4WD noise from front end ,2000 Subaru outback wagon

[fotoman]

hi:
i got super snow tires on all four wheels....and now on bare pavement
I get vibration from front end when turning corners at slow
speeds. ....would this be because of the sticky tires? or do I have to
grease,oil something in the transmission 4WD ???
thanks
Rod

 

[Todd H.]

hi:
i got super snow tires on all four wheels....and now on bare pavement
I get vibration from front end when turning corners at slow
speeds. ....would this be because of the sticky tires? or do I have to
grease,oil something in the transmission 4WD ???
thanks
Rod

Vibration... any clicking? Check the integrity of the rubber CV
boots and make sure they're not cracked open if you're hearing any
clicking.

For vibration... I'd have your wheel bearings looking at for
starters. ANd that car is also old enough that some of the suspension
components are perhaps due for replacement? The tires may be
complicit in this but given the age of the vehicle, I don't know that
I'd bet o nthem as the root cause.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

hi:
i got super snow tires on all four wheels....and now on bare pavement
I get vibration from front end when turning corners at slow
speeds. ....would this be because of the sticky tires? or do I have to
grease,oil something in the transmission 4WD ???
thanks
Rod

Do you mostly HEAR a noise or FEEL a 'jerkiness'/'binding'?

Possibly torque bind.

What was wrong with the old tires? Were you driving with a 'donut spare'
or different sized tires? Are the new super snows all the same size?

Carl

 

[Yousuf Khan]

hi:
i got super snow tires on all four wheels....and now on bare pavement
I get vibration from front end when turning corners at slow
speeds. ....would this be because of the sticky tires? or do I have to
grease,oil something in the transmission 4WD ???
thanks
Rod

In general, snow tires produce a lot of noise on dry pavement due to the
aggressive and deep grooves. The rubber rumbles because the deep grooves
allow it to squirm around more. If you hear more noise while taking slow
corners, then it's likely that you're hearing a cacophony of different
tires noises, where the inner tires travel slower and the other tires
travel faster around the apex.

However, if you can also feel a vibration through the steering during
this time, then it's a mechanical problem, not a tire problem.

Yousuf Khan

 

[fotoman]

In general, snow tires produce a lot of noise on dry pavement due to the
aggressive and deep grooves. The rubber rumbles because the deep grooves
allow it to squirm around more. If you hear more noise while taking slow
corners, then it's likely that you're hearing a cacophony of different
tires noises, where the inner tires travel slower and the other tires
travel faster around the apex.

However, if you can also feel a vibration through the steering during
this time, then it's a mechanical problem, not a tire problem.

Yousuf Khan

thanks for al the replies...I hear and feel vibration , just when
turning at very slow speed on dry pavement.
this did not happen until the pavement was dry. and it did not happen
with my all season regular tire.
probably a mechanical problem, and was thinking it might be the 4WD
system...
I don't drive it much (its a second car), so wonder also if its a
liquid ,hydraulic type of problem??..
thanks
Rod

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

thanks for al the replies...I hear and feel vibration , just when
turning at very slow speed on dry pavement.
this did not happen until the pavement was dry. and it did not happen
with my all season regular tire.
probably a mechanical problem, and was thinking it might be the 4WD
system...
I don't drive it much (its a second car), so wonder also if its a
liquid ,hydraulic type of problem??..
thanks
Rod

I didn't catch if your car is stick or auto. If auto, under the hood
will be a fuse box. One position in the box will accept a spare fuse
(15A IIRC) and placing the fuse there should force the Duty Solenoid C
to place the tranny in front wheel drive (FWD). If the vibration during
dry pavement, tight, slow turns is eliminated, that is 'usually'
diagnostic of an internal transmission problem. A few people have
reported that multiple drain/refill/drive cycles OR a full 'power flush'
have cured the problem. The solenoid's wiring might be damaged but most
people need the tranny repaired/replaced.

Confirm that the tires are all the same size and manufactirer/model AND
that they have proper air pressure as outline in the manual or on the
door pillar. Different sized tires can trigger engagement of the AWD
because an undersized tire is detected as slippage.

Carl

 

[fotoman]

wow thats a wealth of information, thanks Carl.
will check it out....
got a snow storm today, and car drove perfectly, went into AWD as soon
as it got slippery etc..
will check the solenoid fuse when it dries up again.
....i assume the drain/refill/drive cycles means transmission fluid
servicing.
thanks
Rod

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

wow thats a wealth of information, thanks Carl.
will check it out....
got a snow storm today, and car drove perfectly, went into AWD as soon
as it got slippery etc..
will check the solenoid fuse when it dries up again.
...i assume the drain/refill/drive cycles means transmission fluid
servicing.
thanks
Rod

Yes, a few folks have fixed 'torque bind' with fluid change(s). The DIY
approach is to drain and replace fluid 2-3 times(since most home
mechanics cannot drain the torque converter, a few cycles of draining
will be required to really assure mostly fresh fluid), driving a few
days in between, hoping to dissovle gummy depostits on the solenoid
seat/valves I guess. A 'power flush' is best done by a shop and actually
replaces all the fluid.

You may want to search 'torque bind' here and/or at www.ultimatesubaru.org

Carl

 

[fotoman]

Carl:
I sure it was 'torque bind', but car had been sitting for three weeks
in subzero temperatures.
fluid might have been cold??...it has since snowed, and I gave the car
a good run in the snow, and
could hear when the 4WD kicked in as I was giving it a
run...intentionally causing slippage so as to
activate the 4WD. Anyway, the car is running perfectly again now...I
will replace the fluid anyway!
Rod
thanks for the further info and website too.

