Front Wheel Bearing Problems

[wrongturninwv]

2001 Outback 3.0. Right side wheel bearing problem. First time replaced the bearing was about 5 years ago and used Subaru part. I got about 2 years out of that one. The next time I went with a bearing from Advance and that one lasted over 3 years. About 2 weeks ago I had another Advance bearing installed and I am getting noise out of this one after just 2 weeks of driving. Eveything was done at a shop and now the guy cant get me back in till next Wednesday to check it out. I did some reading and found Subaru had put out a bad right side steering knuckle on the 2001. Maby this is whats making the bearing go bad.Has anyone else had this problem with bearings and does Subaru replace these bad steering knuckles at no charge ????? I also would like to know if the steering knuckle is the same on all 2001 Outbacks no matter what the engine size. I have owned Subarus since 1980 and never had a wheel bearing problem on one of them. Why just the right side all the time ??? Need some answers. thanks

[idosubaru]

i haven't heard of "just the right side" problem you refer to. can you provide some links or where you saw that information?

 

I would have replaced the entire knuckle and hub the second time around, something might be out of tolerance and prematurely wearing the bearings.

 

i'd get an entire used knuckle assembly and swap it out.

 

lots of hubs from 2001-2007 will interchange with yours.

Edited February 19, 2010 by grossgary

[CNY_Dave]

2001 Outback 3.0. Right side wheel bearing problem. First time replaced the bearing was about 5 years ago and used Subaru part. I got about 2 years out of that one. The next time I went with a bearing from Advance and that one lasted over 3 years. About 2 weeks ago I had another Advance bearing installed and I am getting noise out of this one after just 2 weeks of driving. Eveything was done at a shop and now the guy cant get me back in till next Wednesday to check it out. I did some reading and found Subaru had put out a bad right side steering knuckle on the 2001. Maby this is whats making the bearing go bad.Has anyone else had this problem with bearings and does Subaru replace these bad steering knuckles at no charge ????? I also would like to know if the steering knuckle is the same on all 2001 Outbacks no matter what the engine size. I have owned Subarus since 1980 and never had a wheel bearing problem on one of them. Why just the right side all the time ??? Need some answers. thanks

 

 

The mechanic might be retired from the pit crew of Parnelli Jones for all I know, but:

 

There are a few steps in the replacement where you have to be quite careful what presses on what, and you have to make sure no pressure is put on the spindle before the nut is fully torqued-

 

Add to that a question about what grease if any was in the bearings that were purchased-

 

Further add that if the hub was damaged by the bad bearing the damage can be very hard to spot-

 

Is this mechanic experienced in subarus?

 

 

I hadn't heard about the bad knuckle in 2001 either.

 

I am 99.9% sure the knuckle is the same no matter what engine, and I think it's the same for a legacy or an outback.

 

 

 

Dave

[wrongturninwv]

Component Description:

18. STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM Bulletin Number:010101Bulletin Date:Jan 2001Vehicle: 2,001 Subaru OutbackSummary:

SUBJECT REGARDING INSPECTION PROCEDURES FOR POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT OF THE RIGHT FRONT SPINDLE HOUSING. ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 616344 )

[wrongturninwv]

2001 Subaru LEGACY Recall ID from NHTSA: 00V391000

Auto Recall Date: 11/21/2000

Vehicle Component: STEERING:LINKAGES

Estimated Vehicles Affected: 1977

2001 SUBARU LEGACY Defect Summary:

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A CASTING FLAW IN THE RIGHT FRONT BEARING HOUSING COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING IF THE CASTING FLAW SHOULD EXIST IN THE TIE-ROD ARM.

Defect Consequence:

THIS CASTING FLAW COULD CAUSE GREASE LEAKAGE, FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE DUE TO LOSS OF GREASE, OR LOSS OF STEERING DUE TO TIE-ROD END SEPARATION.

Remedy:

DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL FRONT BEARING HOUSINGS WITH A LOT NUMBER OF OF15.

Notes: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC., WXY-82 Also one out there for the left side steering knuckle on the 2000 Legacy.