BP Outback tailshaft failure- common?

[jimmyp]

Hi all . New here, looks like a great forum!

I got a weird one - perhaps. 04 Outback, 290000+km, Tailshaft recently developed a vibration that became quite severe at low speed.

Pulled it, and discovered the front uni was completely seized (in one plane only)

Replace the entire tailshaft with a used one - which felt OK. Test drove, and it seemed Fine , I guess.. though I feel like there were still a tiny tiny hint of vibration.. but didn't really think anything of it.

about 6 months , couple thousand KM later of suburban driving, and it's vibrating again quite noticably.. seems like it's heading south again quickly, though not as bad as when I replaced it last time.


So I guess my question is - anyone else experienced this? is it so common that maybe the 2nd hand shaft was just on its way out again, OR is there something else i'm missing that's known to accelerate this failure - like gearbox mounts or something? I can't think what else could .

thanks !

here's a vid from under car, just before I replaced it last time

https://youtu.be/Muezis9Ev9Q

 

[Kevin]

G'day & Welcome aboard [MENTION=16462]jimmyp[/MENTION]

Does the OB tailshaft have the centre bearing as well and if so is it OK?

 

[jimmyp]

Thanks Kevin!

It is a 2 piece - but it's one non seperatable unit which includes center bearing and carrier inside moulded rubber.

So the whole lot was replaced with the replacement shaft.

 

[El_Freddo]

Those uni joints, while not overly common, can fail like any other moving part in the drivetrain.

A good tailshaft service place will be able to matching out the old unit and replace it and either press the unit in or replace it with a unit that any decent mechanic or DIYer can replace with some basic tools.

This used to be a common “conversion” on the L series tailshaft. It’s something I’m considering now too.

If you’ve got the old unit that was swapped out, you can have that one serviced with replacement uni joints then have it fitted in a drive in, drive out same day (if not hour) service.

Cheers

Bennie