# Subaru rear diff locking problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** legacy, subaru\ **Created:** [November 15, 2013, 7:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-rear-diff-locking-problem/82247 "2013-11-15T07:15:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![clivecollins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5a626/32.png) [@clivecollins](https://community.cartalk.com/u/clivecollins)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 7:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-rear-diff-locking-problem/82247/1 "2013-11-15T07:15:01Z")
for the past few weeks when turning corners the outer rear tyre is skipping as if the diff is locked. was thinking of taking it into the mechanincs and maybe replacing it, but now the problem has gone no skipping when turning. could this be an electrical problem mayb a sensor? ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 8:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-rear-diff-locking-problem/82247/2 "2013-11-15T08:55:21Z")
What’s an outer tire?? ---
**Author:** ![clivecollins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5a626/32.png) [@clivecollins](https://community.cartalk.com/u/clivecollins)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 9:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-rear-diff-locking-problem/82247/3 "2013-11-15T09:05:51Z")
Say I’m turning to the left the rear drivers side tyre is skipping (the tyre traveling the furthest) ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 9:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-rear-diff-locking-problem/82247/4 "2013-11-15T09:07:27Z")
Have you always made sure that your tire circumferences matched? If not, this is the type of damage that can result. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 9:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-rear-diff-locking-problem/82247/5 "2013-11-15T09:48:57Z")
My Ford truck has a locking differential and it can sort of make an audible noise when turning slow. It’s the locking-clutches slipping. It’s not the tires skipping, it is coming from inside the diff. For my truck anyway. Do your tires look scuffed? I’m not familiar w/Subaru locking diffs, so it could indeed be an electrical issue, but probably the first thing to do is make sure the diff fluid level is up to where it should be. On my truck this means to remove the fill plug, and the level should be to where the fluid is almost coming out the hole. Check your owners manual for how to do it on your Subbie. ---
**Author:** ![clivecollins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5a626/32.png) [@clivecollins](https://community.cartalk.com/u/clivecollins)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 9:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-rear-diff-locking-problem/82247/6 "2013-11-15T09:53:57Z")
The two front tyres are a bit more warn than the rear tyres . I throurght it could be electrical because it comes and goes. ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-rear-diff-locking-problem/82247/7 "2013-11-15T15:29:40Z")
How old is it? Older Subbies had mechanical, limited slip rear differentials that may just need service, newer electric using the abs. When was the last time the fluid was replaced or checked regardless ? This includes the center differential which may be problem ! How often do you rotate your tires and have it serviced ? They don’t fix themselves and it will get worse. Hopefully it’s just uneven tire wear and fixable by service, and new tires. Don’t wait as you are wearing components. . **Just an aside…but this is the third problem in a row where people are waiting for potentially easy fixes to fix them selves while the car could cost them a mint later**. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-rear-diff-locking-problem/82247/8 "2013-11-15T16:31:59Z")
**“The two front tyres are a bit more warn (sic) than the rear tyre”** Rather than the rear differential being the problem, I believe that the CENTER differential is the source of the problem, and the sentence above is the smoking gun that provides the evidence. AWD vehicles are not supposed to be driven with tires that are unevenly **worn** or that are not precisely matched in terms of size & type. When owners do not rotate tires on a regular schedule, and/or when they replace tires in sets of less than 4, they cause damage to the center differential/viscous coupler, and this damage shows up in scuffing/locking of some of the tires on tight turns. The OP should take the car to a Subaru specialist, and should be prepared for a repair bill somewhere north of $500 for replacement of the center differential/viscous coupler. While the repair costs won’t increase if the OP drives the car until total failure takes place, the unfortunate part is that he shot himself in the foot by using unmatched tires. ---
**Author:** ![LewisCannon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/lewiscannon/32/2614_2.png) [@LewisCannon](https://community.cartalk.com/u/LewisCannon)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-rear-diff-locking-problem/82247/9 "2013-11-16T03:15:32Z")
"Say I’m turning to the left the rear drivers side tyre is skipping **(the tyre traveling the furthest)**" Only if your car is right hand drive 🙂