legacycentral bbs

I think one or more of my wheels bearings are going out. I hear a noise but don't know if it's the wheel bearings or not as it only happens at cruising or if I let off the gas a touch. Never when I let the gas out all the way or accelerate. Corners have no effect on the noise.

I need someone who knows how to replace them and has a press we can use and room to jack my car up and remove the hubs on location. Last time I asked the dealership for a price quote on this job they wanted $1,400. That's just ridiculous. Les Schwab wanted $700 using cheap aftermarket parts and people I don't trust doing the job.

I'm thinking $100 sounds fair for a bit of help and the use of a press. I can do all the dirty work and I have all the tools to get the hubs off except a ball joint seperator.

The wheels bearings and seals themselves are well over $300 from 1stsubaruparts.com.

I'm not 100% sure if the wheel bearings are the problem yet but I'm trying to figure it out.

Kimo

Sounds like your asking for Front bearings? Another test is jack it up, grab the tire @ opp. sides and see if there's any play. Is your axle nut tight?

Check out the yards in your area for used...just replace the whole front hub/spindle. My guess is any Legacy from '89-'99ish would work? Maybe even Impreza/Foresters? Check over on the USMB for interchange, too.

I just checked car-parts.com and looks like they'll interchange up to 2000 - might need to check for ABS vs. non-abs.

Also, check around a bit more if you gotta have new. My local Subie shop wanted less than $300 for new bearings installed.

wtdash wrote:Sounds like your asking for Front bearings? Another test is jack it up, grab the tire @ opp. sides and see if there's any play. Is your axle nut tight?

Why do you say that? It sounds like it's coming from the rear, possibly the diff. But I was going to replace them all if I end up buying new bearings.

wtdash wrote:Also, check around a bit more if you gotta have new. My local Subie shop wanted less than $300 for new bearings installed.

What!? That's not including the bearings is it? That's a far stretch from the $1,400 Hanson Motors wanted nearly 4 years ago on my first legacy. Was that price for just the front bearings or all 4 corners?

kimokalihi wrote:

wtdash wrote:Sounds like your asking for Front bearings? Another test is jack it up, grab the tire @ opp. sides and see if there's any play. Is your axle nut tight?

Why do you say that? It sounds like it's coming from the rear, possibly the diff. But I was going to replace them all if I end up buying new bearings.

wtdash wrote:Also, check around a bit more if you gotta have new. My local Subie shop wanted less than $300 for new bearings installed.

What!? That's not including the bearings is it? That's a far stretch from the $1,400 Hanson Motors wanted nearly 4 years ago on my first legacy. Was that price for just the front bearings or all 4 corners?

I had a ? after my Front bearings comment, since you didn't specify. And that's what failed on my Legacy. But the rear bearings fail regularly on Foresters so it could be the rears.

I wouldn't do 'em all @ once....unless you regularly drive long distances (isn't that the Metro's job?), as they'll give you some warning and don't usually fail to the point of stranding you.

That cost is for one new front wheel bearing replacement. The quote I got on my '98 Forester rear bearings still wasn't much more for each side. I remember being surprised since I've read about people spending $500+ each over on the Subaruforester.org site.

I recently replaced the rear hubs on my Forester project w/newer (but used) Legacy ones, because I was doing a bunch of other stuff and they were making noise before I started the swap....so far, so good.

Also, I know the Foresters are 'touchy' about the proper way to replace the bearing, so I'd be wary of doing this w/out the FSM or other Subaru-based info.