Lifting your Subaru can definitely turn it into a more capable off-road vehicle. However, many people experience an unexpected side effect after lifting their cars: driveline vibrations.
If you’re dealing with this issue, don’t worry. I’ve got two practical solutions that I’ll share with you to ensure a smoother ride: anti-wobble inserts, and carrier bearing spacers.
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Understanding The Vibration Issue
Lifting a Subaru changes the geometry of your vehicle’s suspension system, particularly affecting the second portion of the driveline angle. Newer Subarus with multi-link suspension are especially prone to this issue.
The multi-link suspension design requires the use of subframe or multi-link spacers to keep the rear wheels centered in the wheel wells. While these spacers are essential for maintaining proper wheel alignment, they also cause the rear differential to move slightly downward, resulting in a steeper driveline angle.
This change in the driveline angle is what leads to the vibrations during acceleration. It’s a common pr., but the unique design of Subaru’s suspension system can make the issue more pronounced.
Two Easy Solutions
Fortunately, there are two effective solutions to mitigate driveline vibrations in lifted Subarus: installing a carrier bearing spacer kit and a CVT anti-wobble bushing.
Carrier Bearing Spacer Kit
One of the first steps you can take to address driveline vibrations is to install a carrier bearing spacer kit. This kit is designed to lower the carrier bearing, which holds the driveline to the unibody of the car. By lowering the carrier bearing, you can reduce the steepness of the driveline angle and minimize vibrations.
The installation process is straightforward and can be done in your driveway or garage. The kit typically includes two small spacers that are installed on the carrier bearing mounts.
These spacers create enough room to adjust the position of the driveline, effectively reducing the angle and associated vibrations.
CVT Anti-Wobble Bushing
Another useful solution is to install a CVT anti-wobble bushing. This bushing serves as an insert that fits into the factory bushing portion of the transmission mount, reinforcing and tightening it up.The primary function of these inserts is to provide additional support to the bushings, making them more solid and less prone to drive line “wobble.”
Installing CVT anti-wobble bushings is relatively simple. You need to grease the inserts and push them into the voids of the existing bushings.
This reinforcement can significantly reduce driveline vibrations and improve the overall response of the drivetrain in general. Whether your bushings are old and worn out or brand new, adding these inserts can be beneficial.
Expert Insights
To get further insights into solving Subaru driveline vibrations, I messaged Patrick from Anderson Design & Fabrication (ADF) who has been at the forefront of building lift kits for Subarus almost 10 years.
According to Patrick, these fixes are common and effective for addressing driveline vibrations in lifted Subarus. In his reply to me, he noted that while the success rate can vary, many of his customers report a complete elimination of vibrations, while others experience a significant reduction of around 90%.
Pat’s feedback underscores the importance of trying these solutions before considering more drastic measures. They are affordable, easy to install, and often provide the desired results.
If you’re encountering driveline vibrations after lifting your Subaru, don’t freak out yet. The solutions we’ve discussed provide practical and effective methods to reduce or eliminate these vibrations. They’re simple, cost-effective, and can usually be completed right in your own garage.
Keep in mind that lifting a Subaru slightly alters its suspension dynamics, requiring some adjustments and troubleshooting sometimes. By addressing the driveline angles with the correct spacers and bushings, you can rule out any serious issues for under $100 and beef up your Subaru in the process.
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