Thumping sound when wheel is turned hard in either direction.

[Frank54]

I have a 2012 Outback, 2.5 liter, 6 speed manual. I bought it about 4 years ago with about 88K miles on it. After driving it for about 20K miles I noticed a thumping sound when the wheel is turned hard either left or right. Okay, so I brought it back to the dealership (not Subaru) and they figured it was a CV joint. I thought that's what is was too. They replaced both front axles and i drove it home. Everything was okay. A few days later, after driving 20 miles or so, I heard the same sound while parking. It turns out it only does it after I drive at least 10 miles or so. I took the car back to the dealer, they kept it a few more days and couldn't figure it out. They then told me to take it to a Subaru dealer. Luckily it I bought the extended warrantee. They were able to fix the problem. If I remember correctly, it turned out to be the front differential which they replaced. Now, with about 150K miles, the same thing is happening. How could something like a differential fail after only about 30K miles?

Any ideas?

 

[bmart]

How did they find that it failed? Hard to tell from the other end of the Internet...

 

[Frank54]

That I don't know. The just told me they replaced it. The weird thing is that it only does it when everything is warm. In fact, one day I drove a friend over a hundred miles to pick up his KIA so he bought me lunch. We were in the restaurant for no more than an hour and when I came out, I had to turn the wheel all the way to get out of my parking spot and it was quiet, but when I got home, it still did it. Very strange. I wish I could take it to "Mr. Subaru," but he's in S. Carolina, and I'm in Montana.

I do a lot of things myself, but I'm 70 now and pulling the front diff would be a bit much for me now.

 

[Frank54]

There's mechanic my friend brings her car to who has a sign in front of his shop that says: "Subaru Specialist." I don't know much about him except my friend brings her Toyota pickup there and she's satisfied with him.

I'll definitely post the solution here when I find out what's going on.

 

[piste]

hmm. curious where this one ends up. sounds like some of these guys are giving you diagnosis by wallet....

 

[Mark Monte]

Frank, I was skeptical, at first,, since it sounds a lot like a driveaxle problem.
Here is a video of the front differential getting loose; this might be the thump you heard.

Frank, I hear you, man, 'cuz, I'm 70 too!
This means that I am more inclined to let a mechanic fix my car when it is a major job. I'm calling it my new "delegation-style" where I let the one most experienced man with the required tools and work-space do the repair. It takes a lot of trust, and usually hits you in the pocketbook.