PaulM964

Hi all, I have a 2004 04 STI. I need a new drive shaft. I ordered one from a breaker, they sent one with a female end at the gearbox. Mine has a male end. The supplier has told me mine must have a later gearbox? Can this be correct. Wouldn't that make it a widetrack box? My car still runs 5x100 wheels and hubs?
Please help guys!! I'm going crazy and more confused by the day. I dare not order another for fear of getting another wrong one.

Don Clark

MY04 front driveshaft has the male ends for the gearbox.



https://www.rexbo.eu/skf/drive-shaft-vkjc7551


but is different to the MY05> widetrack version

PaulM964

Wow! Ok Don. First, thank you very much for taking the time to help me! So really what we're saying is. 54 plate + widetrack is wrong. >53 Sti is female shaft also wrong. I need 04 only, male ended at gearbox. If that understanding is all correct I guess I have little chance of buying correctly from breakers. And also if it's that rare I guess it also explains why subaru don't stock it and needs 4 weeks to come from Japan.

Don Clark

I think that just about sums it up.

Did you check the link as quoted part numbers are correct?

PaulM964

Just a thought! As I have the driveshaft with the female end already and looking at the parts info above, couldn't i swap over the male end from my driveshaft to the other? All the other part numbers look the same?

Don Clark

That's for you to decide, it depends upon what was wrong with the original and whether everything else matches. ( the actual drive shaft and outer joint are items that Subaru themselves do not appear to supply separately hence the "NS" notation)

Comparing the drawings below it looks as if the driveshaft inner spline area may be different to accommodate the different type of inner joint.

Upto and including MY03


MY04

PaulM964

Don, I can't thank you enough for this! Saved me more wasted time and money.

tom-r33

iTrader: (2)

i think its just a short stub in the box, which pops out pretty easy, meaning you could pop it out and use the new shaft you have as it is

Don Clark

Read again - OP doesn't have the stub shaft variety as OEM

tom-r33

iTrader: (2)

You're right, my mistake!