Uh Oh! Graunching on low speed manouvers... WRX Wagon...

[WeirdNeville]

Hi all, I was wondering as I've only had my car a couple of weeks. It's a 2004 WRX Wagon, completely standard in terms of suspension and transmission as far as I know. It does have the prodrive performance pack ,but this is just a chip and exhaust.
When parking up I've noticed a Graunching/ slight hopping...For all the world I'd say it feels like a diff is locked, probably either centre or rear (obviously, as front diff is open AFAIK!)

Is this just one of the diffs doing its job? Or is it cause for concern? The car performs flawlessly and silently on the open road and above 5mph ,just a bit odd having this at lower speeds.

Thanks in advance!

[ScoobieWRX]

WeirdNeville said:

Hi all, I was wondering as I've only had my car a couple of weeks. It's a 2004 WRX Wagon, completely standard in terms of suspension and transmission as far as I know. It does have the prodrive performance pack ,but this is just a chip and exhaust.
When parking up I've noticed a Graunching/ slight hopping...For all the world I'd say it feels like a diff is locked, probably either centre or rear (obviously, as front diff is open AFAIK!)

Is this just one of the diffs doing its job? Or is it cause for concern? The car performs flawlessly and silently on the open road and above 5mph ,just a bit odd having this at lower speeds.

Thanks in advance!

You might get something on full lock in reverse or forward very low speed manoeuvre, I've had that with mine and people ask about it thinking like yourself there is something wrong with the car but it's pretty normal, however you will get it more so with STi's as they have an LSD both ends.

IMHO i wouldn't worry about it.

[GravelBen]

Could be centre diff getting a bit tired and binding up - is it worse if you drive at open road speed for a while and then stop and do a u-turn or some other tight manoevre?

[myles1972]

Funnily enough after a longish motorway drive I pulled in to fill up and on the way out I had a deep clicking coming from the back of the car. It seemed to be when I was driving on a slight turn.
As soon as I got back on the mway it had gone.
Perhaps my rear diff is on its way out, but I do need to do a fluid change desperately!