11’ lgt driveshaft ujoint soot

[abakja1]

So i installed my Invidia N1 catback the other day and when doing so, i noticed black soot on the heat shield above the rear ujoint on the driveshaft.

The soot isnt like wet oil, but more like dry powder like looking.

I saw videos that ujoints can fail and that Subaru driveshafts arent serviceable. In Youtube, you can diy and press out the bearings or have a machine/driveshaft shop replace the ujoint. It may be better for me to just buy a new non-oem one off Amazon (best option for me in order to save on shipping cost to Hawaii And perhaps labor cost may be like $200).

 

Question is, if i dont feel any vibration or hear any noise from the driveline, should i be worried.

 

https://ibb.co/MZF1s63

https://ibb.co/bgZ0DN5

https://ibb.co/hRQx7tM

Edited May 19, 2020 by abakja1

[stewdogg]

Looks like the seal in one or more of the bearings let loose. It doesn't mean it's dry now, but will eventually because now moisture can get in and lube can get out.

The driveshaft is really easy to remove, just remove 4 small nuts/bolts at the rear diff, two bolts at the half shaft carrier bearing and slide it out. Then move the joints to see their condition.

I'm sure it will be fine till you notice some vibration, I just like to know before it's an issue.

 

I replaced my drive shaft because I had a small amount of driveline vibration, when I removed the driveshaft the u joints were pretty dry and really notchy. I also tried a Cardone driveshaft, but it had a worse vibration than the bad one I was taking out. I ended up with the Dorman driveshaft and I think it is a superior product to the Cardone shaft.

 

Towards the bottom of the page in this thread, I have some pics comparing the three driveshafts.

https://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/stewdoggs-2010-gt-269205p18.html

[creep_nu]

the dorman one looks pretty beefy and looks like it might be rebuildable?

[stewdogg]

the dorman one looks pretty beefy and looks like it might be rebuildable?

 

Yeah, it's beefier than the stock ujoints for sure. I tried pressing the stock bearings out, but it was so small and angled that I ended up bending it a bit on the last one, go figure.

[abakja1]

I ordered a Dorman off ebay for $370 shipped to my door. Its was much less than buying the carparts ine off amazon for 2x that price.

I figure just put in a new one instead of unbolting to inspect since I know that the ujoint is blowing out the lube anyways.

 

Ill get my car on the carjack 5000 to do the perrin steering lock, boomba shift plate and driveshaft all at one crack since im waiting on the parts to arrive...

 

This pandemic is costing me money with the parts and mods im doing....lol