Wheel bearing detctive work

NiftySVX · #1 11-16-2007, 03:30 PM

Recently I have been attempting to trace the cause of our wheel bearing failures. I have been doing some research on the different fixes that have been used by Subaru over the years, and have found the following to be true for the legacy in is first generation.

Initially, the wheel bearings were thought to have been failing because of inner seal failures. The inner seal was changed, and techs were instructed to replace axles that showed signs of damage to their sealing surface.

This did not seem to have much of an effect, so the bearing itself was changed from a tapered roller design to a ball style and that techs began replacing the old tapered ones with the new ball style ones. This seemed to help a great deal, and the second generation legacy used these bearings from the factory.

The SVX just seems to have been omitted. It would appear that what we need to do is attempt to find a ball bearing that we could make work, so we can ditch these tapered bearings and their premature failure forever.

As a footnote, it is interesting to learn that wheel bearings are no longer available separately for a Subaru, it comes pre assemled in the hub assembly.

Anyone know of anything else I might be missing?

SVX_MY_BABY · #2 11-17-2007, 09:08 AM

Up here Subaru is using the WRX rear bearings for the SVX. They are described as "Taper Roll" on my work order.

Bearing No. 28016PA010
Seal No. 28015AA070
Oil Seal I No. 28015AA080

Crazy_pilot · #3 11-17-2007, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVX_MY_BABY

Up here Subaru is using the WRX rear bearings for the SVX. They are described as "Taper Roll" on my work order.

Bearing No. 28016PA010
Seal No. 28015AA070
Oil Seal I No. 28015AA080

That's the same part number as the bearings subaruparts.com sent me.

LetItSnow · #4 11-17-2007, 01:18 PM

How common are ball bearings used in this application?

Maybe the failure is due to poor preloading, or poor preload spec?

svxistentialist · #5 11-17-2007, 03:57 PM

Nifty

Tony in Australia, aka Desertrunner, has installed a different bearing which so far as I know is a permanent fix.

And if you have read his stuff, nobody but nobody punishes an SVX any harder than he does.

Read this Thread if you want a permanent fix:
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=27924

Joe

{You could PM him and see if he is still running on the same set.}