 

[burdock]

I have a 1996 Outback and as far as the fuse under the hood, I went so
far as to connect a switch to it and make it so I can run in 2wd or
4wd when ever I want, because we were having a problem with the torque
windup and our local Subaru Dealer gave us a pint of Mopar limited
slip additive to give it a try and it worked no more torque windup
anyone having the problem before doing anything else, I would try this
it took care of the problem, before I got out of the driveway and has
still fixed it after 10,000 miles and my brother in laws had the same
problem and his was fixed also, will save some money if it works for
ya

Carl:
I sure it was 'torque bind', but car had been sitting for
three weeks
in subzero temperatures.
fluid might have been cold??...it has since snowed, and I gave
the car
a good run in the snow, and
could hear when the 4WD kicked in as I was giving it a
run...intentionally causing slippage so as to
activate the 4WD. Anyway, the car is running perfectly again
now...I
will replace the fluid anyway!
Rod
thanks for the further info and website too.

 

[DS]

I just don't understand you people. "burdock" seems to be the only one in
this thread that has a clue about AWD. The rest of you keep saying "I can
feel it kick into 4WD". This makes no sense. You bought an AWD Subaru. AWD
means All Wheel Drive. aka Full Time 4WD. It doesn't kick in or out. It's on
all the time. Some AT models allow you to install a fuse (or a switch) to
defeat AWD, but the rest are always driving front and rear, period.
DS

I have a 1996 Outback and as far as the fuse under the hood, I went so
far as to connect a switch to it and make it so I can run in 2wd or
4wd when ever I want, because we were having a problem with the torque
windup and our local Subaru Dealer gave us a pint of Mopar limited
slip additive to give it a try and it worked no more torque windup
anyone having the problem before doing anything else, I would try this
it took care of the problem, before I got out of the driveway and has
still fixed it after 10,000 miles and my brother in laws had the same
problem and his was fixed also, will save some money if it works for
ya.

 

[nobody >]

I just don't understand you people. "burdock" seems to be the only one in
this thread that has a clue about AWD. The rest of you keep saying "I can
feel it kick into 4WD". This makes no sense. You bought an AWD Subaru. AWD
means All Wheel Drive. aka Full Time 4WD. It doesn't kick in or out. It's on
all the time. Some AT models allow you to install a fuse (or a switch) to
defeat AWD, but the rest are always driving front and rear, period.
DS

It's apparent that you've never driven a Soobie in snow or other "less
than tractionally optimum conditions".

Yes, there's a percentage of power going to all 4 wheels at all times ,
the amount depends on the AWD system and the conditions.

There's a very noticeable (and usually audible) change when a large
amount of power is routed to the rear in the older 90/10 system. That's
what most people mean by "kicked in". I haven't driven a 50/50 or VDC
equipped Soob, so I can't say how those act.

 

[DS]

Uh, I live in Winnipeg - my Outback has been through heavy snow and major
ice many, many, many times. In fact, from November to April, we typically
have snow and/or ice on our roads. Mine is a 98 5speed and thus 50/50
default biased. There is never any audible change. Same thing in my previous
Talon AWD (basically the same system but with a rear LSD). Also, same thing
in my friend's Audi A4, my dad's VW Passat 4-Motion, my step-mother's Volvo
XC70 and my coworker's WRX. I have driven older automatic Foresters and
Legacy's through snow and ice and I have never noticed any "change" when the
AWD system varies its torque distribution. The vehicle typically just
hunkers down and goes. Even on sheer ice, wheels spin, wheels grab and you
go.

I would suggest that anyone noticing a audible change should have their car
checked because this does not seem right. It should be invisible to the
driver except for extra traction.

DS

 

[nobody >]

Uh, I live in Winnipeg - my Outback has been through heavy snow and major
ice many, many, many times. In fact, from November to April, we typically
have snow and/or ice on our roads. Mine is a 98 5speed and thus 50/50
default biased. There is never any audible change. Same thing in my previous
Talon AWD (basically the same system but with a rear LSD). Also, same thing
in my friend's Audi A4, my dad's VW Passat 4-Motion, my step-mother's Volvo
XC70 and my coworker's WRX. I have driven older automatic Foresters and
Legacy's through snow and ice and I have never noticed any "change" when the
AWD system varies its torque distribution. The vehicle typically just
hunkers down and goes. Even on sheer ice, wheels spin, wheels grab and you
go.

I would suggest that anyone noticing a audible change should have their car
checked because this does not seem right. It should be invisible to the
driver except for extra traction.

DS

You and I must be talking about two different things. Yesterday, I made
a "heavy throttle" entry into traffic (left turn). I got some wheel spin
and felt/heard "some kind of action" going on as power went to the rear.
Sort of a "soft thud" and the feeling that something was going on in the
center differential.

I've had the same when playing in the snow with the same "heavy
throttle" action on my '00 Outback, my wife's '97 Outback Sport, and (in
heavy rain) on two '96-'03 era Soobs I test drove before buying the '00.
I doubt that all four of these have a problem.

 

[Blair Baucom]

On the Saturn Vue automatic with AWD, the fronts spin, then a few seconds
later a loud thunk and the rears launch you. Did not feel or sound good. My
2005 Forester XS with manual transmission, Limited slip rear, never seems to
spin, and on snow and ice, all the wheels seem to break loose under hard
acceleration. I never feel or hear the system working. It just works great.
Not sure how quick the 4EAT can transfer power though.

Blair