Persistent wheel bearing failure

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by Huskymaniac

I just looked at the picture and realized I was confused. Big surprise. I thought the bearing was pressed onto the hub. Now I see it is pressed into the housing. How loose is the fit between the bearing inside race and the hub?

Regardless, it was the hub I replaced with the bearing, not the housing.

The bearing has to be pressed into and out of the housing, and then the hub has to be pressed into the installed bearing.

There is no looseness in the system at all.

In different parts of the country people call parts different names.

[Huskymaniac]

Originally Posted by svxfiles

In different parts of the country people call parts different names.

Ohhhhh, I see. Let me rephrase by saying, "I replaced that thar hub, yall".

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by Huskymaniac

Ohhhhh, I see. Let me rephrase by saying, "I replaced that thar hub, yall".

And the New York version;

Hey, Buda-Bing, change out dat part dare or I'll beacha wid dis bat thens, I'll stab ya inda eye!
Yo!

[Huskymaniac]

Originally Posted by svxfiles

And the New York version;

Hey, Buda-Bing, change out dat part dare or I'll beacha wid dis bat thens, I'll stab ya inda eye!
Yo!

Next time I am down there, remind me to tell you about some of my "family" stories. I have some REALLY GOOD ones....

[scoobydrvr]

Once I get closer to doing this job, I'm going to have our machine shop make some shims to go between the hub and the bearing-holder-hootus-thingy. Having not dug into that assembly yet, is there any reason this wouldn't work?

[1986nate]

Originally Posted by scoobydrvr

So, I know this car is notorious for bearing failures and mine are failing too. I've been wondering: is there something I can do to make this next set last longer? Was the cause of the failures ever identified?

I suggest changing out the hub as well. If you don't, there's a great chance you'll be kicking yourself 15k miles later.

Sorry, I was too lazy to read everything.

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by scoobydrvr

Once I get closer to doing this job, I'm going to have our machine shop make some shims to go between the hub and the bearing-holder-hootus-thingy. Having not dug into that assembly yet, is there any reason this wouldn't work?

There is ZERO PLAY!
Shims are not really needed or possible.

[rvnmaniac]

Originally Posted by 1986nate

I suggest changing out the hub as well. If you don't, there's a great chance you'll be kicking yourself 15k miles later.

Sorry, I was too lazy to read everything.

+1... OT replaced my hub. Those bearings were being replaced about every 2 years. Now they are no longer an issue. Been quiet for quite awhile now.

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by rvnmaniac

+1... OT replaced my hub. Those bearings were being replaced about every 2 years. Now they are no longer an issue. Been quiet for quite awhile now.

I looked at your bill from 01-09-2011 and found the following line;

"Used left rear hub ($177.40 List price)--------------NC"

I BELIEVE that I actually changed the housing and called it a "hub".

I went to subaruparts.com and they have the hub now listed for $177.30 list price,
and the housing listed for $205.98 list price.
It makes more sence to me that the price would increase in the 2.5 years since the repair rather than decrease.

Since this thread began I have gone to two Subaru dealerships and no one can ever remember a reoccuring bearing failure.
Right.

I believe that a warped housing is much more likely than a warped hub
(now calling it by it's Subaru name).
The reason is this;
When pressing a bearing out of a housing it can take 5 to 20 tons of pressure.
Installing a hub never takes more than 152 foot/pounds.

[dannmarr]

I agree. After replacing the same bearings about 4 times, it wasn't until I replced the housing that my problem went away.

[scoobydrvr]

Man, this job just keeps getting more and more expensive! Wish I could use the housings out of the donor car but they were howling when we parked it so that's not an option...

[bwb3]

The '94 I just purchased is "humming" quite loud from both sides of the rear. When I questioned it, the PO said the dealer replaced the bearings less than 10k ago. I have gone ahead and purchased new OEM bearings, hubs (#28052PA010), seals, snap rings to cover all bases.

My questions are, what do you recommend to clean out the packing grease?
NAPA sells a inexpensive plastic container and plunger for repacking. Is that sufficient. Just press and press the new grease until you think it's penetrated enough?

Gene

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by bwb3

The '94 I just purchased is "humming" quite loud from both sides of the rear. When I questioned it, the PO said the dealer replaced the bearings less than 10k ago. I have gone ahead and purchased new OEM bearings, hubs (#28052PA010), seals, snap rings to cover all bases.

My questions are, what do you recommend to clean out the packing grease?
NAPA sells a inexpensive plastic container and plunger for repacking. Is that sufficient. Just press and press the new grease until you think it's penetrated enough?

Gene

I always wash them out first with kerosine, blow them dry, wash them again in spray brake cleaner, blow them out, wash one more time with brake cleaner and once again dry them with compressed air.
Then repack them by hand with a high temperature synthetic Asian wheel bearing grease.