Greetings,

 

I have heard that older subarus have weak hubs. My driver's side hub bolt kept coming loose, which eventually ground out my hub to the point where I had to replace it. I replaced the axle while I was at it (both parts from a salvage yard), and everything seemed ok.

 

Here it is, about a year later, and my driver's side hub is loose and grinding again. It is two completely different parts, and yet they are behaving the same way. Is this a design flaw in the Loyale? Any ideas what could cause two different hub bolts to behave identically?

 

Thanks.

Ive never had a problem with GL/Loyale series hubs being weak at all, in fact Ive seen several that were re-drilled with 3 bolt patternes in them and were used off-road with no issues... As for the bolt coming loose, did you torque it to the required specs when you installed the new axle, and did you re-torque it after a couple hundred miles? Also, did you install the cotter pin to keep it from loosening? Ive done plenty of axle swaps and have never had this problem... The only rig that I ever saw that problem with was my black Brat when I bought it, but I believe that was because someone was driving it in 4wd on the street thinking it was AWD :-\...

 

Anyway, proper torque, re-torque, and cotter pins are important...

 

-Bill

Totaly agree with Bill,

 

Don't be afraid of using torque on that castle nut and always slide a cotter pin thru one of the wholes. You should be hearing some noise when its coming loose (Early warning) so no, I don't see subaru Hubs being weak. Check those things over and your good to go

 

-Tom

You probably need new cone and spring washers at this point as well as the aforementioned advice.

Typically this is caused by a worn cone washer and improper torque on the axle nut. I've owned dozens of Subaru's and put hundreds of thousands on them - this has NEVER happened to me. I have seen it happen and one time a car I bought for my GF that already had this problem, but once I replace the cone washer, hub, axle, and properly torque the assembly this problem has never returned.

 

GD

Perhaps I didn't change the cone washer. That could be it.

 

I know new axles aren't that expensive, and I can find another hub in a salvage yard for less than $20. I will have to consult the fellow that helped me change them.

 

Thanks.