I have a 1998 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport w/ 124,XXX miles. I am noticing a noise from the driver side rear wheel and have determined it is the wheel bearing. No grinding yet, just a high pitched noise that is dependent on wheel speed and is seemingly unrelated to the brakes. I am hoping I only need the one wheel bearing replaced...

 

I called the local Subaru dealer here in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and they quoted me $475 to replace ONE wheel bearing! I have read on this forum about people being charged under $300 for the same job.

 

Can anyone in the area recommend a mechanic that can do it for less money?

What are my options here? I am new to the area, low on cash, and I need to fix this before it snowballs on me.

 

-Russell

Do you have rear disks in your Impreza? If so, the high pitched squeal you hear might be the wear indicator dragging on the disk. Pull your rear wheel and just check how much lining is left on the pads. In answer to your question, it certainly sounds high; I don't think a rear bearing should take more than a couple hours labor plus the cost of the part. I'm not a mechanic and I certainly haven't done a rear bearing on an Impz before, but I'd get some other estimates first before comitting to that kind of money.

I have a 1998 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport w/ 124,XXX miles. I am noticing a noise from the driver side rear wheel and have determined it is the wheel bearing. No grinding yet, just a high pitched noise that is dependent on wheel speed and is seemingly unrelated to the brakes. I am hoping I only need the one wheel bearing replaced...

 

I called the local Subaru dealer here in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and they quoted me $475 to replace ONE wheel bearing! I have read on this forum about people being charged under $300 for the same job.

 

Can anyone in the area recommend a mechanic that can do it for less money?

What are my options here? I am new to the area, low on cash, and I need to fix this before it snowballs on me.

 

-Russell

I have drum brakes on the rear.

 

The parts for the job cost $98 and I just walked down the street from where I work to a small shop and they quoted me about $100 to install the parts.

 

$200 vs. $475 What a difference! Sorry Suby dealership, you lost my business for this job...

That's much more in-line with what it should be.

300 is abotu when i paid for my bearings to be poped out & swapped.

but you have an OBS! make sure you have legacy bearings in it, or else you'll have the same problem again, somewhere down the road, mine new impreza bearings only lasted a year!!

I just had legacy bearings thrown in this summer, no problems yet. (My mechanic hates my car )

Thanks for the replies. I'll make sure I get the Legacy bearings. Hopefully the mechanic I chose knows what he's doing. We'll find out soon enough...