Thanks for the video. My 02 wrx wagon has the same issue, at first I thought it was an issue with the rear diff because I would hear this horrible clunking that sounded like it was coming from the rear whenever I took a sharp right turn or parking but when you said that the binding actually slowed your car down that solidified it for me because my car did that for the first time today. My guess is that the clunking is coming from the gears skipping a tooth because of the binding, such a cringing sound. Gonna order my center diff Friday and put it in myself, I aint paying over a grand for a shop to do a 4 hour job lol
You can rebuild that transfer clutch. It's normally part number 31523AA360 from Subaru and runs $163 list. Definitely cheaper than $500 for the assembly, but you'll want to change the bearing too at $38.80, along with the seals.
The whining is usually from a bad bearing in the center diff, the clunking is a bad coupler. I'm sure you had a new bearing on that coupler when you put it in, so whine would have been gone.
Viscous Center Diff, or VDC, from what I've learned have these discs that transfer power to the rear when they heat up from excessive slippage from the front half of the drive tran. The friction material on the discs wear out over time and cause it to seize up, especially if gear oil leaks into the sealed mechanism. Seems to be a common problem with these older Subaru's.
@@dawveed26 VDC is Vehicle Dynamic Control? There is no friction material on the discs within the viscous centre diff. The plates float within the Newtonian silicone fluid. Gear oil does not get into the sealed mechanism. I have rebiult over 500 units of Subaru Centre Differentials. Cheers!
Great info, my 04 has had the whine and a weird clunking while breaking to a stop. I tore everything apart yesterday and the center diff is stuck in the tail portion of the trans still, but that snap ring fell out. Did the new diff come with a different style snap ring?
The new diff looked identical from what I could tell. The part number had changed, which means maybe they tweaked the design, but I'm not sure on that. I would ask a Subaru dealer about that. Thanks
Good stuff mate, I've got an '02 WRX here in Australia and there's no whining noise, but after a long drive the whole drivetrain binds up and 'brakes' as you say, so just bought a new one. Was it hard to install?
Well, that depends on if you have access to a lift. It's a pretty straightforward job, but having to work off the ground would make this difficult for sure. Maybe you could pull up to the MCM Super Garage and use their lift😁 I know they are big fans of Subies
@@dawveed26 hehe I would but they're almost 2 days drive from me. I'm trying to borrow my mates dad's lift for this as my days of doing stuff like this on the ground are over haha.
Thanks for the video. My 02 wrx wagon has the same issue, at first I thought it was an issue with the rear diff because I would hear this horrible clunking that sounded like it was coming from the rear whenever I took a sharp right turn or parking but when you said that the binding actually slowed your car down that solidified it for me because my car did that for the first time today. My guess is that the clunking is coming from the gears skipping a tooth because of the binding, such a cringing sound. Gonna order my center diff Friday and put it in myself, I aint paying over a grand for a shop to do a 4 hour job lol
You can rebuild that transfer clutch. It's normally part number 31523AA360 from Subaru and runs $163 list. Definitely cheaper than $500 for the assembly, but you'll want to change the bearing too at $38.80, along with the seals.
The whining is usually from a bad bearing in the center diff, the clunking is a bad coupler. I'm sure you had a new bearing on that coupler when you put it in, so whine would have been gone.
The nasty black tar is the failed silicon fluid. There is no leakage between the gear oil and the silicone fluid.
Viscous Center Diff, or VDC, from what I've learned have these discs that transfer power to the rear when they heat up from excessive slippage from the front half of the drive tran. The friction material on the discs wear out over time and cause it to seize up, especially if gear oil leaks into the sealed mechanism. Seems to be a common problem with these older Subaru's.
@@dawveed26 VDC is Vehicle Dynamic Control?
There is no friction material on the discs within the viscous centre diff. The plates float within the Newtonian silicone fluid. Gear oil does not get into the sealed mechanism. I have rebiult over 500 units of Subaru Centre Differentials. Cheers!
@@billycorgi6342 you are correct, I made a typo. I meant VCD, my mistake. And thank you for clearing up how they work.
@@billycorgi6342 what's the fluid that goes in with the disks
@@nicholaslopez4170 It is high viscosity Polydimethylsiloxane
Great info, my 04 has had the whine and a weird clunking while breaking to a stop. I tore everything apart yesterday and the center diff is stuck in the tail portion of the trans still, but that snap ring fell out. Did the new diff come with a different style snap ring?
The new diff looked identical from what I could tell. The part number had changed, which means maybe they tweaked the design, but I'm not sure on that. I would ask a Subaru dealer about that. Thanks
Yes, anybody that replaces their center diff 02-07 wrx , gets an updated center diff with improved snap ring for these known issues.
Good stuff mate, I've got an '02 WRX here in Australia and there's no whining noise, but after a long drive the whole drivetrain binds up and 'brakes' as you say, so just bought a new one. Was it hard to install?
Well, that depends on if you have access to a lift. It's a pretty straightforward job, but having to work off the ground would make this difficult for sure. Maybe you could pull up to the MCM Super Garage and use their lift😁 I know they are big fans of Subies
@@dawveed26 hehe I would but they're almost 2 days drive from me. I'm trying to borrow my mates dad's lift for this as my days of doing stuff like this on the ground are over haha.