wheel bearings

The original bearings in the forester were round bearings, they have changed
them to tapered bearings.


--
Steve
ASE Master Tech
L1 Diag
Currently residing at a Subaru Shop
4.5 years doing tires and alighnments


"dba" <dba.DeleteThis@somewhere.org> wrote in message
news:FEaFj.62409$cQ1.5556@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> Excuse my late response.
>
> First, it seems there can be many install issues. How the heck do I
> determine if someone is capable of a good install? What about over
> tightening? Is there special equipment needed?
>
> Steve, you mention a 'round bearing'. Do not know what that means. Any
> help?
>
> Sad to hear about your brother. It is especially sad when a family member
> leaves.
>
>
>
> StephenW wrote:
>> I'm here!
>> Just getting over a family tragedy, loss of my brother, so internet
>> hasn't been important lately.
>> in our shop, almost no returns on wheel bearings and we haven't had round
>> bearings as a replacement part in years.
>> over torquing could be a culprit.
>>
>>
>>
>> "Carl 1 Lucky Texan" <alckytxn.DeleteThis@swbell.not> wrote in message
>> news:ZE4yj.9274$xq2.2739@newssvr21.news.prodigy.net...
>>
>>>dba wrote:
>>>
>>>>Have 1998 Forester. Have replaced wheel bearings 5 times and just told
>>>>right rear needs to be replaced again.
>>>>
>>>>Anyone else having this type of issue?
>>>
>>>It 'was' easy to get the same, poor, bearings instead of the legacy-style
>>>roller bearings. I THINK new stock should be 'good'.(where's that Steve
>>>guy the sube tech?)
>>>
>>>There also have been issues with determining whetehr the grease that is
>>>shipped in the bearings should be replaced.
>>>
>>>PLUS - it is evidently VERY easy to install them improperly. make sure
>>>whoever installs them has the proper equipment.
>>>
>>>
>>>Carl
>>>
>>>
>>>--
>>>to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)
>>
>>
 >> Stay informed about: wheel bearings 

"dba" <dba RemoveThis @somewhere.org> wrote:
> Have 1998 Forester. Have replaced wheel bearings 5 times and just told
> right rear needs to be replaced again.
>
> Anyone else having this type of issue?

No - I had to have all but passenger rear replace around 200,000 km but
they've been fine since.

Did you get all done by the same mechanic? If so, that is most likely your
problem.

--
Dominic Richens | knob RemoveThis @storm.ca
"If you're not *outraged*, you're not paying attention!"
 >> Stay informed about: wheel bearings 

Well we will find out soon. Just had rear left replaced by another garage.

Still seems strange that wheel bearings need such frequent replacement.
Have had many cars in my day and never had to have wheel bearings
replace the first time.



Dominic Richens wrote:
> "dba" <dba DeleteThis @somewhere.org> wrote:
>> Have 1998 Forester. Have replaced wheel bearings 5 times and just told
>> right rear needs to be replaced again.
>>
>> Anyone else having this type of issue?
>
> No - I had to have all but passenger rear replace around 200,000 km but
> they've been fine since.
>
> Did you get all done by the same mechanic? If so, that is most likely your
> problem.
>
 >> Stay informed about: wheel bearings 

"dba" <someone.RemoveThis@someplace.org> wrote in message
news:47f145d0$0$6143$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Well we will find out soon. Just had rear left replaced by another garage.
>
> Still seems strange that wheel bearings need such frequent replacement.
> Have had many cars in my day and never had to have wheel bearings replace
> the first time.

Agreed - Soobs are notorious for having under-engineered their wheel bears
so that they only last 100,000km to 200,000km - plus it is easy to mash them
when installing them - not the best design IMHO.

> Dominic Richens wrote:
>> "dba" <dba.RemoveThis@somewhere.org> wrote:
>>> Have 1998 Forester. Have replaced wheel bearings 5 times and just told
>>> right rear needs to be replaced again.
>>>
>>> Anyone else having this type of issue?
>>
>> No - I had to have all but passenger rear replace around 200,000 km but
>> they've been fine since.
>>
>> Did you get all done by the same mechanic? If so, that is most likely
>> your problem.
>>
 >> Stay informed about: wheel bearings 

100,000km to 200,000km? The car is a 1998 with 60,000. The wheel
bearings have been changed 4 times before (maybe more) and we just did
the 5th.


Dominic Richens wrote:
> "dba" <someone RemoveThis @someplace.org> wrote in message
> news:47f145d0$0$6143$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>> Well we will find out soon. Just had rear left replaced by another garage.
>>
>> Still seems strange that wheel bearings need such frequent replacement.
>> Have had many cars in my day and never had to have wheel bearings replace
>> the first time.
>
> Agreed - Soobs are notorious for having under-engineered their wheel bears
> so that they only last 100,000km to 200,000km - plus it is easy to mash them
> when installing them - not the best design IMHO.
>
>> Dominic Richens wrote:
>>> "dba" <dba RemoveThis @somewhere.org> wrote:
>>>> Have 1998 Forester. Have replaced wheel bearings 5 times and just told
>>>> right rear needs to be replaced again.
>>>>
>>>> Anyone else having this type of issue?
>>> No - I had to have all but passenger rear replace around 200,000 km but
>>> they've been fine since.
>>>
>>> Did you get all done by the same mechanic? If so, that is most likely
>>> your problem.
>>>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: wheel bearings 

dba wrote:
>
> 100,000km to 200,000km? The car is a 1998 with 60,000. The wheel
> bearings have been changed 4 times before (maybe more) and we just > did the 5th.

Hi,

I've gotta agree that Subaru did NOT choose the best designs for their
wheel bearings, but, still, it sounds like there's something SERIOUSLY
wrong w/ the car, the installation procedure, or both?

One thing we discussed a couple of years back makes me wonder about the
installation. Supposedly new bearings were coming from the factory
pre-greased. One of the things we tossed about was whether they were
"pre-greased" for actual use, or was this "preservative" grease that
needed to be replaced w/ actual service lube prior to installation?

For myself, I've never trusted the "pre-greased" idea and have lubed
replacement bearings "forever." I'm gonna wonder out loud if maybe none
of the bearings installed in your car were ever properly greased? One
reason I wonder is that when one of the rear bearings was getting loose
in my Subie (250k miles or so), I didn't have time to change it out
right when I discovered the wear, so I got out the grease gun and a
needle and really gave it a good amount of grease to hold it while I
"crossed my fingers." I got over 5000 miles out of it before it finally
failed, and even when it "gave up" I was able to limp it home at low
speed for close to 50 miles.

Now that's on a known "sick" bearing, so getting only twice that mileage
from a "new" one is purely inexcusable.

Rick
 >> Stay informed about: wheel bearings