This is the third time the dealership has removed and replaced the drive shaft in my 2001 subaru forester (manual transmission - 150K miles); I still have the same symptoms. Somewhat over year ago, my car developed a notable clunking (that felt like someone with hard-toed boots was kicking the…

Time to read up on the lemon law for your state. //www.jdpower.com/cc/auto/bbb/lemon_law.jsp or http://www.lemonlawamerica.com/

“Time to read up on the lemon law for your state.” Joseph–Re-read the OP’s message. The vehicle is now at least 7 years old! Lemon Law? I don’t think so.

Read the fine-print on your extended maintenance contract. You may be able to get the “Home Office” involved (constructively). A suspension and alignment shop may be able to diagnose the problem. Check your contract to see if they can repair the car, under the contract.

Thanks for the posts - What extended maintenance contract? Yes, the car was purchased seven years ago. It has had drive train issues from the beginning - from a pressure plate that made of defective materials (and beyond warrenty), to a big bad rear differential problem and now this. Any thoughts ab…

The viscous coupler could produce most of the symptoms that you describe, but I am not sure that it would produce a clunking noise. That is the one part that has me stumped, but I do think that the diagnosis of a bad viscous coupler certainly has some merit. I would suggest that you pre-arrange wi…

Sounds like they’re referring to a center carrier bearing on the driveshaft. At 150k miles it’s entirely possible this is the problem. A quick look at several parts sites do not show this carrier bearing, or U-joints as being available. This could mean either going to the dealer or an independent d…

Thank you for the recommendation. There is a dedicated subaru shop (not the dealer) in town. If there is an entirely new drive shaft installed now, wouldn’t that mean that there is a new carrier bearing (it’s part of the drive shaft?)? Right now the dealer is telling me that I have 6 months warranty…

The word “rebuilt” can mean many things on a driveshaft. To me, it means all U-joints and the center carrier bearing was replaced. Some may consider the replacement of 1 U-joint a “rebuild” job. I had forgotten some things in your original post and they raise a red flag over what has allegedly been …

I assume the shaft that has been redone 3 times is the one going from viscous coupler to the rear differential? Seems that if they ran the thing while it was on the lift, that they would be able to see the shaft wobble, or whatever wobble. Have they ruled out wheel bearings, poor struts (which can …

2001 subaru forester drive shaft or viscous coupler? Help!

Maintenance/Repairs

snoozin February 23, 2008, 5:35pm 7

Thank you - Although, I asuume the labor is majority of the cost of the viscous couple. Thanks for confirming the symptoms related to that. The thunking seems to be play in the drive shaft knocking against the frame of the vehicle - or that’s what I’ve been told.

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2001 subaru forester drive shaft or viscous coupler? Help!

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