The Subaru SVX World Network   SVX Network Forums
Live Chat!
SVX or Subaru Links
Old Lockers
Photo Post
How-To Documents
Message Archive
SVX Shop Search
IRC users:

Go Back   The Subaru SVX World Network > SVX Main Forums > Technical Q & A

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-26-2006, 09:48 AM
Brian's Avatar
Brian Brian is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Finleyville, PA (Pittsburgh area)
Posts: 358
Front wheel bearings?

I've got a hard-to-describe noise coming from the front left primarily during left turns, especially if they are starp, going up hill, and from a slower speed. As time has gone on, the "especiallies" aren't as applicable, and I can get it during right-hand turns or sometimes even when not turning. It's not a clicking sound, but maybe "scrunching" would describe it. It really sound bad A mechanic took a look when I had it in for a more urgent repair, and he said it's a combination of a bad half-shaft (which was my first guess) and a bad bearing.

I've heard a lot about rear wheel bearings going bad, but not much about front bearings. Does all the stuff about the rear bearings apply to the front ones too...the tendency for failure, the shipping/packing grease issue, the need for a press or hub tamer, the wrong gaskets listed, the same torques, etc.? Or are the fronts an easier and cheaper repair?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-26-2006, 09:51 AM
n00b on demand's Avatar
n00b on demand n00b on demand is offline
OMGWTFBBQ!!1!11!LMAOROFLC OPTER
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: New York City
Posts: 5,114
I wouldn't say the tendency for failure for the rear is common at all for the fronts. The rears fail by far a million times more than the front. I think i've only read one other thread with someone saying there front bearings are bad in the two years ive been around here. Good luck in finding whats wrong.

- n00b
__________________
1993 25th Anniversary Edition # 156 of 301 ~ 121, 488 miles ( SOLD TO svxfiles 8/6/06)

2006 Subaru Impreza 2.5i....5spd - My daily driver

2006 Subaru Legacy 2.5i -7k miles..Mom's daily driver

2,543 Member of the SVX World Network
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-26-2006, 11:01 AM
immortal_suby's Avatar
immortal_suby immortal_suby is offline
Thread Killah
Alcyone Gold Contributor
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 5,835
Registered SVX
The front bearings are going bad on my 92 with over 222,000 miles. I replaced one already that was so bad you could move the tire a few mm top to bottom. The other side is only making the low howling noise at this point but needs to be replaced pretty soon also.

It is less common for the fronts to go at low mileage. I expect we will probbaly see some more failing as the miles rack up on more of the 92's and 93's.

the symptoms on mine are as you described - started out only in some turns but got progressively worse and eventually made noise even in in a straight line.
__________________
Matt
Locker Link
2015 BRZ Limited 6MT
92 Ebony LS-L ECUtune Stage2av1, Z32 MAF, 370cc injectors, TomsSVX intake, BontragerWorks 22mm RSB #003, HID Hi and Lo beams, OT endlink and bushing mods, PWR Aluminum radiator, Harvey's QC shift kit, 2.5" flowmaster 80 exhaust, 17" Michelin Pilot Sport A/S, Poly sway bar bushings, Slotted Bradi rotors, AFBeefcake powdercoated calipers, 97 grill, and a huge set of air horns. 300,000 miles and counting
92 Ebony LS-L. ecutune stage1v4, motorsport 1pc pulley. Garage Queen - sold to Dad in upstate NY 155,000 miles
19 Subaru Ascent Premium - -Hers !.
89 DL 4x4 little red wagon - a.k.a. The immortal suby. 275k R.I.P.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-26-2006, 11:17 AM
DarknessofDeath's Avatar
DarknessofDeath DarknessofDeath is offline
Inhabitant of Darkness
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: first layer of hell
Posts: 1,232
Registered SVX
i had to replace a front bearing not too shortly after i got my car on the road.
__________________
1992 Subaru SVX LS~L Ebony Pearl
1992 Dodge Stealth R/T Firestorm Red
1992 Subaru SVX LS~L Pearl White
1992 Subaru SVX LS~L Ebony Pearl JDM 6MT/DCCD
2007 Subaru Legacy Spec B. Diamond Grey Metallic
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-26-2006, 11:31 AM
pipedream's Avatar
pipedream pipedream is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: portland, or
Posts: 190
Send a message via AIM to pipedream
can someone try and describe the howling sound to me?

ive been reading all about this bearing business for a while now, and im wondering if my bearings are going bad, or if im just hearing normal tire-to-road noise...

is there any perforamnce issues?
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-26-2006, 11:34 AM
DarknessofDeath's Avatar
DarknessofDeath DarknessofDeath is offline
Inhabitant of Darkness
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: first layer of hell
Posts: 1,232
Registered SVX
i'm not too sure about the sound.

but i would imagine in the front more that your car would kind of wander around the road a little...bumpy ride ( i think)....
sorry
dont have my text book with me at work.

