I took my car back from the garage and stripped out the front nearside driveshaft. Made a couple of false starts in deciding the best way to do the job, but got it out without too much hassle. Checked against the 96 shaft - they are identical. The garage man was telling porkies, so obviously didn't want to do the job. Last time he gets my business!

Put the other shaft in, but still the same banging. Took it to local a Subaru specialist and he reckons it's the offside shaft! That's the weekend job....