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Post by thaddeusss on Jan 31, 2007 3:45:19 GMT -5
hey y'all...
I just got my new (old) '90 on the road today... drove her about 80 miles all told...
as I was on my way home I started noticing a squeaking noise coming from somewhere in the rear of the car...
then later on I started hearing a repetitive clunking noise... (both speed related)
it got worse... so I stopped and looked around. couldn't find anything wrong. the right rear wheel squeaks a little when I try to wiggle it, but it's not loose or anything. I get back in the car and drive off and it quit clunking... only sqeaking again. *squeak squeak squeak squeak*
then the clunking comes back
over and over again! I finally gave up trying to find it, and discovered that it comes and goes when I turn left and right a little. If I go in a straight line, it might start clunking, but if I swerve left and right (staying mostly in my lane) it goes away for a while. then it comes back... seems worst when I slow down. at 50 there's nothing, then at 35 it starts to clunk, then when I get to 15 or 20 it seems like something is about to explode. then I swerve around a bit and speed up and it goes away.
WTF?
I reached under and wiggled things... both rear axleshafts seem a little loose, but the boots are all good, and I've never seen a cv joint go bad with a perfectly good boot on it...
I thought it might be the wheel bearing but I've never had a bearing clunk like that.... it felt just like when I had an out-of-balance and bad-u-joint driveshaft in an old jeep.
I'm going to tear into it tomorrow, but thought I'd check for ideas... I'm new to the justy! (but loving it already)
thaddeus
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Post by Scoobaru on Jan 31, 2007 23:54:07 GMT -5
Well if it's repetitive and changes with your speed, got to be in the drivetrain somewhere. Have a close look at your driveshaft, the u-joints in there are a weak point. Also try going in and out of 4wd and see if it makes a difference.
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Post by thaddeusss on Feb 1, 2007 13:32:44 GMT -5
I tore into it yesterday, was a bad rear wheel bearing. the lip on the inside of the brake drum was rubbing against the outside of the bearing oil seal. it sure is F#%!ng hard to find wheel bearings and seals for this thing...
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Post by squeak077 on Feb 3, 2007 17:16:45 GMT -5
I agree some parts is hard to come by with these little rigs. Its almost worth the trouble to get a newer rig half the time. I have my own issues with mine now.
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Post by thaddeusss on Feb 5, 2007 15:38:03 GMT -5
GOOD LORD what a hassle this thing turned out to be...
1) I went to 6 different suppliers, including subaru dealership, to find someone who could get me the bearings and seals in less than a week.
2) when I got the bearings, I took the hubs to the subaru guy who couldn't press them out, they were stuck.
3) he tried to heat the hubs with a torch, but the torch was out of oxygen. welding supply guy said he'd deliver right away, but didn't make it until after closing time - couldn't do it that day. (friday, of course)
4) took the hubs to the NAPA machine shop on saturday. they got the bearings in but one of the seals was missing from the bag.
5)went to put the car together on sunday, discovered that not only did I not have the missing seal (subaru guy left it on his bench) but the machine shop guy put two inner bearings in one hub and two outer bearings in the other hub.
6) went back to NAPA this morning and had them re-install the bearings. ok! they had another seal for me (I had ordered them here before finding someone else could get them quicker)
7) tried to install - discovered that the outer seals were wrong. they gave me 4 inner seals, not two inner and two outer. outer seal is 6.5 mm thick, inner has different shaft dia. and much thicker - drum won't go on correctly.
8) ran all over trying to find someone who had a seal that would work on the outside... finally a napa guy found some that were 7 mm thick and had correct diameters (62mm outside, 40mm inner, btw) I took them home and used a knife to cut off all of the rubber from the back of the housing I could, which made them thin enough to clear the flange on the drum.
9) finally got everything put together. taking the car on a road trip to arizona and leaving tomorrrow morning!!! what a stressful pain in the ass that was...
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Post by thaddeusss on Feb 5, 2007 15:40:35 GMT -5
the lesson, of course, is don't try to be in a hurry to put your subaru together. you will have to be patient... and double-check all the parts are right before waiting a week to get them, or taking them home.
