Subaru Outback has a whirring noise in gearbox - what could it be?

We have owned a Subaru Outback diesel from new in September 2009. At the last MoT, it was found that one of the steering gaiters had perished causing rusting to the steering system. A new one was over £1200, so we had it re-furbished. Now there is a whirring noise, apparently coming from the gearbox. Are the two issues connected?

Asked on 16 November 2016 by JM

Answered by Honest John
Not in any way connected. The whirring is usually the idle shaft bearings at the top of the gearbox that suffer the most corrosion damage and the least lubrication from the transmission oil. Worth inserting a container of molybednum disulphide based transmission oil additive.
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