94 AWD 4EAT tailshaft extension building

[Adam Lee]

Hey yall...

I've taken up the call. I'm going to start collecting all the facts I can related to repairing the troublesome pre-98 4EAT tailshaft extension with the metal-on-aluminum bearing scenario found only on the AWD units. (the famous "torque bind")

Rather than call it quits and simply pass the wagon on to the trans shop, where they'd just trash the trans as a unit and bolt in a rebuild, I want to try my hand at ONLY doing the extension portion. My '94 4EAT shifts and operates absolutely fine. I really don't think the torque converter or the clutches in the trans housing have been harmed...just that the bearing support needs to be replaced along with the bearing, the solenoid, and fluids.

The best case scenario would be me finding a used take-out tranny complete with AWD tailshaft extension from a 98-up 4EAT. I'm not holding my breath!

However, if anyone knows of such a beast...I'm all ears!

And...more importantly...if anyone has done such a remove & replace (r&r) to their AWD pre-95 Soob, love to hear about it!

Gracias

Adam
__________________
96 9C1 LT-1 Caprice ex-Las Vegas
70 M35A2 Kaiser Jeep 6x6
70 M151A2 AM General 4x4 Mutt
94 Subaru Legacy LSi wagon

When you cut my hair, are you cutting my powers?

[vrg3]

Have you read Dave's little writeup on torque bind at
www.legacycentral.org/library/torquebind.htm? He says in there that on pre-95 models the problem is often just a solenoid.

I don't have anything else useful to say about your questions, but welcome to the board! Where near DC are you?

[Adam Lee]

Thanks a ton, vrg3!

Yes, that was a very helpful webpage that I had stumbled upon once some time ago, but lost....describes exactly what's up with my car.

Since my uncle runs his own trans shop, I'm going to go thru him and have him take care of it. After seeing a price tag associated with the complete fix, and seeing that figure repeated elsewhere, I have more of an idea of the economic hit this might be....and even around $750, it's worth it for this car.

Thanks for the link!

[Adam Lee]

vrg3, you asked me where I was located in Metro DC area. I reside in the northeastern edge of Alexandria, on the border of Arlington near Fairlington off Quaker Lane.

Nice old condo apartmrnt neighborhood built in the 40's and early 50's that has 2 bedroom condo prices currently floating around 325-350,000$.

Can you believe that? Only 4 years ago, the same thing would've been 125,000$ at the max. That's the crazy NOVA/DC/suburban maryland housing market for ya!

adam

[totech]

Why not just buy the Subaru Friction modifier?

I have owned 8 Subaru's 6 of them 4EAT's and most of them have developed torque bind in some capacity.

Everytime it happens, I drop into my friendly neighbourhood Subaru Dealer, and get them to add the friction modifier. A few circle 8's and I usually get another year of no binding..

Re-build it if you like....

[vrg3]

Oh, neat. It's cool that we're getting a few more board members in the DC area... we should have meets and stuff.

Good luck with the problem. Listen to the 4EAT owners on the board (like totech). Lots of knowledge.

[Legacy777]

got a part # for that friction modifier stuff?

[totech]

Josh,

I can ask next time I am in

[Legacy777]

Cool,

I'd like some reference to it, because I know others have the problem, and if I can give them a part # to give to their subaru dealer, it'd be a lot better, especially when most subaru dealers don't know it exsits....

[vrg3]

So does the friction modifier just help the various clutches and brake bands grip?

[Adam Lee]

Thanks for the tip - I'm all for a quick cure, be it an additive or what have you. Just a little sceptical since I have heard so many iterations of what is actually failing and how to tackle the problem.

If indeed this can help in any way, who adds the stuff? If it were me, I'd really rather do that than pay a shop monkey to do something I can myself. So how much do you add? Do you mix it with the tranny fluid? Do you precede that with a complete fluid drain/flush/refill?

An easy cure tempts me, and I'd rather try that first and see what it gets me. Fill us in - and thanks!

adam

[totech]

I will be at the dealer tomorrow, and will get the part number.

I always let them install it.

[totech]

Well here it is!!

My 93 recently swapped 4EAT sucked the big one since I got it back.

Creaking, Bucking, clunking general driveability problems whenever the wheel was turned.

So, I dropped in today to my neighbourhood Subie dealer to get it fixed, and an answer for you all.

I asked for the bottle, so I could share it with you all - I have pictures if you need but, here is the info, and you will be as shocked as me.

AC/Delco Limited Slip Differential Lubricant Additive.

Part number 992694.

Into the dipstick tube it went, a couple of circle 8's, a quick drive home, and the tranny is as smooth as my 2003.

Hope this helps.

[Adam Lee]

Cool! Thanks for the p/n....it will be my "cheap trick" first cure attempt...

adam

[totech]

The service manager that gave me it has been working with Subaru's for over 15 years, and says it seems to solve all of these binding issues, infact he installs it in all his new Subarus as part of the PDI.