09 LGT - noisy tranny, replacement recommended but not available

[fourstringfletch]

Greetings,

 

First, my thanks to all of you for the wealth of info here. I read a lot, and don't say much and I would really appreciate your help getting my car back in service. My 09 LGT 5MT is bone stock and right at 100k miles.

 

It started making a crunchy sound only on deceleration when in any gear several weeks ago and I was able to improve it slightly by adjusting tire pressure. The noise now exists in any rolling condition, but doesn't effect performance at all. Had the tranny fluid flushed on my way back from AZ to CO and found a pretty fuzzy drain plug - something is falling apart inside. So I left it with a well reviewed subaru specialty shop in Flagstaff two weeks ago today. Their good reputation keeps them busy though and they penciled me in for the 19th.

 

Meanwhile, they took a stethoscope to it and hypothesize that the the main and counter shafts are pulling apart. I can confirm that the noise is at the back of the tranny but they don't think it's the center diff. They and another subaru specialist in CO have recommended replacing the transmission as the only way to ditch the noise. However, they can't seem to find one.

 

With that info, I would like to solicit any creative solutions. Any ideas on a different tranny that could work, even if it means replacing the rear diff too?

Or, a fluid cocktail that might limp it 700 miles to a friend's shop where we could tear it down? What else am I not considering? Hoping I can revive my tranny since they're so hard to find and this doesn't feel like a major problem yet. Feels like a bearing; gears have never slipped.

Any other diagnostics? Could we disconnect the rear drive shaft and/or remove the center diff to create a FWD car and thereby determine if the problem is in the tranny or diff? Quick diagnostics are preferred since it's at a shop.

 

I wish I had taken a video of the noise before parting with it but here's the closest I've found on youtube that sounds similar.

 

Thanks again for your wisdom.

 

Cheers,

Fletcher

[digger47]

Car-part.com

[Heticor]

do a test on the central differential. dive slow and do sharp turns , similar when you are parking. if you feel like the car is binding and produce noise. your central differential require replacement.

 

or could be the bearings on the central differential check this thread.

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/legacy-2-5gt-center-differential-bearing-swap-204445.html

[fourstringfletch]

Thanks for chiming in so quickly guys.

It looks like I spoke too soon though and they found one today with 34k on it.

 

I'll be learning a lot about this once it's in pieces and then it's going into a proper race kit. Props to R&A import auto in Flagstaff if all goes to plan. New clutch, tob and tranny for $2,300.

 

Thanks again.

[GEE-OTTO]

Thanks for chiming in so quickly guys.

It looks like I spoke too soon though and they found one today with 34k on it.

 

I'll be learning a lot about this once it's in pieces and then it's going into a proper race kit. Props to R&A import auto in Flagstaff if all goes to plan. New clutch, tob and tranny for $2,300.

 

Thanks again.

 

The 09 5MT is a stout gearbox, but they fail esp if the previous or current owner drives the car improperly or at the extreme frequently. Depending on the mileage a proper rebuild will transform the car. I considered having my 09 LGT 5MT rebuilt preemtively as they layshaft and main synchros were noisy 1st-3rd and reverse from time to time was clunky.

 

If the main and layshafts are flexing apart like they think a rebuild wont help you Case flex is for life the only thing you can do is get a new case or different rebuilt gearbox or not drive it hard.

[Ein3000]

do a test on the central differential. dive slow and do sharp turns , similar when you are parking. if you feel like the car is binding and produce noise. your central differential require replacement.

 

or could be the bearings on the central differential check this thread.

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/legacy-2-5gt-center-differential-bearing-swap-204445.html

 

 

What if it only does this on cold starts or sometimes not at all?

[fourstringfletch]

Thanks again guys. I'll let you know what I find when I crack the case open.

[Max Capacity]

Thanks again guys. I'll let you know what I find when I crack the case open.

 

You may find you need special tools to get to the issue once the case is opened.