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 10 of 16

#85 of 149 Wheel bearing failure or something else? by garyg1054

Oct 13, 2008 (9:09 pm)

My Subaru (our fourth since 1998, of which we still have three) is an '05 Legacy Outback with about 48K miles (& 11K since all brakes replaced). We have loved the vehicles, especially in our climate and geography, and the cars have by and large been reliable. The '98 needed replacement gaskets at about 110K, but don't they all. I have never had a wheel bearing failure in 35 yrs of hard driving. I now get a fairly loud and high pitched screeching noise, sounding like metal on metal. I hear it most of the time, regardless of the application of brakes. It cycles faster as the car accelerates. It appears that the noise is not present while driving in a straight line, but appears to return when the wheels are turned. Wheel bearing failure? Something else-center differential problem? The performance seems about the same. Any thoughts? One of the posters states that the warranty has been extended on certain 05 Legacy Outbacks, but no explanation known for difference in treatment. We purchased extended warranty from Subaru, and we expect/demand that the warranty will cover the problem. Will the dealer have seen this problem before? Can I trust my local neighborhood mechanic, who seems like a good guy? Thanks.

#86 of 149 Re: Wheel bearing failure or something else? [garyg1054] by ateixeira

Oct 14, 2008 (11:40 am)

Replying to: garyg1054 (Oct 13, 2008 9:09 pm)
That's how the failing wheel bearings on our Mazda 626 sounded. Speed dependent, just like yours, the pitch would change.

#87 of 149 Re: Wheel bearing failure or something else? [garyg1054] by paisan

Oct 14, 2008 (4:27 pm)

Replying to: garyg1054 (Oct 13, 2008 9:09 pm)
If you have the extended warranty it will be repaired without question. If your VIN (as mine did) falls into the ones effected in 05 by the rear wheel bearing issue, then it will be covered under the original warranty (as opposed to the extended that may have a deductable).
 
It's a fairly easy job that most dealers can do without messing up your car. Your neighborhood mechanic probably can't do the job if you want it covered by Subaru since it would need to be done at a Subaru Dealer.
 
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host

#88 of 149 How long can you go on a bad bearing? by thomas43

Dec 25, 2008 (10:42 pm)

I drive a 92 Subaru Legacy and I'm pretty sure that today my rear left bearing went. I first heard it pulling in to the driveway and it sounded like something dragging. Now I can hear it while driving at a slow enough speed. The Holidays, etc, and I'm broke. How long can I drive on a toasted bearing?

#89 of 149 Re: How long can you go on a bad bearing? [thomas43] by w8ifi

Dec 25, 2008 (11:31 pm)

Replying to: thomas43 (Dec 25, 2008 10:42 pm)
I'm not a mechanic by any means, but usually a wheel bearing will show beginning signs of failure for awhile, not sudden like yours. Sounds to me like a spring holding a brake shoe might have failed and the shoe is dragging in the brake drum. One of the regulars here can probably give you a better diagnoses.
Jim

#90 of 149 Re: How long can you go on a bad bearing? [w8ifi] by paisan

Dec 26, 2008 (6:28 pm)

Replying to: w8ifi (Dec 25, 2008 11:31 pm)
It could be either the brake shoe of a rear drum brake, a brake shoe of a parking brake, or a bearing. If it is the bearing you are usually ok for 100-2500 miles depending on how bad it is. I'd plan on getting it fixed/looked out soon though.
 
-mike
Subaru Guru and Track Instructor

#91 of 149 Re: How long can you go on a bad bearing? [paisan] by ateixeira

Dec 29, 2008 (11:31 am)

Replying to: paisan (Dec 26, 2008 6:28 pm)
I'd fix it ASAP...the increased friction may kill your gas mileage.

#92 of 149 Re: How long can you go on a bad bearing? [ateixeira] by paisan

Jan 26, 2009 (7:45 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 29, 2008 11:31 am)
I did some work on my LGT. I had 2 bad LCA Bushings so we replaced them. When you do that you also need to do the ball joints so I put in the AVO LCA Bushings, Whiteline's roll-center kit which includes the Ball Joints and tie-rod ends. Also added he Whiteline front sway bar and kartboy end links. And finally a Whiteline Strut bar.
 
Well when we went to put the ball joints back on one side the knuckle cracked. So we replace that. Oddly we had to press out the bearing even though the LGT has a bolt in bearing/hub setup. After putting it back together, the bearing appeared bad, so we had to replace that. My thought was that the bearing was going bad all along and overheated the knuckle,making it brittle.
 
So the bottom line is that the bearings should get done ASAP. I also paid $200 to get the bearing/hub replaced!
 
-mike
Subaru Guru and Track Instructor

#93 of 149 Re: How long can you go on a bad bearing? [paisan] by lupine

Mar 06, 2009 (8:09 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Jan 26, 2009 7:45 pm)
First time poster, so be gentle
 
$200 for the parts to do it yourself?
 
Rear right bearings are failing on our 1995 Subaru Legacy LS wagon, and just got a quote for $370 + tax from our local Subaru shop (not a dealership). Parts are much cheaper, and I believe I could do it myself, with the help of a auto mech friend of ours (Ford), but reading through the forums and seeing all the different part options makes me a bit nervous. Off topic, but going to replace the shocks at the same time (190k on the original set would infer that they're due lol).

#94 of 149 Re: Front Wheel Bearing [britbiker] by blackbean

Jun 05, 2009 (11:22 am)

Replying to: britbiker (Sep 08, 2008 7:15 pm)
My front right bearing went at 77k on my '02 bean. It was $414.03 at the Subie dealer. I actually asked them to replace both front bearings and they said it was not needed. I guess back in the day (25 years ago), as a backyard mechanic I would just make a day out of it and replace all of them thinking that if one went, they were all close...maybe true for my old 67 Volvo, but the bearings on Subies should last for 150-200k (unless ther eis a defect and premature failure) according to the dealer.

Messages Page 10 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