Signs of a failing front diff?? (UPDATE - bad bearing in drivetrain)

windmill · 11-17-2007, 09:42 AM

Hi All,

I've started to notice a howling noise coming from the front of the car. It's only audible when I've got my foot on the gas pedal. When I lift, the noise goes away. Is this the sign of a failing front diff?

The front diff and tranny share the same fluid reservoir, right? My tranny fluid is full, but the dealer (during the 60K service about 1200 miles ago) only filled it half full before I drove it home. I noticed a whining noise coming from the tranny, checked the fluid, and had them add more.

If it's their fault, I'll be really pissed.

Jays05WRB · 11-18-2007, 11:09 PM

Howling noise? Hhhmmm......Is your fluid at full now? If so is it still making the sound?

flatthump · 11-18-2007, 11:18 PM

Howling noise....hmmm.....Mine has one too...but it's pretty common...

Jays05WRB · 11-18-2007, 11:47 PM

Just wondering what rpm does it howl at? Dose it affect the performance?

windmill · 11-19-2007, 09:44 AM

The howling is definitely a new noise. It sounds almost like a cross between gear whining and driving through water (almost like a hissing... but I don't think it's turbo related). Strange description, I know, but those are the two sounds that come to mind when I hear it.

It happens at around 3K RPM and higher. Tranny fluid level is full. It happens under acceleration and moderate throttle. It goes away with low or no throttle. When I let off the throttle after acceleration, that transition feels a lot more abrupt.

Isn't diagnosing noises over the internet fun?

***520*** · 11-19-2007, 09:46 AM

maybe a slight boost leak?

any performance change?

windmill · 11-19-2007, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 520hpSTi

maybe a slight boost leak?

any performance change?

No real performance change. Car can still hit full boost.

Jays05WRB · 11-19-2007, 10:59 AM

Does it kinda sounds like a pinging sounds or sort of like a hint of grinding?

Jays05WRB · 11-20-2007, 10:46 PM

Does the howling happend when the car is hot or cold? Maybe both?

blindfold · 11-20-2007, 11:08 PM

do you have any bushings?

Iguana · 11-20-2007, 11:25 PM

Is checking the tranny fluid level easy? I think I may need to do this.

windmill · 11-25-2007, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iguana

Is checking the tranny fluid level easy? I think I may need to do this.

Checking tranny fluid is really easy. When the car is cold, pop the hood and look down near the turbo. On the tranny case you'll see a small dipstick that you can use to check the fluid.

windmill · 11-25-2007, 06:33 AM

I took it to the dealer, and they think a bearing in the rear diff is starting to fail (could be in the transmission, too... hard to tell). Tranny and rear diff fluid are very clean, though, which is good... no metal flakes or anything.

Know what Subaru wants for a rear diff? $1895

I think I'll wait until I'm damn sure which bearing is failing, and then find a good transmission shop and have them replace it (and maybe the clutch at the same time).

The car is only 1800 miles out of powertrain warranty. This sucks.

Anyone know a vendor on this site that sells Motul products? I think I'll toss some in my trans and diff and see how far I get.

shockey` · 11-25-2007, 07:20 AM

Motul Lubricants

***Datadatum*** · 11-25-2007, 07:30 AM

Did you ask the dealer if they could pro-rate the repair for you, as the car is stock and only -just- out of warranty?

11-17-2007, 09:42 AM	#1
windmill Professional STI Driver Car: 04 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: COBB Stage 1! Posts: 439 Join Date: May 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Signs of a failing front diff?? (UPDATE - bad bearing in drivetrain) Hi All, I've started to notice a howling noise coming from the front of the car. It's only audible when I've got my foot on the gas pedal. When I lift, the noise goes away. Is this the sign of a failing front diff? The front diff and tranny share the same fluid reservoir, right? My tranny fluid is full, but the dealer (during the 60K service about 1200 miles ago) only filled it half full before I drove it home. I noticed a whining noise coming from the tranny, checked the fluid, and had them add more. If it's their fault, I'll be really pissed. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad. Last edited by windmill : 11-25-2007 at 06:35 AM. Reason: Update...

