiv to WRX) using a 5MT or SS box.
38312AA000 diff housing also used for the SH Foresters MY09-12(with 5MT,6MT and 4AT) and similarly the SJ Foresters MY13- (with 6MT and CVT)

 

I suspect that is more to do with people not knowing what they have??
the std Hatch WRX is a FIVE speed TY758 (push clutch) but uses the larger R180 rear.......earlier cars always used the smaller R160 with the 5speed

 

This could well be true - i did think about taking a punt on it and just ordering some anyway, i'll go for a later version perhaps and see what i get

 

You're right on that Alyn thanks for your help with this - i went for a different set off another WRX breaking and the shafts that turned up are R180, despite the seller telling me only STI's have R180 fitted.

So WRX hatch is R180, but 22mm none heavy duty shafts obviously slightly shorter (as not wide track). shame for me there is no thicker shaft option for none wide track, but at least i can source replacement shafts easily now happy days

 

funny that ........