Changing half shafts - rant

immortal_suby · #1 12-21-2003, 08:47 AM

Tried to change the halfshaft on the wife's svx yesterday. Got the old one out and tried to put the new one in but it wouldn't fit into the hub. Arghh. Had to put the old one with the torn boot back in. It fits fine on the tranny side.

Not sure why it doesn't fit - I can get it about 1cm into the hub but then it is too tight to go all the way in. There are no visible burrs on it and it looks about identical. The old one slides in and out easily. I tried cleaning and greasing and all but no luck.

I guess I'll have to ship it back and get another one.
Maybe it's a FWD shaft? I ordered it for a 92lsl so I'm not sure how it could have gotten screwed up.

Worst part is we're driving to NY on monday and I can't take my svx because it has falken azenis on it which are worthless with even an inch of snow.

If I wasn't so lazy I'd swap out the tires between the 2 cars....

#2 12-21-2003, 09:04 AM

i had my local "reputable" mechanic order me a halfshaft and TWICE they ordered a legacy shaft by accident.. finally i gave up and ordered them myself.. i suppose you might not be doing something correctly, but i think it's more likely that you've got the wrong shaft..

-adam

immortal_suby · #3 12-21-2003, 09:29 AM

I've changed them on an svx twice before (did both sides on Porter's) - I don't think I'm screwing it up but there is always a possibility.

SHISVX · #4 12-21-2003, 10:26 AM

yeah i hate it when you get your shaft all greased up to find out that it doesn' t fit

Kelli

(just trying to make you smile!

hope next time it goes in smooth!)

immortal_suby · #5 12-21-2003, 10:30 AM

IBdougrandyronmummertandysubafreakandseraphstartpo stingabout greasedupshafts

SHISVX · #6 12-21-2003, 10:35 AM

heyonlytheywouldknowforsurewhatanicegreasedupshaft feltlike!!

HEHEHE
Kelli

#7 12-21-2003, 10:56 AM

okay you guys are feckin' weird.

-adam

Subafreak · #8 12-21-2003, 02:05 PM

I'm not touchin this with a ten foot pole.

A ten foot greased up pole.

Andy · #9 12-21-2003, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Subafreak
I'm not touchin this with a ten foot pole.

A ten foot greased up pole.

Boasting Again

Subafreak · #10 12-21-2003, 02:45 PM

Ron Mummert · #11 12-21-2003, 08:08 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by immortal_suby
[B]IBdougrandyronmummertandysubafreakandseraphstartpo stingabout greasedupshafts.

Matt, the cure is to soak the end of the half shaft overnight in tranny fluid. Then insert.
It works, but of course you'll always be known as a cog soaker.

Bada boom.

Ron.

SubaSteevo · #12 12-21-2003, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SHISVX
heyonlytheywouldknowforsurewhatanicegreasedupshaft feltlike!!

HEHEHE
Kelli

If they grease it too much it might slip out of their hands though

wawazat?? · #13 12-22-2003, 01:46 PM

Quote:

[i]Originally posted by Ron Mummert
It works, but of course you'll always be known as a cog soaker.

Bada boom.

Ron.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Awesome Ron, simply awesome!!!

Todd

svxsubaru1 · #14 12-22-2003, 03:01 PM

Half shafts last a long time after they start ticking because of a torn boot, my dads 1 gen legacy went over 15,000 miles before we changed it, we wanted to know how long they could last and it never broke, but started to tick while going stright. If your nice to the half shaft by not flooring it while turning it should be good.

#15 12-22-2003, 04:16 PM

I just had to replace the axle in my daughter-in-law's '95 Outback (the wife's 'former'-mobile). She was complaining of a 'noise' coming from the car. She just couldn't properly describe this 'growl' coming from the car, so we're wrestling with the various possibilities. The wife questioned if it might be CV joint- I thought 'that's it!'- except- daughter-in-law said it made the 'most' noise when you put it in or out of 'Park'. I'm thinking- a CV joint is only going to make noise when the wheel's turning- right?

We decided to drive the 50 miles to her folks house where the car was parked to do a 'formal' diagnosis. Upon inspection it was discovered that the joint had completely become disjointed- (it lost it's balls- DON'T EVEN GO THERE....) If it wasn't for the 'all-wheel-drive' she would have been stranded, but the car drove more or less OK with the condition. Not bad- 172,000 mi's. on the original axle; (I replaced the other side at about 130,000 mi's.)

The next day I picked up a re-manufactured axle at Checker Auto for $80.00- I wanted to use one of the Subaru 'factory' re-man' axles, but the local dealer wanted $180.(!?!) and we didn't have time to wait to get one for $105. from SubaruParts.com.

Her Dad is a vol. fireman (like I was), so he let us do it at the fire station a block from their house. (We've got snow- dark, cold, wet and sloppy- so I obviously didn't want to do it in the driveway) It took me all of about 40 minutes to change it out. (the worst part of the job is getting underneath to connect at the diff with all the wet stuff dripping all over you) I admit I managed to get the hole aligned at the diff. on the first try of the spline, but I did have to 'persuade' the old axle out of the wheel hub.

I've done these a whole bunch of times between CV/axle repairs, clutch replacements, etc., so the practice certainly helps. The whole Subaru driveline hasn't changed that much since I first started doing these with my first Sub'y in '81.

I'd try fitting the hub spline first from the 'outside' before I 'wrestled' it from the 'inside'. You're going to know real quick if it fits or not by trying from the outside first.

It wouldn't be the first time one got mis-labeled.

Good Luck.

-Mark