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Subaru Legacy/Outback Wheel bearing failure

149 messages,  Last post on Jun 02, 2012 at 12:08 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Outback, Auto Repair, Car Warranties, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 13 of 16

#117 of 149 2008 outback wheel bearing by emuntz

Mar 16, 2011 (5:10 pm)

My 08 OB is about to have its third wheel bearing replaced ( two in front and one in rear) with less then 58k on the vehicle. All have been replaced by Subaru at no cost. However my concern is that this will be a continuing problem. A friend bought the same type of vehicle the same day from the same dealer and he has had the same problem. Whats going on? I live in the mountains with salty road conditions. Could this be adding to the problem?
 
Thought or opinions welcome.
 
Erich

#118 of 149 Re: 2006 Outback Rear Wheel Bearing Failure [ateixeira] by paisan

Mar 16, 2011 (7:04 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Nov 29, 2010 9:38 am)
Best of luck to you, but I really think you were simply lucky with that Honda and Isuzu.
 
Having owned a few Isuzus in my day. They are very tough vehicles but really well built cars like them are few and far between. GM killed off Isuzu, so that's not an option.
 
As for your standards, well they are pretty high. There were some issues with 05-06 Legacies and Outback bearings, bad batch. They extended the warranties to 100k miles on them.
 
As for the axle boot going on a turbo car, this is fairly common on modified Outbacks/Legacies due to their proximity to the downpipe from the turbo. The stock ones have shielding to protect them but aftermarket ones don't.
 
-mike
Subaru Guru and Track Instructor

#119 of 149 Re: 2008 outback wheel bearing [emuntz] by paisan

Mar 16, 2011 (7:07 pm)

Replying to: emuntz (Mar 16, 2011 5:10 pm)
My 08 OB is about to have its third wheel bearing replaced ( two in front and one in rear) with less then 58k on the vehicle. All have been replaced by Subaru at no cost. However my concern is that this will be a continuing problem. A friend bought the same type of vehicle the same day from the same dealer and he has had the same problem. Whats going on? I live in the mountains with salty road conditions. Could this be adding to the problem?
  
Thought or opinions welcome.
  
Erich
 
The salt could definitely part of your issue. Not much you can do about it other than to find a good local mechanic. It's about a $200 repair at an independent shop. (1 hr labor and about $125 for the part).
 
-mike
Subaru Guru and Track Instructor

#120 of 149 Re: 2008 outback wheel bearing [paisan] by potsy536

Mar 29, 2011 (4:15 am)

Replying to: paisan (Mar 16, 2011 7:07 pm)
I have a 2005 Legacy Wagon w/ 113000 miles. To date I've had no issues (I'm knocking on all the wood I can find) but I've noticed the interior noise is getting louder and louder. The tires have plenty of tread and have been rotated and the brakes are OK, could it be the wheel bearings? I live in Northern Virginia on a dirt road so there is some salt and plenty of dust.
 
Also I just took it to a local shop (who I THINK I trust) for the 100,000 maintenance and they suggested replacing the water pump. Including changing all fluids and belts, etc. it was about $1200 which included 10 hours of labor at $70/per. Previous 30,000 and 60,000 maintenances were in the 300 range so I thought this was a bit high.
 
Any suggestions? At $700 for labor I may try doing it myself...
 
Thanks, and yea I'm new.

#121 of 149 Re: 2008 outback wheel bearing [potsy536] by gt40mk2

Mar 29, 2011 (7:03 am)

Replying to: potsy536 (Mar 29, 2011 4:15 am)
If the noise varies with speed, and feels like a vibration, and if you notice a marginal decrease in power/speed, it could be bearings. Mine went like that and it turned out to be only the front bearings. $700 to fix and it was like new.

#122 of 149 Re: 2008 outback wheel bearing [gt40mk2] by ateixeira

Mar 29, 2011 (9:06 am)

Replying to: gt40mk2 (Mar 29, 2011 7:03 am)
I had bad bearings on a Mazda 626 and noticed the same thing - pitch was speed-dependent.

