Just bought my first Subaru Impreza. It's a 2004 WRX model. It is almost completely standard has only had 3 owners before me and has covered 79K. The problem is it came with no history. I noticed a bit of a wine when test driving it, and on the motorway home after buying it, I realised how load the wine was at speed.

It sounds like the diff and gearbox have covered 200,000 or something. I got a friendly mechanic to drive it and he said it is mainly in 5th gear and he would just change the oils and drive it.

I'm really concerned and a bit upset by it. I don't know how to find out for definate what the problem is. It seems to be loudest in 5th gear but is also noticeable in 4th. It is only there when the drive system is under load from the engine, when you back off the throttle it isn't there. It seems to increase with road speed rather than engine speed.

Any thoughts on what I should do?

 

Almost certainly the transfer gear bearings on that model It is something we can do while-u-wait without taking the box out of the car.

Cost circa £300.00 + VAT [ £360.00 inc ] if the regular 2 bearings are gone. there is another which is usually OK That would add a further £60.00 + VAT[ £72.00 inc ] or so.

Not a big deal - annoying yes, but a disaster no. Changing the oil is a waste of oil/ time.

Call if I can help, David APi
01926 624333

 

Hi

thanks for the reply. I am a bit of a drive away from you and also trying to do as many jobs as I can myself as the costs of this car are mounting now.

Is there any way to verify that this is the part gone, before stripping it down etc. Do you need to drain the oil out of the box and diffs to get to the bearing?

Is there any online drawings you could point this part out on?

 

It is quite simple to check it out. You'll need to jack the car up high as possible from the rear [ so that the oil runs to the front of the box ] Then undo the rearmost housing of the gearbox , after taking the prop off !. The centre diff and drop gear bearings are in there and you'll be able to feel the rough bearing by hand.

It might not be so easy to get the bearing off the shaft, but that is a problem from working at home.

Don't know of any pics but I am sure someone will come up with a link for you.

Good Luck, call if you need any moral support, we're here to help.

David APi

 

I went to a local Subaru dealership just to get them to have a drive and give me their opinion. The mechanic said he thinks it is the pinion shaft bearings. He says he doesn't think the bearings are gone, he said he thinks that it is something pushed up against the bearings and making it wine under load. He said that the shims/thrust washers are worn and not packing it out properly. He said that he didn't think it was the transfer gear bearings because it would be whinning all the time if it was that.

Any thoughts?

 

Never seen worn pinion shaft bearings and if worn or slack, they would be a constant noise too.....

I think you've just wasted however long of your time.

Good Luck, David

 

Hi.
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I think my 2002 WRX may have the same transfer bearing issue as this and I wondered if anyone in the north east has done this repair?
I would use API, but it seems a long way to travel if my diagnosis is wrong.
Dealers in my area want to remove the box to investigate, before they will attempt the job, so it is difficult to get a quote.
I have a gearbox warranty that runs out soon (max £500) so I would like to get on with this. The problem has slowly got worse over the last few thousand miles, so I want to make sure I get it sorted before any real damage is done.
Thanks for any suggestions...

 

Shame we're a long way apart. I think you'll find that the warranty is for " sudden mechanical failure " you have [ fair ] wear and tear. l doubt it is covered. I have a very poor opinion of mechanical breakdown warranties as they almost never pay out.....

lf it is the drop gear bearings - most likely, there is no need to take the box out to change them. Talk to Alyn Stockton at A.S. Performance in Birtley, Co Durham, he'll look after you.

Good luck, however, if you feel the need to drive all day and all night for us to do it, we can do it while-u-wait, coffee is plentiful, free and probably necessary.

David APi

 

Hi David I got a slight whiring noise from rear not sure if bearings or diff it's a 1997 type r any help how to diagnose which one it could be? There's no play side to side with wheels

 

The usual "good guess" is rear wheel bearings on a type R. But unless someone who knows hears it, it is just a good guess.

Good Luck, David

 

Guessing over the internet :]:]

 

Yip ive done it. David is 100 per cent correct in his method. The rear transfer case bearing gets oil starved and will be as rough as an old badger!

 

When I was at Ford it was called a

SWAG

That is:

Scientific
WildAss
Guess

 

Borooom Tsssch

 

Lol are they quite prone on a type r how much can you get them for ? Cheers

 

Hi DaveAPI,
Sent you an email. Can we organise to get my drop link bearing done next week? Thanks

 

Digging up an old thread but, I think im having the same whine now

Do the above prices still count David?

 

Yep, not moved much at all, probably an extrar £20.00 + VAT[ £24.00 inc ] since then but no more.

Call If I can help. David