2004 Subaru Outback Captive Wheel Bearing Replacement

[JettaJayGLS]

How difficult? Slide hammer going to do the trick to get the hub assembly off? Rear axle need to be removed?

[lord1234]

It's a huge bitch...most places I remember having it done at told me they used a arbor press to get them out or some such...pay someone.

[JettaJayGLS]

It's a huge bitch...most places I remember having it done at told me they used a arbor press to get them out or some such...pay someone.

To get the whole captive assembly off?? Damn.

[golden chicken]

Those generally aren't so bad. You will have to basically remove the axle to access the screws. Air tools help a lot. A slide hammer will probably pull the inner race out with the hub and you'll still be stuck with the outer race in the flange in the spindle. Instead, I usually just air hammer the crap out of those until it turns in the spindle and then air hammer it out.

[TheIglu]

Did my wife's '07. Took me 2 minutes of using the slide hammer. Not a bitch at all.

[JettaJayGLS]

Did my wife's '07. Took me 2 minutes of using the slide hammer. Not a bitch at all.

Did you need to pull the axle? Did the new one press on easy enough?

Thanks folks.

[rice_rocket]

Wirelessly posted

Had my friend at the shop do it... my hubs/ nuts were really stuck on there with rust and grunge.. he had it on a lift and went at it with a slide hammer and air chisel...I no doubt I would not have been able to do it on my driveway. I'm glad I didn't have time to do it and went the easy way.. still took him some effort he admitted was a little more than usual. I have an 05 legacy gt.... but always has been a ma car and I certainly don't wash it that much since I'm on the highway to and from work and it is futile keeping it clean.

[JettaJayGLS]

This is an 04, like 120k, seen a shit ton of snow and has very minimal maintenance done besides valvoline oil changes...think I'll save my time. Those captive bearing assemblies seem so easy in theory I thought I would be able to get it done in no time.

Thanks for all the answers though!

[tsorfas]

You have done enough wrenching this year bro

[golden chicken]

There's a big difference between how much rot I see on cars from '04 vs. cars from '07.

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

If more mechanics knew what never seize was, these things would be a breeze.

[golden chicken]

...the second time around, maybe.

[TheIglu]

Just pull the axle nut, then slide hammer away. I pulled the inner pivot bolts off the suspension arms to give me some more movement.

04 to 07 is a good amount of time, but mine had similar mileage. Worth a try, eh?

[Garandman]

Wirelessly posted

If more mechanics knew what never seize was, these things would be a breeze.

That takes another 30 seconds per job....

[timmyho414]

cake.

I'd be surprised of you really need a slide hammer. I just did an 08, same thing. Granted last years of salt but still, I don't remember it been even a snug fit.

I remember the caliper bracket bolts being more of a pain to get at.

oh yea..
take the axle nut off first, push the axle inboard (you may need to TAP it with a hammer, DO NOT hit it hard or you could damage the threads. Use a block of wood or a soft face hammer if its stuck) then you will have more space to get at the bolts that hold the hub to the knuckle.

[Pigman]

Get long bolts and thread them in and bang out the bearing......and I guess you didnt see my post about captive wheel bearings. Also, if you can just remove the arm and do it on a bench.


Good LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...ont-rotor-Swap

[nhbubba]

If more factories knew what never seize was, these things would be a breeze.

Fixed.

[island boyeee]

If you want a dealership to do it after hours at a discounted rate, plus parts at discount, my buddy can hook you up. I have had several things I didn't feel like doing myself (including 3 wheel bearing replacements) done for next to nothing there, compared to the cost of aggravation and time trying to do it myself.

[JettaJayGLS]

Well, I'm going for it. It's just one wheel bearing. Also, that along with an O2 sensor is covering my birthday gift to her.

On a side note....

We switched cars last night. As I left for work this morning, I had a decision to make: do I take the sea-foam green Subaru Outback Wagon or the spare White Beetle Convertible we got in the garage. In other words, do I choose to pick up lesbians or dudes?

I chose dudes.

[JettaJayGLS]

Never. Again.

Getting down to the hub was easy. Getting the hub off...forget about it. 2+ hours with hammers, punches, air chisel, pry bars, hopes and dreams, etc...

Finally got it off. Split the hub from the bearing with some heat and a bit of elbow grease/creativity, pressed the hub into the new bearing housing, go to bolt the new bearing housing on and the screws won't thread in. Apparently the one I got from autozone has course threads compared to the fine threads on the OEM one. My dad seems to believe autozone should have given me bolts as he says when they order parts like that (VW dealer) that they always come with bolts. I'm not sure, but I'll call autozone tomorrow and find out.

If I had a lift this would have been loads easier as I believe the correct way to do it is to thread dummy screws in and then hammer them out from under the car, but no room for that with simple jack stands.

[golden chicken]

Never. Again.

Getting down to the hub was easy. Getting the hub off...forget about it. 2+ hours with hammers, punches, air chisel, pry bars, hopes and dreams, etc...

Did you try cursing at it? That often helps me.

[Rambunctous]

Wirelessly posted

If the factory who built these cars knew what never seize was, these things would be a breeze.

Fixed (never sieze costs money = less profit)

[Pigman]

Yea.....its Def easier if you just pull the whole arm off and thread some bolts in there and take a hammer or air
chizzle to them and push the bearing out... I have some bolts that i used you can have them if you want. But yea......fun Job for sure. Also, if those rotors are not in good shape I would swap them out also seeing as your in there anyways...

[JettaJayGLS]

Yea.....its Def easier if you just pull the whole arm off and thread some bolts in there and take a hammer or air
chizzle to them and push the bearing out... I have some bolts that i used you can have them if you want. But yea......fun Job for sure. Also, if those rotors are not in good shape I would swap them out also seeing as your in there anyways...

She JUST got all new brakes less than 2 weeks ago, that's why getting down to the hub was so damn simple.

She dropped her car off at a shop. They told her she needed pads, rotors, AND calipers. Also told her about the wheel bearing and O2 sensor, which were true, its throwing a code and had a MASSIVE hum from the rear wheel. They quoted $1,800. I told her to go get her car back and I would at least do the brakes for substantially cheaper. She called, they said they started the brakes already so they ended up charging her $1,200 for the brakes. I would have just let them finish the rest at that point but she already grabbed the car. Kinda left me in a tight spot as I was the one who told her to get the car.

[Pigman]

She JUST got all new brakes less than 2 weeks ago, that's why getting down to the hub was so damn simple.

She dropped her car off at a shop. They told her she needed pads, rotors, AND calipers. Also told her about the wheel bearing and O2 sensor, which were true, its throwing a code and had a MASSIVE hum from the rear wheel. They quoted $1,800. I told her to go get her car back and I would at least do the brakes for substantially cheaper. She called, they said they started the brakes already so they ended up charging her $1,200 for the brakes. I would have just let them finish the rest at that point but she already grabbed the car. Kinda left me in a tight spot as I was the one who told her to get the car.

Yea....I got caught too, I just said I can bang that out its just breaks no Biggie..

OGH GEEZ never again......