#123 of 149 Subaru disappointment by mike1957

Apr 11, 2011 (11:25 am)

I am with the others disappointed with their Subarus, and no, I do not feel I have high or unreasonable standards for the car. To begin with Subaru owners pay good money for their cars. The money spent is not in the high end category but it is certainly well above the economy level. The Subaru reputation is of a reliable, durable car, and they seem to always rate high in vehicle reviews. Me, I have not had that experience. We live in the San Francisco Bay Area so we do not have extreme weather. My commute was brutal, but my wife's is 17 miles with little traffic. We are on our third Subaru. Our first was a 2000 Outback with a manual transmission. With this car the clutch went out at 61,000 miles, the computer failed at 72,000 miles, the timing belt needed replacing at 74,000 miles. We now have a 2006 Outback with an automatic transmission and a 2006 Forester with a manual transmission. The Outback had a fuel injection problem at 32,000 miles, the transmission had a major problem at 42,000 miles, and now BOTH wheel bearings had to be replaced at 66,000. The Forester had its speed gear replaced at 17,000 miles, the catalytic converter was replaced at 33,000 miles, the timing chain went out at 52,000 miles, the oil seals went out at 86,000 miles. We have not spent over $100 for each repair because we have had extended warranties, or the repair was covered by the manufacturer's warranty but according to the invoices the repairs ranged from $650 to $1800 in cost. Each repair took a minimum two and a half days to complete, leaving us minus a car. I have been very religious with changing the oil and meeting maintenance requirements. Major servicing was always done by the local dealership. I have had other cars, Fords, Saturns, a Mazda, all "econo models" and have not had this type of reliability. The other reality is the Subaru gas mileage is not something to write home about. I hate to say it, but our next car will not be a Subaru

#124 of 149 Re: 2008 outback wheel bearing [potsy536] by thesubaruguru

May 12, 2011 (9:15 am)

Replying to: potsy536 (Mar 29, 2011 4:15 am)
Increased "groaning" is either scalloped tires (try cross-rotation to even out over time; if too late, or tires are directional, you'll have to toss 2 or the set), or an emergent bad wheel bearing, probably one of the rears.
 
Water pumps on the modern SOHC 2.5i are gold. So I would NOT trust your local shop. T-belts last well beyond the 105k service interval too unless the tensioner goes. In its 6th year I'd be sure that the plat plugs are new, as well air filter, ps belt, atf (do not ignore!), and other simple stuff. Check right inner DOJ boot if you start to smell it, and be VERY careful to keep coolant reservoir full (check monthly) as you probably have a small (normal?) #4 cyl coolant leak at the gasket.
 
Cheers.
Ern
TheSubaruGuru/Boston

#125 of 149 Re: 2006 Outback Rear Wheel Bearing Failure [greg_ct] by kyhorselover

Jul 19, 2011 (10:01 am)

Replying to: greg_ct (Nov 14, 2010 5:30 pm)
I have a 2007 OB. In the last two weeks it has required two new axels, a brake job (3rd one it has had), and now they tell me it needs wheel bearings in the back ($1400) and a new clutch ($600). The dealer told me I should trade it in but not at their dealership!?!! It has 93,000 miles. I guess the sell before 100,000 is a good one.
When I bought mine I was looking for a used one and all I could find were ones with 120,000 miles. Now I know the folks fixed them one more time and then got rid of them. That's my plan.

#126 of 149 Re: 2006 Outback Rear Wheel Bearing Failure [kyhorselover] by ateixeira

Jul 19, 2011 (10:09 am)

Replying to: kyhorselover (Jul 19, 2011 10:01 am)
$1400 for new wheel bearings? Do they come with new wheels and tires? That's insanely high.

Messages Page 13 of 16

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