i'll post up what i have in my text book in the later afternoon or evening.
unless some one else has given out the answers to the questions.
__________________
1992 Subaru SVX LS~L Ebony Pearl
1992 Dodge Stealth R/T Firestorm Red
1992 Subaru SVX LS~L Pearl White
1992 Subaru SVX LS~L Ebony Pearl JDM 6MT/DCCD
2007 Subaru Legacy Spec B. Diamond Grey Metallic
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-26-2006, 08:48 PM
DarknessofDeath's Avatar
DarknessofDeath DarknessofDeath is offline
Inhabitant of Darkness
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: first layer of hell
Posts: 1,232
Registered SVX
wheel bearing diagnosis

symptoms of defective wheel bearing includes:

1. a hum, rumbling noise or growling noise that increases with vehicle speed.

2. roughness felt in the steering wheel that changes with the vehicle speed or conering.

3. looseness or excessive play in the steering wheel especially while driving over rough road surfaces

4. in severe cases, a loud grinding noise, indicating a defective front wheel bearing

5. pulling during braking

6. bearing roughness, heard and felt when, with the vehicle off the ground, rotating the wheel by hand.

7. bearing looseness felt when grasping the wheel at the top and bottom and wiggling it back and forth.
__________________
1992 Subaru SVX LS~L Ebony Pearl
1992 Dodge Stealth R/T Firestorm Red
1992 Subaru SVX LS~L Pearl White
1992 Subaru SVX LS~L Ebony Pearl JDM 6MT/DCCD
2007 Subaru Legacy Spec B. Diamond Grey Metallic
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-26-2006, 09:29 PM
ensteele's Avatar
ensteele ensteele is offline
Betcha can't buy just one!
Alcyone Gold Contributor
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Burlington, WA
Posts: 19,552
Send a message via ICQ to ensteele Send a message via Yahoo to ensteele Send a message via Skype™ to ensteele
Registered SVX Classic SVX
I would think it is the half shaft, and not a bearing, but I can't hear it.
__________________
.
Earl .... ... .... ><SVX(*>

Subaru Ambassador

[COLOR=”silver”]1992 Tri Color L[/COLOR] ~45K (06/91) #2430
1992 Dark Teal LS-L ~184K (05/91) #0739
1992 Claret LS-L ~196K (05/91) #0831
1992 Pearl LS-L ~103K (06/91) #1680
1992 Pearl LS-L ~151K (06/91) #2229
1992 Dark Teal LS ~150K (07/91) #3098 (parts car)
1992 White LS-L ~139K (08/92) #6913
1993 25th AE ~98K (02/93) #164
1993 25th AE ~58K (02/93) #176
1993 25th AE ~107K (02/93) #215
1993 25th AE ~162K (02/93) #223
1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~124K (1/94) #2408
1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~144K (10/93) #1484
1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~68K (10/93) #1525
1994 Barcelona Red LSi ~46K (02/94) #2624
1994 Pearl LSi ~41K (12/93) #1961
1995 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~70K (02/95) #855
1996 Polo Green LSi ~95K (03/96) #872
1997 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~55K (08/96) #097
2003 Brilliant Red LS1 Convertible ~29K (04/03) #8951
1999 Magnetic Red LS1 Coupe ~33K (04/99) #6420

My Email | Old Locker | New Locker | Picture of 15 of the 19
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-27-2006, 04:45 AM
Manarius's Avatar
Manarius Manarius is offline
1995 Subaru SVX LSi Polo Green
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Grantham, PA (Near Harrisburg)
Posts: 2,119
Send a message via ICQ to Manarius Send a message via AIM to Manarius Send a message via MSN to Manarius Send a message via Yahoo to Manarius Send a message via Skype™ to Manarius
Registered SVX
I have a movie of a bad rear wheel bearing. Maybe your car sounds like this?
http://media.putfile.com/Really-a-bearing

Also, I noticed that the wheel itself, when bolted on, has a good bit of play compared to other wheels. If you try to shake your wheels laterally (side to side) they shouldn't move at all. Bad bearings let the wheel move laterally. Also, it can be noticed if you take off the wheel and try to shake the hub...that'll shake also if the bearing is bad.

When you do replace the bearing, replace all the seals and fill it with grease.
__________________
-Jason
(8/23/07-Present) 1995 Subaru SVX LSi (197k) Polo Green (#1102) 03/95
Mods: DDM Tuning 4500k 35w Low Beam HID, 100w H3 Bulbs, Extra Ground Cables, 15 minute $12.96 mod,
svxfiles designed transmission mount (), sporting a "new" tail light bar,
silver BBS rims, custom power steering cooler (one that doesn't dump ATF constantly), new negative lead cable, no more third or fourth gear
(1977-Present) 1977 Chevrolet Corvette (81k) Silver
(12/01/2011-Present) 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 5MT (97k)
I have a bad feeling about this.
-Obi Wan Kenobi
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:10 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
© 2001-2015 SVX World Network
(208)-906-1122