11-18-2007, 11:09 PM	#2
Jays05WRB Junior STI Driver Car: WRB 05 wrx STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Location: Sacramento Posts: 74 Join Date: Sep 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Signs of a failing front diff?? Howling noise? Hhhmmm......Is your fluid at full now? If so is it still making the sound?

11-18-2007, 11:18 PM	#3
flatthump Enginerd Car: The Spaze Mobile Fav Mod: Tuning Location: South O.C., Ca Posts: 12,844 Join Date: Jan 2006 Trader Rating: (5)	Re: Signs of a failing front diff?? Howling noise....hmmm.....Mine has one too...but it's pretty common...

11-18-2007, 11:47 PM	#4
Jays05WRB Junior STI Driver Car: WRB 05 wrx STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Location: Sacramento Posts: 74 Join Date: Sep 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Signs of a failing front diff?? Just wondering what rpm does it howl at? Dose it affect the performance?

11-19-2007, 09:44 AM	#5
windmill Professional STI Driver Car: 04 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: COBB Stage 1! Posts: 439 Join Date: May 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Signs of a failing front diff?? The howling is definitely a new noise. It sounds almost like a cross between gear whining and driving through water (almost like a hissing... but I don't think it's turbo related). Strange description, I know, but those are the two sounds that come to mind when I hear it. It happens at around 3K RPM and higher. Tranny fluid level is full. It happens under acceleration and moderate throttle. It goes away with low or no throttle. When I let off the throttle after acceleration, that transition feels a lot more abrupt. Isn't diagnosing noises over the internet fun?

11-19-2007, 09:46 AM	#6
*520* STi > EVO... Wait what??? Car: 03 EVO Fav Mod: stock :( Location: Michigan / Saint Louis Posts: 12,397 Join Date: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Signs of a failing front diff?? maybe a slight boost leak? any performance change?

11-19-2007, 10:59 AM	#8
Jays05WRB Junior STI Driver Car: WRB 05 wrx STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Location: Sacramento Posts: 74 Join Date: Sep 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Signs of a failing front diff?? Does it kinda sounds like a pinging sounds or sort of like a hint of grinding?

11-20-2007, 10:46 PM	#9
Jays05WRB Junior STI Driver Car: WRB 05 wrx STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Location: Sacramento Posts: 74 Join Date: Sep 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Signs of a failing front diff?? Does the howling happend when the car is hot or cold? Maybe both?

11-20-2007, 11:08 PM	#10
blindfold Silver Member Car: 2004 WRB STi Location: Atlanta,GA Posts: 1,901 Join Date: Aug 2006 Trader Rating: (14)	Re: Signs of a failing front diff?? do you have any bushings?

11-20-2007, 11:25 PM	#11
Iguana Spec C Club Car: 06 Aspen White STI Fav Mod: Defi's Location: Northern California Posts: 1,384 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Signs of a failing front diff?? Is checking the tranny fluid level easy? I think I may need to do this.

11-25-2007, 06:33 AM	#13
windmill Professional STI Driver Car: 04 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: COBB Stage 1! Posts: 439 Join Date: May 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Signs of a failing front diff?? I took it to the dealer, and they think a bearing in the rear diff is starting to fail (could be in the transmission, too... hard to tell). Tranny and rear diff fluid are very clean, though, which is good... no metal flakes or anything. Know what Subaru wants for a rear diff? $1895 I think I'll wait until I'm damn sure which bearing is failing, and then find a good transmission shop and have them replace it (and maybe the clutch at the same time). The car is only 1800 miles out of powertrain warranty. This sucks. Anyone know a vendor on this site that sells Motul products? I think I'll toss some in my trans and diff and see how far I get.

11-25-2007, 07:20 AM	#14
shockey` Silver Member Car: 07 WRB WRX Fav Mod: rally school Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 1,875 Join Date: Aug 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Signs of a failing front diff?? (UPDATE - bad bearing in drivetrain) Motul Lubricants

11-25-2007, 07:30 AM	#15
*Datadatum* 100% More Wingless Car: 05 STi + 08 OBXT Fav Mod: baby seats Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 5,587 Join Date: May 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Signs of a failing front diff?? (UPDATE - bad bearing in drivetrain) Did you ask the dealer if they could pro-rate the repair for you, as the car is stock and only -just- out of warranty? This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.