center differantial problem?

[DP]

I've got a 98 Subaru Outback and I think the center differential is
experiencing some difficulties. When taking off from a stop and turning the
wheels seem to fight each other and the car kind of shudders and shakes as
though it's not going to continue. Getting ready to take it to get looked
at but thought some of you might have some insight into the problem that
might be helpful.
Thanks,
Drew

 

[Florian Feuser /FFF/]

I've got a 98 Subaru Outback and I think the center differential is
experiencing some difficulties. When taking off from a stop
and turning the
wheels seem to fight each other and the car kind of
shudders and shakes as
though it's not going to continue. Getting ready to take it
to get looked
at but thought some of you might have some insight into
the problem that
might be helpful.
Thanks,
Drew

I've had a problem with a burnt-out center differential on my 95 MT Legacy
causing it to bind. There was never any problem accelerating or going in a
straight line, however decelerating in a curve - in or out of gear - caused the
same symptoms you describe and only so after driving for a while.

This was caused by the viscous coupling inside the manual transmission binding
as soon as the drive train reached operating temperature.
FYI: I bought a used low-mileage transmission from car-parts.com and had an
independent mechanic do the swap.

Florian

 

[Edward Hayes]

SOArecomends that the tire CIRCUMFERENCE should be within 1/4 inch for all
four tires or you can have wear on the driveline. Check tires to see if
their badly mismatched. ed

 

[Florian Feuser /FFF/]

SOArecomends that the tire CIRCUMFERENCE should be within
1/4 inch for all
four tires or you can have wear on the driveline.
Check tires to see if their badly mismatched. ed

I am sure SOA recommendations are on the safe side. I posted my [bad?] math here
a while ago: <http://tinyurl.com/6k8fj>
I would definitively not recommend running different size tires on a Subaru but
I think the potential for damage is grossly exaggerated in this theory. 1/4" in
circumference is probably well within manufacturer's tolerances and/or uneven
inflation and wear.

Florian

 

[Edward Hayes]

I agree that the "ideal" is probabably exaggerated but, I've heard of people
using some really outside tires on their vehicles and needed to make sure
your not one of them. My 215/60/16 tires yield a 1/4 inch circumference
difference when the tread difference is between 2/32 and 3/32 inch. ed

SOArecomends that the tire CIRCUMFERENCE should be within
1/4 inch for all
four tires or you can have wear on the driveline.
Check tires to see if their badly mismatched. ed

I am sure SOA recommendations are on the safe side. I posted my [bad?]
math here
a while ago: <http://tinyurl.com/6k8fj>
I would definitively not recommend running different size tires on a
Subaru but
I think the potential for damage is grossly exaggerated in this theory.
1/4" in
circumference is probably well within manufacturer's tolerances and/or
uneven
inflation and wear.

Florian

 

[DP]

SOArecomends that the tire CIRCUMFERENCE should be within 1/4 inch for all
four tires or you can have wear on the driveline. Check tires to see if
their badly mismatched. ed
"Florian Feuser /FFF/"

1/4 inch? Am I missing something?

 

[CompUser]

On Sun, 05 Sep 2004 02:11:07 GMT, "Edward Hayes"
Do you people in USA have spacer saver spare wheels?
If so I think SOA need to compare what they say with what they supply.
My space saver is a good 2 inches less in diameter than the tyres
fitted on the car.

Yes, we have the dinky spare.

And to make it worse, the stock wheel/tire won't
fit down in the well.

 

[Edward Hayes]

My 2000 Forester has the same size spare, same brand, model and size. ed

 

[bill-robinson]

On Sun, 05 Sep 2004 02:11:07 GMT, "Edward Hayes"
Do you people in USA have spacer saver spare wheels?
If so I think SOA need to compare what they say with what they supply.
My space saver is a good 2 inches less in diameter than the tyres
fitted on the car.
Bill

 

[ceraboy]

On Sun, 05 Sep 2004 02:11:07 GMT, "Edward Hayes"
Do you people in USA have spacer saver spare wheels?
If so I think SOA need to compare what they say with what they supply.
My space saver is a good 2 inches less in diameter than the tyres
fitted on the car.
Bill

The dinky spare is meant to get you home or to the mechanic, not as a
backup cross country spare tire. Most sub-size spares are 50mph
maximum. Unless you were really in a jam you dont want to putting lots
of high speed or off the beaten path miles on these.

 

[CompUser]

@news.cle.sbcglobal.net>, (e-mail address removed)
says...

The dinky spare is meant to get you home or to the mechanic, not as a
backup cross country spare tire. Most sub-size spares are 50mph
maximum. Unless you were really in a jam you dont want to putting lots
of high speed or off the beaten path miles on these.

He was pointing up the "don't let ANY tire vary
by more than 1/4" warning, with respect to having
a SPARE that's *two inches* different.

I think we're all familiar with the recommended
usage for space-saver spares. It's just the size
variance, WRT Subarus, that seems
irreconciliable.

 

[ceraboy]

@news.cle.sbcglobal.net>, (e-mail address removed)
says...

He was pointing up the "don't let ANY tire vary
by more than 1/4" warning, with respect to having
a SPARE that's *two inches* different.

I think we're all familiar with the recommended
usage for space-saver spares. It's just the size
variance, WRT Subarus, that seems
irreconciliable.

That is a ridiculous assumption, if everyone was "all familiar" as you
suggest to the implication of using the spare, such a question would
not arise! Common sense dictates that a sub-size spare is meant for
emmergency situations, in which warnings regarding typical driving need
not apply. If this cannot be deduced by the average adult, then SOA
will further need to reduce the reading level of their manuals to
approach that of kindergarten.

In an emmergency You can run your WRX without coolant and gear oil for
a very short time without damage. If SOA ever mentioned this in a
manual, who knows how many morons would come back to SOA saying they
were under the impression they could drive cross country without
essential engine fluids, demanding frivolous lawsuits and compenstaion
for their stupidity.

Visous coupled differentials, the cheapest type of limited slip
differentials, were not particularly designed for heavy off road use
where there is a nearly contant power transfer beyond 50/50 for
extended time durations. Tire mismatch of even a 1/4" can essentially
fool the differential into thinking there is constant slippage in which
over time the differential can overheat. Your differential is not
going to fail overnight, but after 100,000+ miles or so you may have
shortened the life of the part.

 

[bill-robinson]

The dinky spare is meant to get you home or to the mechanic, not as a
backup cross country spare tire. Most sub-size spares are 50mph
maximum. Unless you were really in a jam you dont want to putting lots
of high speed or off the beaten path miles on these.

I realise that, but I was getting at the 1/4 inch circumference
difference that was quoted . 2 inches in diameter is about 6 inches in
circumference so I would think that 50 miles with that difference
would do a lot of damage to a diff but Subaru supply a space caver
spare and give the information on its use.


bill

 

[JW]

I've got a 98 Subaru Outback and I think the center differential is
experiencing some difficulties. When taking off from a stop and turning
the
wheels seem to fight each other and the car kind of shudders and shakes
as
though it's not going to continue. Getting ready to take it to get
looked
at but thought some of you might have some insight into the problem that
might be helpful.

I bought a used 99 which did that, turned out the dealership had slipped a
pair of new tires on the front to make it look better on their lot. Once
all four tires were the same, no more problem!