Wheel Bearings
 

How difficult is it to do for a DIYer?

Where do you buy the bearings?

Are there generic bearings available?

Any special installation instructions about the bearings?

Thanks

Jimagoo

Re: Wheel Bearings
 

How difficult is it to do for a DIYer?

---You can pull it apart easily, I had a shop press the new units in

Where do you buy the bearings?

---Subaru, possibly Dayle (probably)

Are there generic bearings available?

---I havn't found any...

Any special installation instructions about the bearings?

---Yeah, very important, remove packing grease completely and replace with proper grease... Someone here will know for sure, but I believe it is high temp bearing grease

Thanks

Jimagoo [/B][/QUOTE]

Re: Wheel Bearings
 

Buy your bearings from:

Kerven Subaru
100 Barracks RD
Butler, PA 16001

800-KERVEN9

Mention that you are a SVX Network member to receive the best price.

You want the subaru bearings not some aftermarket bearings. Apparantly we use the same bearings as the wrx now so you may be able to get cheap bearings but that's a no no. Cheap bearings are chineese and made from junk steel. The japaneese have made the best bearing steel for a long time now. Not even the US can compete, Timken's come close but not quite. Stick with the factory bearing; they even improved them recently switching to a cup and cone bearing.

That thing about removing the grease is very true even though you will find some people including the dealer swearing that it's not. The deal is that the grease the bearings come packed in is made by showa shell and isn't available in the US. Subaru dealers aught to cary it but they don't. The base of this grease is not compatible with other greases so if you mix them it will lead to bearing failure. I originally guessed this due to the factory service manual's empatically saying to use only Shell 6459N grease. I got in contact with Shell lubricants directly and they verified this and told me there is no US equivalent or compatable grease. Here, I'll post their email:

"Michael,

Shell 6459N grease is a product of Showa Shell (Shell Japan). It is described as a long-life polyurea-thickened grease with a base oil viscosity of 97 cSt at 40C, suitable for lubrication of u-joints. The product is not available in the US, and while we do have grease we generally recommend for the application (Shell Albida Grease LC 2 or Shell Retinax Grease LC 2, for instance), they would not be compatible and contain higher viscosity base oils.

We suggest forcing Subaru to recommend a replacement available in the US.

Thank you for your interest in Shell Lubricants!"

So if there isn't enough grease on your bearings as shipped then completely clean them before repacking them unless you can get the correct wheel bearing grease from the dealer. Personally I'm planning on pressing the point with the dealer to get the right stuff.

wheel bearings
 

Thanks everyone for the info. Do we have instructions about bearings on our site?

Jimagoo

There is a LOT of helpful information on bearing replacement that you can access by searching past "bearing" threads on the Technical Q&A forum.

Joe Fillip
'95 L AWD ("The Wayback Machine")
Swarthmore, PA

how much would it cost to take the car to a subaru dealer to have all this done?

and would the subaru dealer know to repack with better grease?

The usually will repack with better grease if you've got a good relationship with the service people... otherwise no.

Expect around $350 for the rears of $600 (!!!!!) for the fronts at a Subaru dealer.

Yes, a DIYer can do it. I did my front bearings about a month or so ago (search and a writeup you will find).

Mmmm... Yoda I sound like.

After 2 driver side bearings had failed I replaced the Hub the next time around-. I know it isnt recommended to so but you will regret not doing so the next time it fails.

It turns out, not suprisingly, that you can in fact get the propper grease from subaru so that you don't have to clean out what the bearings come packed in and so you can regrease the bearings on your car before they fail to begin with. It comes in a pack of 4 individually sized packets, one for each wheel. When the parts guy I finally got to find the part # for me called me I was in the car so I couldn't write it down but he ordered it for me. I'll post the part # after I pick up the grease.

With the right grease you can regrease the bearings on your car before they fail.

I just had a bearing replaced on mine on warranty. (Last one didn't last 6 months)

They showed me the new bearing. It was sealed and there was no way to repack it.

Longassname, did you ever find the Subaru part number for the replacement grease?

Joe Fillip
'95 L AWD
Swarthmore, PA

yes but i don't have it handy right now. pm me to remind me to find it later and i'll post it here

ok, I found it. I haven't picked any up yet so I haven't visually verified this # is for what it is supposed to be for but it says it's the correct thing in their computer (and of course almost no dealer stocks it and they have to order it from japan when you ask for it).

soa635066

Love Da Snoopy

*Napa also known as SnoopyThePuppy