New poster here, I've scoured the site so far and can't find anything that i believe pertains to my case. I have a 2013 forester x limited, after replacing both front cv axles, hubs, rotors (went aftermarket drilled/slotted because my daily drive requires me to drive through mountains), and pads. After doing so, i have a pretty nasty vibration upon acceleration from around 25-65mph. Vibration isn't effected by engine rpm but it's directly effected by torque from acceleration. Jacked vehicle back up making sure everything was still tight and didnt find anything awry. Vehicle is my daily driver and i drive from gravel through mountains to 75mph interstate.
2013 - Vibration under acceleration?
('09-'13)
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On my '02, vibration under load turned out to be caused by a failing aftermaket CV axle.
The vibration was especially noticeable at around 65 mph, and would go away when I took my foot off the gas. The vibration was not especially localized to the one wheel, but seemed to be felt all over, probably because of the interconnectedness of the AWD. I was beginning to suspect U-joints.
On one trip it got markedly worse all of a sudden so I turned back. Still thinking U-joints, I tried sticking in the FWD fuse, but it didn't help matters. By the time I got home (about an hour) the vibration got bad enough that I could pinpoint which front wheel was the culprit. Later with the wheel off, I could clearly feel a lot of rotational play between the halfshaft's inner cup and the transmission.
The CV axle came with a lifetime warranty from the local Automotive store so I swapped it out and everything is smooth again. Based on shape and markings, the replacement looks like it might be a remanufactured true Subaru axle.
My lesson is that a problem with one of my CV axles won't necessarily manifest itself at one wheel, at least not until the axle gets really bad.
In retrospect, it apparently was also what was causing a lurch when re-applying the throttle after coasting at city speed.
The vibration was especially noticeable at around 65 mph, and would go away when I took my foot off the gas. The vibration was not especially localized to the one wheel, but seemed to be felt all over, probably because of the interconnectedness of the AWD. I was beginning to suspect U-joints.
On one trip it got markedly worse all of a sudden so I turned back. Still thinking U-joints, I tried sticking in the FWD fuse, but it didn't help matters. By the time I got home (about an hour) the vibration got bad enough that I could pinpoint which front wheel was the culprit. Later with the wheel off, I could clearly feel a lot of rotational play between the halfshaft's inner cup and the transmission.
The CV axle came with a lifetime warranty from the local Automotive store so I swapped it out and everything is smooth again. Based on shape and markings, the replacement looks like it might be a remanufactured true Subaru axle.
My lesson is that a problem with one of my CV axles won't necessarily manifest itself at one wheel, at least not until the axle gets really bad.
In retrospect, it apparently was also what was causing a lurch when re-applying the throttle after coasting at city speed.
I appreciate the response. I jacked it up on the lift, power braked it to ensure mounts weren't bad and everything's tight. Put in drive to check for wheel wobble and everything's running "true" however my front right wasn't spinning at all the other 3 were at sisterly same "idle"speed while in drive. I replaced my front axles with Trakmotive aftermarket axles because my front left outboard boot had busted and compromised my cv joint. I try to do everything in pairs, hence the reason i just went ahead and replaced both axles, hubs,etc. It's driving me crazy because it feels like driveshaft wobble, but it's all tight. I'm beginning to feel i got hosed on axles.
Sounds a lot like your new axels. FWIW, I recently had CV boots on both sides and one joint go bad on my 01 Outback. Went back and forth on aftermarket axels. Finally found a discussion in the Outback owners forum. Lots of folks there reported good luck with NAPA axels. I decided to give them a shot and was wuite pleased (just couldn’t bring myself to fork over $300 for OEM axels or even $200 for Subaru rebuilt. Napa’s were $75 for new.
I’ve had Subaru’s since ‘82 and CV boots are always an issue. If you’re going to hang on to one past about 6-8 years, you’re likely going to learn to swap out axels in your sleep. Sorry to hear you’re having issues with them.
