ncbill Posted November 26, 2022 Share Posted November 26, 2022 (edited) Just in the last week or so I'm getting a squealing noise from up front...(base) 2005 Legacy i automatic, 118k miles. My local independent shop looked at it said it was not a wheel bearing & they don't do transmission work. Local transmission shop my mechanic recommends was closed all last week for the holiday. It does vary with speed, is intermittent (sometimes abruptly stops before starting up again), & does change with gear changes. Still shifts just fine...no slipping or hesitation. In others' experience does it sound like a transmission issue or something with the transfer case? I do want to keep it several more years...so what's recommended...used transmission if needed, or rebuild the original? Thanks for any thoughts! Edited November 27, 2022 by ncbill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted November 26, 2022 Share Posted November 26, 2022 What does the transmission fluid smell like ? is it burnt and a darker red color? 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relative4 Posted November 28, 2022 Share Posted November 28, 2022 The most common sources of squealing are the accessory belts. Have those been checked? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncbill Posted December 4, 2022 Author Share Posted December 4, 2022 No squealing until actually being driven...nothing while in park. It's parked somewhere else so I haven't checked the fluid yet...again, no hesitation or slipping while being driven. Right now I have an appointment with a recommended local transmission shop in a week. Assuming it is that what are the typical costs for rebuild/replacement of a 4EAT (phase/revision 2)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncbill Posted December 10, 2022 Author Share Posted December 10, 2022 Fluid checked...level top of range (checked hot), reddish-brown, last changed 2 years ago when the transmission control solenoid was replaced with a Rostra one. Still get the squealing sounds if shifted into neutral & allowed to coast. Already had the local mechanic check the wheel bearings, since the sound is not consistent with speed he didn't think it was a wheel bearing issue...did get a new axle out of that (torn CV boot) No hesitation or slipping on gear changes. Any other thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KZJonny Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 Does the front differential share fluid with the transmission on 4EAT’s? I should know this since I have one, but haven’t done the fluids in a long while. I’m pretty sure they do not, so perhaps checking the level/colour of the gear oil. Look for glitter if something went *really* wrong? if there *is* something wrong, I would imagine a junkyard trans would be easier/cheaper than a rebuild. These are actually relatively stout transmissions, and the failure rate on them is pretty low from what I can gather. Plenty lots of them in pick n pull yards these days, for probably like a couple hundred? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverton Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 I paid $3000+some change out the door to get the 4EAT rebuilt in my 2001 a few years ago, he gave a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty on it. "if it makes it past that, it's good" he said. LOL. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Febreze Mee Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 The 4EAT and front diff do not share the same fluid. Two separate fluid chambers there. MILKRUN - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncbill Posted December 12, 2022 Author Share Posted December 12, 2022 19 hours ago, KZJonny said: Does the front differential share fluid with the transmission on 4EAT’s? I should know this since I have one, but haven’t done the fluids in a long while. I’m pretty sure they do not, so perhaps checking the level/colour of the gear oil. Look for glitter if something went *really* wrong? if there *is* something wrong, I would imagine a junkyard trans would be easier/cheaper than a rebuild. These are actually relatively stout transmissions, and the failure rate on them is pretty low from what I can gather. Plenty lots of them in pick n pull yards these days, for probably like a couple hundred? car-part.com has some not too far away...the ones with under 100k miles are around $1200. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KZJonny Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 Don't know how far you are from it, or how much you feel like pulling your own stuff. Trans is a bit of a job, but there could be one in Charlotte? https://www.lkqpickyourpart.com/parts/charlotte-1228/?year=2005&make=SUBARU&model=OUTBACK Phase 1 4EAT. Looks like they come in around $400 with a 60 day warranty? Just a thought. Don't know if they're willing to take a look in the yard for you and talk about mileage and what is still in the car, but some places will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KZJonny Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 18 hours ago, Febreze Mee said: The 4EAT and front diff do not share the same fluid. Two separate fluid chambers there. Yeah, that was really early in the morning, and I hadn't had a coffee yet. I don't imagine diff gears would be terribly happy just being lubricated by ATF.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Febreze Mee Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 (edited) 52 minutes ago, KZJonny said: Yeah, that was really early in the morning, and I hadn't had a coffee yet. I don't imagine diff gears would be terribly happy just being lubricated by ATF.... You already knew the answer. You just need a little extra push towards confirmation Edited December 12, 2022 by Febreze Mee MILKRUN - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncbill Posted December 13, 2022 Author Share Posted December 13, 2022 (edited) Stumped the local go-to transmission guy for awhile...said he had never heard a sound like that before. But it wasn't the transmission...a clue was it made the same sounds coasting downhill in neutral. It turned out to be a bad (rough) bearing in the driveshaft...is it exposed to the weather? New driveshaft ~$700 installed...hopefully ready sometime today. Edited December 13, 2022 by ncbill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KZJonny Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 Glad you figured it out. Was is the carrier bearing or a u-joint? Doesn’t matter much at this point, but they’re all exposed to the elements, and the driveshaft Itself is considered a replacement part wear item, as the u-joints are hard to replace with new units, and the carrier bearing is not replaceable at all that I know of. When I replaced mine with an aftermarket part, it lasted like 2 weeks and blew up on the highway. Thankfully I was able to pull it out and get off the road… oe junkyard propshaft is 2 years and still going strong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncbill Posted December 14, 2022 Author Share Posted December 14, 2022 Carrier bearing...you could feel how rough it was turning it by hand. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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