$4000 Driveshaft!?!
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 15,494
From: Participating in some Anarchy!
Car Info: 2005 LGT wagon
$4000 Driveshaft!?!
A new customer brought in her Legacy Outback for a transmission oil leak.
Fluid was leaking from the rear extension housing; no biggie, remove driveshaft & renew output seal.
After removing the driveshaft, it was apparent her troubles were a lot more expensive than a leaking seal.
The first clue was the zerk fitting added to the OEM shaft. OE shafts are not serviceable...when they fail, they get replaced.
A previous shop had sent the driveshaft out for repair due to vibration...the driveshaft shop drilled & tapped the u-joints for zerks, filled with grease, and called it good.
That was 11k miles ago.
The good news is that the customer saved $200 going with the "overhauled" shaft vs a new one.
The bad news is that the u-joint seized, destroying the transmission in the process.
$3000 for the trans.
$600 for the driveshaft.
Fluid was leaking from the rear extension housing; no biggie, remove driveshaft & renew output seal.
After removing the driveshaft, it was apparent her troubles were a lot more expensive than a leaking seal.
The first clue was the zerk fitting added to the OEM shaft. OE shafts are not serviceable...when they fail, they get replaced.
A previous shop had sent the driveshaft out for repair due to vibration...the driveshaft shop drilled & tapped the u-joints for zerks, filled with grease, and called it good.
That was 11k miles ago.
The good news is that the customer saved $200 going with the "overhauled" shaft vs a new one.
The bad news is that the u-joint seized, destroying the transmission in the process.
$3000 for the trans.
$600 for the driveshaft.
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Car Info: 02' Subaru Impreza WRX
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Oh sh*t! Can you provide more details? Impreza or Legacy Outback, year, mileage, etc? And how common or under what conditions do OEM shafts go? I got a '98 Legacy Outback, so just want to know if this is something to watch out for. And if a U-joint locks up, how can the car even move? Pardon if these are n00b questions 
Thread Starter
iClub Silver Vendor
iTrader: (25)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 15,494
From: Participating in some Anarchy!
Car Info: 2005 LGT wagon
Oh sh*t! Can you provide more details? Impreza or Legacy Outback, year, mileage, etc? And how common or under what conditions do OEM shafts go? I got a '98 Legacy Outback, so just want to know if this is something to watch out for. And if a U-joint locks up, how can the car even move? Pardon if these are n00b questions
The original complaint was "slight vibration" coming from a worn out driveshaft.
The first shop, that do not specialize in Subaru cars, thought that the driveshaft could be overhauled and balanced.
