so my front axle boot was leaking fluid so subaru dealer says that its 480 to fix it, take it to my local mechanic and he says 480 to replace the entire front axle - so I do it. Well now the f'ing thing vibrates like hell - so I go on the interblabs and all the subaru forums say do not get aftermarket axles except for one specific brand or they will vibrate!! F ME

so now what am I supposed to do - go back to the mechanic and tell him to put on an OEM axle or some specific named aftermarket one at his cost?? Tell him to fix it even though it can't be fixed because he just gave me a cheap part?


sometimes I friggin hate cars

so my front axle boot was leaking fluid so subaru dealer says that its 480 to fix it, take it to my local mechanic and he says 480 to replace the entire front axle - so I do it. Well now the f'ing thing vibrates like hell - so I go on the interblabs and all the subaru forums say do not get aftermarket axles except for one specific brand or they will vibrate!! F ME

so now what am I supposed to do - go back to the mechanic and tell him to put on an OEM axle or some specific named aftermarket one at his cost?? Tell him to fix it even though it can't be fixed because he just gave me a cheap part?


sometimes I friggin hate cars

Yep. He is on the hook if it is vibrating. The repair work is not acceptable. You should be willing to pay the difference for the OEM axle or whatever the acceptable aftermarket axle is, but you need to know what the cost actually is. He needs to eat the labor, but should be able to get something back from his supplier for a defective axle.

Just don't get me going on Subarus, though....

Front axles/CV joints are the nemesis of my life. It is the single worst thing done to 4WD vehicles since they were invented. It is the reason I will never own another half ton truck not due to payload or any of those issues. I will never deal with half shafts again.

Any type of geometric issue with the axle creates severe vibration it is a major pain in the butt.
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technically you could have wrapped that boot
in 6 mil black plastic and zip ties as a cheap
alternative... just to get by...

and yeah! he owns it ...had a shock absorber go bad
so i had it replaced and then it went ba-boom on any miner bump
and i took it back and said to do it again... that one is junk

thanks for the advice guys, I think I am going to have him fix it with an OEM and will pay the difference.

and Ross - never had any issues like this with my impreza, but this outback is nickle and diming the hell out of me - I'm done with them after this. I would consider trading, but trying to buy a house and don't want to have any new debt on my credit report...

So what's the alternative though? Toyota?

4Runner! "older" models with under 100k miles can be found for reasonable $$$.

Yup... I hear ya

Snapped a shock off my '02 Tacoma last week; repair shop won't touch it, so it's at the dealer for a Monday appointment.. best case scenario is that Toyota fails the frame on the recall...

Come out this morning, found that I must have taken a rock yesterday on my commuter car; have a nice crack in the windshield...
rains it pours....:smash:

it's free

Unless you have a really steep road you have to go up regularly, any front wheel drive car will go fine. Buy good studded snow tires, the ice is what will kill you and 4wd stops no better than 2wd.