Ask the Car People.SM


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 15

#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 All have been replaced by Subaru at no cost.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.

#127 of 149 Re: 2008 outback wheel bearing [emuntz] by dlanning

Aug 15, 2011 (4:02 pm)

Replying to: emuntz (Mar 16, 2011 5:10 pm)
the new wheel berrings need to be de greased and repacked with high temp disc break gresse like (crc) or stay-lube part # sl3161 this is what i use on my subarus and i only repack the berrings every 90,000 to 120,000 miles since i have used this grease i have had no wheel bearing falure at all so try it , i do belive you will find out the factory bearings come with packing like grease but its not designed for usage it only ment for it to sit on shelfs so it wount rust , i have been using this grease for 12 years on all 4 of my subarus including my 2 outbacks 07,10 it works great ,

#128 of 149 1999 Subaru Outback rear bearing failure by rufus21

Aug 22, 2011 (4:02 pm)

At 227,000 miles my left front bearing needs replacing, my mechanic said. It started out as a scraping sound like brakes needed to be replaced or like something was being dragged under the car. It got louder when I turned left. Don't have the money to replace it until 10 days from now. The mechanic said that could be dangerous and to only drive it on the back roads and not on the freeway.
The mechanic said cost $250. Lived in San Fransisco Bay area for the first 2 years. Then moved to Foothills (country) of Sierra Mountains. It has been great in snow. I have had very good luck with it. Just regular maintenance, oil and brake change etc. The original odometer went out at around 100,000 miles, just before we drove throughout Mexico.
 2 years ago, had white light "check engine" come on and so failed smog test. Had that repaired,the catalytic converter.This year had the head gaskets replaced and the alternator.
  Even though things are starting to wear out now, I don't think that is too bad for having almost 230,000 miles on it. It is just starting now to give me trouble.

Messages Page 13 of 15

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement