brake & front diff question

mike008 · 11-24-2007, 01:13 PM

hello, i have a concern about my car that i just got. i'm new to Subaru vehicles. when i'm driving down the road usually in 1st or 2nd gear normal driving loads, i hear a whining noise coming from the front differential. it sounds like the gears meshing together normally. i checked the fluid and it's fine? any thoughts? the other thing is that the brakes seem to lock to the rotors when i drive off for the first time in the day. i noticed a little surface rust on the rotor but i gets worked of after about two miles. i drive the car about once a day. is there something i'm not doing right? the brakes work fine it's that they lock to the rotors in the morning.

jwtarbaj · 11-24-2007, 10:27 PM

The brakes being "stuck" in the AM is just that rust you see on the rotors. Where your rotors line up to the pads is oxidizing to the pads a bit (kinda rusting to them) I have a similar occurence every morning.

You do know the front & center differentials are in the tranny case with the gears themselves as well? I doubt it is your differential but more likely your gears.

kh15 · 11-25-2007, 12:52 AM

so the front diff in built in with the tranny? is it an lsd?

mike008 · 11-25-2007, 12:31 PM

thanks for the info. you're right i'm probably hearing the actual gears. i was wondering if anyone else had the same general sounds. no i didn't know know that the dif's were in the transmission. the rusting thing bothers me still. it sounds weird that it's acquiring rust so fast.

jwtarbaj · 11-25-2007, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kh15

so the front diff in built in with the tranny? is it an lsd?

Here's a pic with the front diff in the cracked case http://www.turbomagazine.com/feature.../photo_07.html

The stock diff is not LSD it is open in front. If you look at the other pics you will see where the front halfshafts go. Also if you look around under your car you'll see as well.

The center diff is removed in it's own section but comes out with the tranny when you remove it as an assembly.

jwtarbaj · 11-25-2007, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike008

thanks for the info. you're right i'm probably hearing the actual gears. i was wondering if anyone else had the same general sounds. no i didn't know know that the dif's were in the transmission. the rusting thing bothers me still. it sounds weird that it's acquiring rust so fast.

The rust thing is perfectly normal. Your rotors are cast iron and they rust. Mine are a fine rust red after a good overnight rain.

I believe the whine is an indication your syncros are going but I'm not sure.