interchageable front cv axles between models?

[joea99]

I heard, somewhere that front axles pretty much interchangeable?

Specifically, my 06 forester 5 speed needs front driver side. The boot is torn and it is not making noise on turns, but it has slung out a lot of grease.

I have two salvage yard axles for an 03 (if I recall correctly) Outback H6, auto.

But when I look up part numbers they are not the same, even for aftermarket.

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[snow_bound26]

IIRC, auto and manual axles are not interchangeable. 5x100 manual axles are mostly interchangeable. The exception being whether you have male or female input shafts into the trans.

[Blktrax]

Yes... But... No

The Spline counts for the inside and outside are the same when comparing the same style axles... So Yes = TECHNICALLY they will fit.

but.

The differences are the compressed and extended lengths due to the different transmissions they were used with.. body they were installed in ride height (outback vs legacy) or (i.e. impreza wagon narrow vs sedan wide) AND the thickness of the actual shaft depending on the power level, N/A shafts being smaller than the Turbo and 6Cyl versions.

So No, if you're comparing part numbers you're not going to match up.

__________________________________

Best cost effective option I've found are Brand new axles from Napa, not remans.

AND these have the OEM style hard plastic outer boot not the garbage soft rubber boot.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NMD9...wordInput=axle

Constant Velocity (CV) Driveshaft - Front Left - New
Part # :
NMD 942078
Product Line :
NAPA MaxDrive
Important Info :
Supplied w/ Optional Heavy Duty Thermoplastic Outboard Boot
Fits Your Vehicle
ONLINE PRICE (USD):
$80.99 /Each

[joea99]

Originally Posted by Blktrax

Yes... But... No

The Spline counts for the inside and outside are the same when comparing the same style axles... So Yes = TECHNICALLY they will fit.

but.

The differences are the compressed and extended lengths due to the different transmissions they were used with.. body they were installed in ride height (outback vs legacy) or (i.e. impreza wagon narrow vs sedan wide) AND the thickness of the actual shaft depending on the power level, N/A shafts being smaller than the Turbo and 6Cyl versions.

So No, if you're comparing part numbers you're not going to match up.

__________________________________

Best cost effective option I've found are Brand new axles from Napa, not remans.

AND these have the OEM style hard plastic outer boot not the garbage soft rubber boot.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NMD9...wordInput=axle

Constant Velocity (CV) Driveshaft - Front Left - New
Part # :
NMD 942078
Product Line :
NAPA MaxDrive
Important Info :
Supplied w/ Optional Heavy Duty Thermoplastic Outboard Boot
Fits Your Vehicle
ONLINE PRICE (USD):
$80.99 /Each

Thanks for the run down.

So you think the hard boots are better than the "improved/heavy duty" neoprene boots?

I did break an after marker axle on the H6, which is why I bought those two salvage units along with the boot and lube kits from Subaru. The broken one was warranteed, but in those days the word was, stay with OEM and just reboot them. Ended up with health issues, a divorce and sold the car eventually.

So I have two axles for an H6 Auto and OEM reboot kits if any one wants them.

[WhiteZombie]

+1 for the new NAPA axles.

I bought a replacement on a suggestion from a well versed Subie buddy, and so far a year later it's still going strong on my GD WRX. Zero vibration or fitment issues. Heard and read a lot of stories on anything that isn't the new NAPAs, OEM or hi-dollar aftermarket being a real dice roll.