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2009 Subaru Forester

3747 messages,  Last post on Oct 15, 2012 at 3:22 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Future Vehicle, Wagon

Messages Page 29 of 376

#275 of 3747 Re: one thing to take pause on... [kurtamaxxxguy] by ateixeira

Jan 31, 2008 (8:36 am)

Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Jan 30, 2008 7:02 pm)
Kurt: where is that?
 
I have the 2008 CR buyer's guide in front of me. They don't score the AWD system seperately.
 
Let me look at the detailed scores, and interpret them from what I've seen and heard from real-world experiences.
 
Overall, the 01 model is Average and every other year is above average.
 
The only below average detailed scores are for exhaust (2001), drive system (2001), and Engine, major (also 2001).
 
Interpreting those, the exhaust is self-explanatory, the drive system is very, very likely due to the wheel bearing failures, which were common up until 2003 when they redesigned them.
 
Note that CR's scores are better than average for drive system from 2003 and on, and that jibes with my theory.
 
We all know the engine was the head gasket failues. 2002 and on they are better than average. That is exactly the year where they switched to a new head gasket material, in fact our 2002 Subaru is not covered by the extended 100k mile warranty for head gaskets for that reason.
 
Again, CR's scores jibe with the common knowledge here on Edmunds - head gaskets were a problem until around 2002.
 
Even the exhaust is OK from 2003 and on.
 
There has not been a single trouble spot, below average that is, after 2001. That year was the first face-lift, so who knows, maybe there was some hidden cost cutting.
 
I have faith that the 2009 Forester will be reliable. The powertrain is an evolution of what is reliable today, so I don't see a reason for any significant change.
 
Subaru forked out a bunch of money for wheel bearings and head gaskets, so you know they'll keep an eye out for those issues, too.

#276 of 3747 wheel bearings by kurtamaxxxguy

Jan 31, 2008 (11:31 am)

Car and Driver reported wheel bearing failure in their Legacy testing, and if Subarus Foresters are already known for wheel bearing failure, that falls right into line.
 
So why are the bearings failing?
What can be done to keep them healthy?
Do they need regular lubrication?

#277 of 3747 Re: wheel bearings [kurtamaxxxguy] by ateixeira

Jan 31, 2008 (11:42 am)

Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Jan 31, 2008 11:31 am)
Nope, they're sealed nowadays.
 
Car & Driver abused their car pretty badly, I think they had some other issues, too. Plus it was a pre-production 2005 model IIRC.

#278 of 3747 Re: Rear Fog light/lamp [batman47] by p0926

Jan 31, 2008 (12:04 pm)

Replying to: batman47 (Jan 30, 2008 2:59 pm)
If you can find a mechanic willing to do it (BIG IF), sounds like it'll cost several hundred dollars. That's a lot for one little light.
 
-Frank

#279 of 3747 Re: wheel bearings [kurtamaxxxguy] by p0926

Jan 31, 2008 (12:08 pm)

Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Jan 31, 2008 11:31 am)
So why are the bearings failing?
 
Poor design or bad production run
 
What can be done to keep them healthy?
 
Nothing. As Juice said, they're sealed.
 
Do they need regular lubrication?
 
Nope (see above)
 
The good news is we seldom hear about them failing anymore so I'm guessing that most of the bearings that were going to go bad already have
 
-Frank

#280 of 3747 Re: wheel bearings [kurtamaxxxguy] by saedave

Jan 31, 2008 (12:41 pm)

Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Jan 31, 2008 11:31 am)
Car and Driver reported wheel bearing failure in their Legacy testing, and if Subarus Foresters are already known for wheel bearing failure, that falls right into line.
  
So why are the bearings failing?
 
If it was front bearings (I can't recall), there might have been a reason for lowering the drive end of the engine a little bit as was done on the new Impreza. The off-angle forces would have been reduced somewhat. Such small changes can greatly reduce bearing load resulting in longer life.

#281 of 3747 Re: wheel bearings [saedave] by paisan

Jan 31, 2008 (1:41 pm)

Replying to: saedave (Jan 31, 2008 12:41 pm)
The new ones are simple bolt-in setups so replacing them isn't an issue.
 
The fix is what they did in the STi and Tribeca, using SVX based bearings which are bigger, heavier duty units. That's why the STi and Tribeca use the SVX wheel lug pattern. 5x114 as opposed to 5x100 used in the others.
 
I had a wheel bearing failure in my 94 Legacy turbo, after 150k miles and 15k track and race miles...
 
None of my other Subarus ever had a bearing failure with about 500k miles driven en total.
 
-mike

#283 of 3747 Re: 94 hi def pics [jeffmc] by dcdame

Jan 31, 2008 (2:51 pm)

Replying to: jeffmc (Jan 30, 2008 10:14 pm)
"Pretty sure that Baja pic was taken at my dealership."
 
I wouldn't be surprised - I've got tons of Baja pictures on my hard drive that I've accumulated over the years and don't recall the source (other than various places on the web).

My del Sol was a blast - with the VTEC engine, it was like a turbo-charged roller skate. It was the perfect car for when I lived in downtown DC and didn't have my own parking space - it fit in lots of spaces where other cars couldn't. Plus I loved the removable hardtop roof (a ragtop parked on city streets isn't a great choice). On an impulse, I gave it to my niece for her 16th birthday (in 1998) and immediately regretted the decision (but wouldn't think of asking for it back).

#284 of 3747 Re: 94 hi def pics [dcdame] by p0926

Jan 31, 2008 (3:24 pm)

Replying to: dcdame (Jan 31, 2008 2:51 pm)
Hope she appreciated what a NICE gift that was!

Messages Page 29 of 376

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