Rear wheel bearing fix

[funeralmasses4m]

anyone have a estimate of the average cost to replace one of the rear wheel bearings at a shop? id do it myself but i dont have a bearing press.

[Jedz123]

It's $88 for the part after shipping. Who needs a press when a 9lbs sledge and a piece of 2X4 works just as well....Thats how I've put in all my wheel bearings for all my cars.
~Jedz

[Manarius]

My overall cost for a 91 Legacy was 60 for the bearing and 60 for the hour of labor.

[AlcyoneDaze]

I just did my wheel bearings. Bearings, nuts, and seals from Subaru OEM, and the shop took 2 hours for each side at the standard labor rates.. I feel raped At least she rides quiet now.

[craftylandshark]

For me, parts from Subaru were $70ish, and i got lucky on the labor. i found a shop that claimed to be willing to do it for 90 bucks. they had no idea they needed to rent a press, and i failed to mention it, but they honored their quote. DO NOT forget though to flush the bearings of the grease they came packed in and repack them with synthetic. These prices are for both bearings, btw. It's a waste of time to have only one replaced. You'll just be back in a few months for the other one. Do them both if possible.

[AlcyoneDaze]

My shop said my axle nuts were fine but went ahead and used my new ones from Subaru. Would there be any harm in skipping new axle nuts? I know they're cheap, but so am I

[dcarrb]

I recently paid $185 labor/machine shop fee total for both sides.

dcb

[sperry]

Originally Posted by AlcyoneDaze

My shop said my axle nuts were fine but went ahead and used my new ones from Subaru. Would there be any harm in skipping new axle nuts? I know they're cheap, but so am I

As long as they're not split or crimped to hell and back, usually you can get away w/ re-using axle nuts.

However, because the SVX is so sensitive to the torque on the rear bearings, re-using the nuts in the back may result in improper bearing pre-load, which can greatly reduce the wheel bearing's life. If there ever was a car that I'd say "just use some new ones, it's cheap insurance", it'd be the SVX's rear axles.

[benebob]

Originally Posted by Jedz123

It's $88 for the part after shipping. Who needs a press when a 9lbs sledge and a piece of 2X4 works just as well....Thats how I've put in all my wheel bearings for all my cars.
~Jedz

Not that it doesn't work on most cars but how long has you're bearing held up on the SVX. I'd say probably 90% of the issues are related to this method of r&r of the bearing which then leads to a bad hub so even if done right the second time the bearing isn't seated properly.

Its easy to bang it in and out but not always the wisest idea.