Rear Bearings on Legacy Wgn, why such a PAIN!?

[SubeeTed]

Hi ALL!

I just got my 1997 GT Wgn back from my mechanic. He did the right side...iy didn't take care of the problem., next wek the left. From what I've been told these are a pain to diagnose, because you can't put the car on the lift and listen because there is know pressure being applied because of no load. Also, getting thse beraings out is a PAIN I here becuase of the way Subee does them.

any ideas??

 

Thanks, SubeeTed

[smurfmiata93]

Having just replaced the right rear bearing on my Outback Wagon this past weekend I can say that the process is actually fairly easy provided you have the right tools and follow the current procedure from Subaru.

 

Procedure

 

Since I knew that at least one bearing was going bad and only having a rough idea that it was the right one, I decided that I would replace both of them. Reading about prices of $300 for one and $400-600 for two I decided that if I could get the tools for a reasonable price I would do them myself.

 

For starters, I found a Hub Tamer set on ebay for $127, then I got a slide hammer, a hub puller and a bearing seperator for a combined total of about $100. The bearings were about $100 from RockAuto and the seals and nuts were $70 from subaru. I also bought 2 additional pieces for the Hub Tamer from SPX/Kent-Moore the Subaru tools supplier for about $70

Total approx. $470.

 

The axle pushed out of the hub easily with the hub puller and the hub popped off very easily using the slide hammer. Using the Hub Tamer and the additional pieces, the bearing came out very smoothly and went in easily.

 

When I opened the Timken bearings from RockAuto it looked like there was very little grease in them so I loaded them with Mobil synthetic grease. While the Subaru procedure specifically tells you not to add grease, I figured that they were referring to bearings purchased from Subaru.

[BigMattyD]

Oh, Yeah, It looks easy to me. Only 50 steps and 15 special tools required... !

 

 

It doesn't look technically challenging, but requires a lot of patience and discipline, as well as some special tools. I think this is more of a job for somebody that wants an excuse to buy some more tools...

 

(I'm that kind of guy.)

 

Actually, I think I would pay someone to do it, unless I thought I would have to replace more than one or two.

 

Matt

[DerFahrer]

Good thing you didn't have to do all FOUR like me!

 

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=21223

[smurfmiata93]

When time permits I plan to do the left rear.

 

I also plan to use the Hub Tamer set to replace the rear bearings on my Miata.

 

I am the type that likes to do as much work on my cars as possible. I have been burned a couple of times by supposedly "certified" mechanics or the dealer where they did not properly diagnose the problem or adjusted things improperly (dangerously so).

 

The bearing problem on my Outback has been developing for years. When it first started I took the car to the dealer where the diagnosed the problem as a bad rear differential. After leaving the car with them 3 times, they replaced it twice (under warranty) without resolving the problem. I got disgusted and decided to wait until the noise got louder.

[BigMattyD]

Often, I diagnose the problem, try to fix it myself, and if it will be too difficult or require special expertise, I find out the cost for parts and have a reputable mechanic fix it.

 

 

The trick is not getting too far in over your head where you can't put the car back together again if you need to take it to a shop...

 

I really like to do the work myself, too, not just to save money, but because it is a hobby for me.

 

Matt