find a friend or a shop with a press?

 

How many bearings? $600 for one is way too much in labor- it's even high for 2. The parts are only a bit more than $100.

 

I got a bearing and 2 seals for about 80 bucks from Napa. Any shop will press the bearing for about 40 bucks if you bring them the knuckle.

 

Oh, No!! Another Subie Gal!! :lol:
I kid, I kid, seriously! Welcome!

$300 per wheel with parts and labor are pretty close to what I payed for at the dealership. But like everyone said, unless you know someone, then that looks like the asking price. Good luck!

 

I have already bought the bearings and seals for about $100 and we have a shop with a press but dealer said that the whole hub needs to be press out from the axle and they are the only ones with the tool. And I'm just looking to replace the back ones. But the labor is like $93/hr!

 

I have already bought the bearings and seals for about $100 and we have a shop with a press but dealer said that the whole hub needs to be press out from the axle and they are the only ones with the tool. And I'm just looking to replace the back ones. But the labor is like $93/hr!

they are lying through their teeth. i did it with tools rented at your local canadian tire or autozone...

the hardest part of changing a (rear) wheel bearing is getting the 9" lateral link bolt off, do that and you are on your way to changing your bearing. there was just a thread about it this week on the forum with good advice about how to get it off. (you will probably have to buy replacement parts, as you need to cut).

anyway, for the wheel bearing itself, you DO NOT need any subaru specific tools. the axle is not pressed into the bearing or anything, it just pops out of the knuckle. The specialised tools you need:

1- 32mm socket for the axle nut, it can be a bitch to break off

2- hub puller: this can consist of a nice slide hammer unit that bolts onto your studs, or a very primitive and large hammer

3- bearing cutter: or something that will separate the inner bearing race from the hub

4- a universal wheel bearing tool: this is basically a long threaded bolt, some cylindrical pieces, and different sized disc. instead of pressing the bearing in and out, you simply run the threaded screw though it, select the proper metal disc, and crank the nut until the bearing pops out. reverse procedure for pressing it in, and for pressing the hub in.

you wont even need an alignment if you follow the above method. the other option is getting the knuckle off the car and getting a garage to do the pressing.

here is a great webpage that will help you out:

http://rs.pmgz.net/?page_id=17

just fyi, i changed mine less than 2 weeks ago, and it was a total PITA. the reason was because of the lateral link bolt, if it wasnt for that, the rest of the procedure is very doable.

 

pull the strut housings off and take them to a machine shop. to have two bearings installed cost me $30, I supplied the parts.

 

I have a friend who works at the local subie dealer who is going to get me a new hub/bearing/seals and press it for me. Is that all I need to replace the wheel bearing/hub? He said I might need a stub shaft. How would I know if I need a stub shaft?

It would suck to pull everything apart just to find out I need a stub shaft as well.

 

...but dealer said that the whole hub needs to be press out from the axle and they are the only ones with the tool.

And this is why we call them the stealership.

 

what's a stub shaft? i dont think you will need that...

essentials:

1- wheel bearing
2- 3 seals

probably need:
1- lateral link bolt + bushings

if your wheel bearing has been bad for a long time:
1- new hub

if you're really unlucky:
1- new knuckle

 

what's a stub shaft? i dont think you will need that...

essentials:

1- wheel bearing
2- 3 seals

probably need:
1- lateral link bolt + bushings

if your wheel bearing has been bad for a long time:
1- new hub

if you're really unlucky:
1- new knuckle

I'm getting a brand new hub/seals/bearing and having it pressed for $125. This a good deal?

I'm not sure if I need a hub to be exact, but the price seems right to me so I'm going to get the whole assembly then unpress the old hub and sell it if it's still good.

 

geez, dude...no wonder they call it the stealership. I got my left rear replaced for 215 bucks at a Subaru Specialty shop.

 

I'm getting a brand new hub/seals/bearing and having it pressed for $125. This a good deal?

I'm not sure if I need a hub to be exact, but the price seems right to me so I'm going to get the whole assembly then unpress the old hub and sell it if it's still good.

very good deal! i paid almost that much (in canadian) without the hub or the pressing....

 

friend did mine in a hour and that was with bsing... paid 40 bucks for the bearing and he had it out done and put back together in no time.

 

I got one rear wheel bearing replaced at Les Schwab (wheel and tire place) for about $250, and that was the cost to drop the car off and let them do everything, including the parts. Plus, I get a warranty with that.

 

Do you have to get an alignment after doing a wheel bearing/hub?

 

for doing both, I'm not sure...but just doing a wheelbearing does not necessitate an alignment.

 

I didn't get an alignment done for just the bearings, and it tracks fine.

 

Do you have to get an alignment after doing a wheel bearing/hub?

depends how you do it, if at some point you separate the strut from the knuckle, or the lateral links from the subframe, YES.

 

Damnit! I just spend $800 on my OBS for the both rears a few weeks ago( good year). why didnt they go now..fucking Subaru dealers wanted over $1,100 and fed me the same bullshit about being the only place able to do it... oh well

 

Damnit! I just spent $800 on my OBS for the both rears a few weeks ago( Good Year). why didnt they go now... I didnt realize it wasnt that bad. And the fucking Subaru dealers wanted over $1,100 and fed me the same bullshit about being the only place able to do it... oh well