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Post by thaddeusss on Feb 5, 2007 15:41:15 GMT -5
oh and one more thing - if anyone needs inner rear hub seals, I have three of them. two slightly greasy but new, and one still in the package....
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Post by henri on Feb 5, 2007 15:47:42 GMT -5
how much did it end up costing you to replace both sets of rear bearings/seals?
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Post by thaddeusss on Feb 5, 2007 19:10:07 GMT -5
umm, I got all the parts at carquest. cost me $60 something in parts (but I got two of the wrong seals, which were 7.99 and had to buy two other, different ones at napa for $15 each) plus $30 labor for the machine shop to press them in.
so... all told including the wrong seals etc. it was just over $100. and if it weren't for all the running around and wrong part nonsense, I could have had it done in 2-3 hours, minus the machine shop time.
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Post by thaddeusss on Feb 20, 2007 12:41:33 GMT -5
new update - I'm on a road trip now, put about 3000 miles so far. the clunking noise came back after about 1000....
after fiddling and fiddling I have finally come to the conclusion that the threads on the RR axle/nut combo are slightly 'rounded' in the snug section - at some point while driving around all of a sudden the car starts to behave like it has a loose bearing again. (the rumbling/clunking, and it takes RH turns at high speed much sharper than LH turns) I tighten the nut down, and then a few hundred miles later it does it again... the nut shows signs of moving, it snugs up against the cotter pin, but doesn't seem to have really rotated much more than a few degrees. I thought at first that the axle just wasn't snugged in all the way, but I've tightened it down so many times now that's out of the question. I'm going to try just getting a new nut, but otherwise it's off to the wrecker to get a whole frickin' axle. it's a shame because the CVs are in great shape.
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89
got Mud? Ice? Snow?
Posts: 398
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Post by 89 on Feb 20, 2007 16:23:25 GMT -5
t, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you... let us know you make out. Afraid I might be having similar symptoms start up... What about the highest/new +6 thread locker goop out (Permatex?) Best Luck/Skill, #891989 Subaru JUSTY RS 4WD 126, 711 miles
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Post by SUBIEJIM on Feb 20, 2007 21:53:44 GMT -5
thaddeusss, As Lurch of the Addams family would say...UUUUUHHHHHHH!!! I had the same problem on the left rear axle and hub assembly on my 88 Justy when I bought it from it's previous owner back in 1999. I am an automotive instructor at CPCC in Charlotte NC and another instructor needed a class project so..OK, replace the LR hub bearings on my Justy. They did it while I was away at a confrence...BIG Mistake!!! After they replaced the bearings and seals on the LR axle I too, went through the "re-torque the nut" gig for about 4 months. Well, The noise got louder as I waited for another rear hub bearing kit to come in at the Subaru dealer..."National back order" the parts guy said.."They gotta come from Japan"! Unfortunately, for me...Mr LR hub bearing didn't get the memo! He locked up at 35 MPH and wiped out the hub spline in the drum and also cooked the LR outer axle splines as well! I was lucky, the next day I found an 88 Justy 4WD RS on a crush pile at a local salvage yard (It was the top car on a 4 car stack and minutes from death) I had to make the call...$35.00 for the LR axle,hub,and drum assembly or..$100.00 for the car... ....That was the best $100.00 I ever spent!! I still have that 88 RS parts car and it has saved the life of at least 3 Justys I know of. Conclusion: Get the salvage axle/hub/knuckle assembly!! The one from my RS parts car is still performing flawlessly and best of all it was cheap!! If ya have the space..A parts car is INVALUABLE!!!! These cars are getting hard to find and as you know the parts are big $$$$$ if you can find them! Good luck! Jim
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Post by blackjusty on Aug 10, 2007 23:31:29 GMT -5
I had the same problem, what a hassle, I must have retorqued and relubed my rear bearing hundreds of times. If it runs loose it ruins the seal and you need to relube it and torque it again. I replaced the whole assembly incluing the axle with one off of another car. Then the dealer said torque the castle nut to 60lbs but that was too loose, I ended up at 120lbs and it's been working good for a long time. I still carry the socket, wrench and grease in the car. Even if those are the only tools I carry.
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