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on an older car I wouldn't hesitate to use a name-brand aftermarket bearing. The Timken I put in my daughter's Impala seemed very nice and lasted for the next several years until she replaced the car.

 

Subaru wheel bearings fail frequently enough that I'm not convinced they are all that special. Still, yours seems to have lasted 25 years so - there's that.

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I have done a number of 2003, 2005 front wheel bearings (subarus and a toyota matrix), on none of them could I even get the snap ring off with the spindle on the car!

Just too much northeast rust and hardened grime.

 

I have the horror-fright FWD service kit and was willing to give it a shot. It's a handy tool even so.

 

How many tons of pressure can one of those hub-tamer type tools apply? I have had to lean on the long handle of my 20T A-frame press every time to get the bearing moving.

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I use an OTC Hub grappler and have used it by hand and with an impact gun.

Not sure how much pressure it applies, but if it loads up and won't turn anymore the end is made to be hammered on.

4lb with a good swing and it pops loose right away. If I had a stronger impact gun I probably wouldn't need to hammer on it. By hand it pretty much takes the hammer to get the initial pop to get the bearing started moving out.

 

Only one I've done that was severely rusty, the snap ring was so rusted to bits it a wasn't removeable without doing some serious cutting. I tossed the whole knuckle and put a used one on the car. For $60 it wasn't worth my labor time to get the rusty one apart.

 

For bearings I've used a few brands. Subaru OE you repack with grease and pop them in and they last pretty much the remaining life of the car.

I started using bearings that are already packed and have the rubber seals built in. Beck arnley, a handful of other brands have some. Local parts store carries one that I've used a few times. Not real sure about longevity of them but the ones that I've done seem to hold up pretty well.

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