LuberJack Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Hello, I have a 1988 subaru GL 4x4 wagon, with 295,169 miles on the body...So, naturally, things like to go wrong. The car has recently (for a few weeks...maybe more?) Been making a pretty loud whiring sound from the drivers front side. I assumed it was a wheel bearing (and in fact took the car in to les schwab to have them swap some tires around for me, I asked them about the wheel bearing and the shook the wheel a bit and said it should be fine for a while, but might be on its way out) So, I figured I'd drive on it for a while, until it got worse, because I have limited funds right about now. Anyway, so the sound it makes is a sort of rumble or whir sound that pretty much shows up over 25 mph, it also sort of makes the steering wheel wobble around, the whole car in fact. But, on long right hand turns the noise and vibration pretty much disappear entirely. Well, yesterday the sound got a bit louder, and there was an additional metal on metal grindy sound I haven't heard before, so I figured I'd switch the wheel bearing out today. I got this far... When I noticed the boot at the end of the steering arm was totally torn open... Inside I noticed a metal cylinder that looked like it was totally eaten up...but, looking at it in the pictures, the grooves look maybe too clean to be something that is broken...maybe it is supposed to be like that? At any rate, I think it is hard to say my problems aren't related to this...but, what exactly am I looking at, and what parts should I get to replace it? It is sunday, so probably most places are closing up right about now anyway, but I want to get this fixed as quickly and cheaply as possible...I can bike to work for now, but, I am not a fan of having my lovely wagon out of commission...for now I'm just outside with my laptop, pretty much waiting for responses on here to get working on the car again. Thanks guys! ~Jake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naru Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 Looks like the end of the steering rack gear.Not to worry. A new boot would be good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihscout54 Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 The noises you are describing sound like a bearing, but the pics and "steering arm" comment look to me like the inner tie rod end and rack bellow. Are the close-ups, shots of the dusty boot just above the exhaust in the first photo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 you can replace that boot. get a new one or even a used one if you had a good one lying around off a rack somewhere and money is that tight. with noises you probably need to investigate before proceeding. part of me says, replace that tie rod. tie rods are one of the most dangerous things to have fail in a car, so they aren't something to mess with. fortunately Subaru tie rods are very robust and not likely to fail. but...in this case, with having a significant noise issue you'd hate to chance it. so either replace the inner tie rod and boot or check to make absolutely sure the wheel bearing is the noise, then just reboot and regrease that inner rod. you seem fine about oding the wheel bearing yourself, you won't have any problems doing a tie rod, particularly considering i see no rust issues. they're actually rather simple. take off the outer tie rod - be careful not to rip the boot on it. keep track of the number of turns of threads (total rotations) as you remove the outer tie rod so that you can reinstall without messing up your alignment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niku-Sama Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 i would say its more likely the wheel bearing. that looks like the right front and if you do a long right and the noise stops your not putting as much pressure on that wheel bearing and the noise may quiet down. wheel bearings are cheap and easy. i say replace it and see if it helps if not go for the tie rod, its not hard to take a wheel off. as for the boot, well i am not going to be much help, the whole time i owned my maxima that boot was ripped open on both sides and i never replaced it and i didnt ever have any problems.....but its probally a good idea to replace if thats you in your avatar pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuberJack Posted June 1, 2009 Author Share Posted June 1, 2009 Ok, thanks guys! I'll just try and throw in a new bearing today and see if that fixes the problem, and if that is the issue, I'll just put a new boot on as well. If not, I'm sure I can get the other issues fixed. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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