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 8 of 16

#65 of 149 Aussie Outback and Impreza by ross25

Aug 06, 2008 (5:33 am)

I have an 1996 Australian Outback with 120,000 miles (192,000K) on it and no bearing problems (touch wood!!!).
 
But my 2003 Impreza had a RHR bearing fail at 57,000 miles. It was replaced under 2nd hand warranty by a Subaru trained mechanic at a Mazda dealer. It lasted about 2,500 miles before it failed. It was replaced and failed before it even left the workshop and then they found the LHR bearing was also failing and had to replace it as well. I am now another 2,500 miles later and have my fingers crossed.
 
I spoke to my local Subaru specialist (who Subaru Australia threatened legal action to remove 'Subaru" from his business name) and he advised he uses older model bearings now as they fail less often than the new ones. I suspect they may be aftermarket bearings as well. Go figure.
 
Ross

#66 of 149 Re: My Bearings [agent86] by ateixeira

Aug 06, 2008 (6:35 am)

Replying to: agent86 (Aug 04, 2008 4:56 pm)
I don't think mine failed prematurely, they lasted a lot longer than the wheel bearings on our 626, for instance.

#67 of 149 '95 Legacy AWD AutoTransmission problems-HELP! by britbiker

Aug 06, 2008 (3:44 pm)

242,000 miles still goes like a bat leaving the hot place, leaks more eng. oil from rear crank seal and front camshaft seals than it burns, BUT the Transmission.....
Nothing happens when R is selected. No drive. Fluid is clean and up to level; no warning lights or error codes in the TCU. Change up 1 to 2 is a bit harsh when the fluid is cold but otherwise the transmission behaves normally..BUT
The FWD and RWD have always fought it out in low speed, tight turns forward or reverse. I have the second failure(first was about 100,000 miles ago) of the rear drive adaptor in the auto box rear extension housing. It is an adaptor welded onto a machined gear-wheel that takes the drive out of the back of the auto box to the prop. shaft. The weld fails under highway driving conditions so how Subaru gets it to stay together for their rally cars I do not know, unless they have a trick, one-piece machined item, if so it should be going in all their cars unless it is designed to be the weak link??
Anyone ever come across this before /are these problems linked/can I fix the reverse drive problem? (I can restore the AWD by installing a new adaptor/gear unit in the back of the 'box.)

#68 of 149 Re: More Wheel Bearing Blues [agent86] by paisan

Aug 06, 2008 (5:23 pm)

Replying to: agent86 (Aug 05, 2008 7:32 pm)
As I said before, according to my local independent mechanic, sealed bearings are suppose to last on the avg, 120k miles and replacing them aint cheap, like $800 a pair. I hope the rears ones make it to 120k.
 
$800 a pair is a bit stiff. I think most dealers I know charge about $200-250 and it's a $30-50 part. They don't need to be replaced in pairs either. I agree 120k miles is about right, but lots of factors can effect the lifespan, most noteably, going through puddles that are above the bottom of the bearing line. This unfortunately will cause accelerated failure because the hot bearings draw in water when you drive through a puddle (that submerses the seal) and will begin to breakdown your bearings.
 
-mike

#69 of 149 Re: '95 Legacy AWD AutoTransmission problems-HELP! [britbiker] by paisan

Aug 06, 2008 (5:26 pm)

Replying to: britbiker (Aug 06, 2008 3:44 pm)
I would pickup a used '95 trans. It would me much less expensive than trying to fix what you have. This would also fix the issue of the fighting center clutch packs.
 
I believe that is built that way to snap to prevent internal damage to the diffy/trans. Their rally cars bear almost no resemblence to street driven cars.
 
-mike

#70 of 149 2005 Outback lease - bad bearings? by jk764

Sep 04, 2008 (2:01 pm)

I have a 2005 Outback - 30,000 miles. When I drive over 40 mph the car is really loud. I think I have bad rear bearings.
 
Here is the issue: the lease is up. Residual is $13k. I'd like to buy the car because it is otherwise in fantastic shape (garaged / only 30k miles). Do I negotiate for a lower buy-out cost and have them replace the bearings? Is the buy-out cost even negotiable?
 
Or do I just trade it in. Please help!

#71 of 149 Re: '95 Legacy AWD AutoTransmission problems-HELP! [paisan] by britbiker

Sep 04, 2008 (5:46 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Aug 06, 2008 5:26 pm)
Thanks Mike. I have got myself a low mileage trans from a wrecker. What troubles me is that this is the second, similar failure; the original trans did 140,000 miles before the rear drive adaptor sheared; the used replacement trans has managed 150, 000 miles before the rear drive adaptor failed and reverse gear failed. It seems that Subaru transmissions are a liability after 150, 000 miles, in contrast to the rest of the vehicle.

#72 of 149 Re: 2005 Outback lease - bad bearings? [jk764] by paisan

Sep 04, 2008 (6:18 pm)

Replying to: jk764 (Sep 04, 2008 2:01 pm)
The 05 Outbacks/Legacies have a known issue with the rear bearings, you should have gotten a notice saying that the warranty on the rear wheel bearings is extended to 100k miles. Get em replaced for free.
 
-mike

#74 of 149 Time for New Tires by ethaskell

Sep 04, 2008 (9:29 pm)

Please excuse lack of message in post 73, cat and I fighting for keyboard. Have just over 32,00 on factory tires on my '06 Outback, looking for recommendation for replacements. Drive on streets, freeway, dirt, sand, rock, ice, snow, and what ever. Looking for best compromise for this type of use. Anyone have a recommendation? Thanks, eth.

Messages Page 8 of 16

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