I’ve had Subaru’s since ‘82 and CV boots are always an issue. If you’re going to hang on to one past about 6-8 years, you’re likely going to learn to swap out axels in your sleep. Sorry to hear you’re having issues with them.
True, the priceof OEM is what drove me to aftermarket. I junkyard hopped for my 95 legacy when i needed to years ago. My forester just started giving me issues within last few months. I'll try some NAPA axles next pay period and see.
Thank y'all for the input. I've worked on heavy equipment for years so I'm not mechanically inept, however certain "specific" issues like this are new to me.
Thank y'all for the input. I've worked on heavy equipment for years so I'm not mechanically inept, however certain "specific" issues like this are new to me.
old thread but im hoping you are still active mr htriv... can you say if you ever swapped axles and if that was the fix? I bought a used forester and seller paperwork included recent receipt for new cv axle but i think he got a cheap aftermarket and it is causing this same issue (vibration on accel). thanks
Yes, I did. Long story short I initially swapped from my OE to the Napa "heavy duty" CV and had a vibration from the moment I installed them. I just recently bought 2 pairs of OE CV's (pulled from wrecked STI's ) and had to replace both front axles again for to the Napa brand only lasting about 9 months before wearing the boots out. After installed the OE style back on the front, my vibration disappeared (save a little self inflicted vibration from my inherent lack of rotating my tires). In short, I will no longer ever purchase aftermarket CV's again. As I said before, I bought 2 sets so when I need to replace these, I will swap them out and just rebuild the set I pulled off. I've noticed that OE Subaru axles have green inner knuckles (next to your trans), if they aren't green knuckles, then they aren't factory axles.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
awesome thanks for reply. i wasnt sure how to tell if they were aftermarket but i will crawl under and check for green inners soon. The new cv he put on about 5K miles ago is the one I suspect went bad again already. I got a couple OEM axles from LKQ junkyard with relatively low miles, and will be installing them shortly (hopefully doing it myself as mechanic wants $225 labor which isn't bad but would rather spend that on entertainment upgrades).
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Did you ever find issue?
I have a 09xt and mine vibrates randomly when accelerating at hwy speeds. Mine has about 125k miles and I bought it used.
I've since replaced all struts and mounts with the assembled kyb units, and yeah it rides better but is still more bouncy than I'd expect. Not squishy bouncing like worn out shocks...but that's apparently another issue.
So yeah I had acceleration shake and the steering wheel was where I felt it most. After reading the few forester threads I could find about it, I decided to replace the axles with new oem ones. This seemed to get rid of most of the vibration but it still exists. $
I then removed the driveshaft and found the ujoints were stiff and notchy on both ends, so I bought a new oem driveshaft...that didn't change anything. $$
So yeah it still does it a little and mainly at highway speeds. Something I also noticed is after doing a few pulls it seems to get worse, like something is warming up and causing it.
There are no misfires as I've watched with a scanner. I've also installed new authentic ngk plugs and they didn't change anything.
I've also done a transmission flush with oem fluid, which didn't make any noticeable difference. Have also replaced the front and rear diff gear oil.
The only thing I haven't done is replace the front rotors or surface them. They are a little "warped" but nothing that causes a lot of brake shake.
I work at a dealership and deal with warped brakes on customer vehicles and Mine would be unnoticeable by most people.
So yeah time to research larger rotors, because I don't want to install another set of tiny rotors that are prone to overheating. These hogs aren't featherweights. 😀
R at the same problem my Subaru when I put an aftermarket axle and it made the wheel wobble you have to check there's flanges on the ends of both those CV axles from Napa one of those have to be taking off it's a flange that will give it such a hair too long on the axle they don't make your wheel wobble so make sure whatever on the factory axle is also on the aftermarket one so I'm coming to flange you got to take off some dumb but just that little bit is enough to make your wheels wobble it drove me crazy I had to go to the junkyard and just get two out of my 2012 Forester it fixed everything
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