U joint?

[Bosco]

Um... why can't I change my u joints?

They are apparently a dealer part? and do not have the standard snap-ring type of thingy holding them on...

I'm cornfused...

I think the 2 rear u-joints on my touring wagon (4eat of course) are a little less than smooth turning (I'm having vibration issues). I want to replace them. Do I have to replace the whole back part of the driveshaft?

Are the driveshafts from a turbo 4eat different than the N/A ones?

Thanks for any help.
I can't believe I'm resorting to asking you guys about changing U-joints! I'd think I could handle that myself...

[THAWA]

you're not supposed to replace just the joints, apparently the driveshafts come balanced from the factory. so you'd probably be best off replacing the whole thing, the turbo shafts shouldn't be any different. what's happening that's making you think it's the u-joints?

[Bosco]

It's humming /vibrating noise at virtually all speeds. It changes tone at certain speeds. At 65mph it really howls.

My first tought was a bad tire... couldn't find any signs of that.
Then my second thought was a wheel bearing. It seemed to be coming from the front.
I had our local yokel mechanic look at it. He's usually pretty good, I dunno about how experienced he is with subarus though.
He said all he could find wrong was the fact that the rear 2 universal joints were a little bit "knotty".

I still think that it sounds like it's coming from the front, but I suppose the vibration could be traveling and just fooling me.

SO... Since I can't just buy U-joints, I'm thinking I could run to the JY, grab a rear driveshaft and throw it in to see if the trouble stops or changes... It's already been all apart, so I shouldn't have any trouble getting it off.

[THAWA]

are you sure it's not your transmission? Does the sound only happen when you open the throttle?

[Bosco]

are you sure it's not your transmission?

Well, I'm not SURE of anything, but I really don't think it's the tranny. My 5mt has groanng shaft bearings and a bad throwout, so i'm familiar with those particular sounds...

Does the sound only happen when you open the throttle?

Nope, it happens during decelleration and braking too. It goes back through all the different tones as it goes down through the speeds.