Does any one have any pictures of the rear hub /wheel bearing on a 96 Impreza awd . With drum brakes... Or has anybody know of a search on this , and point to a direction I can go to? We have a bad ROARING sound in the rear and I suspect a bearing . Something easy I hope... Don't think CV shaft, or diff issue .. rear fluid up and clean . Thanks

I recently replaced a rear wheel bearing in a Legacy. Same part you have. Repair failed. What I ended doing was just replacing the entire knuckle with a low-mileage used one. I went through 3 bearings and 3 sets of seals before going used. Still haven't figured out what went wrong with the "repairs" but all 3 bearings ran hot after being installed. Guessing something wrong with the knuckle.

I recently replaced a rear wheel bearing in a Legacy. Same part you have. Repair failed. What I ended doing was just replacing the entire knuckle with a low-mileage used one. I went through 3 bearings and 3 sets of seals before going used. Still haven't figured out what went wrong with the "repairs" but all 3 bearings ran hot after being installed. Guessing something wrong with the knuckle.

 

There's an endwrench article about recurrent rear wheel bearing failures- outer race holder in the knuckle gets out-of-round, and the tools to do the change had to be altered.

 

Dave

It is starting to sound as if it might be easier to replace the rear bearing assembly. I think I have to check prices on both ways..

There's an endwrench article about recurrent rear wheel bearing failures- outer race holder in the knuckle gets out-of-round, and the tools to do the change had to be altered.

Yes -- http://endwrench.com/images/pdfs/WheelBearing.pdf

Yes replacing the entire assembly/knuckle is a great option. No worries about repeat failures.

 

The bottom long through bolt can be lots of fun due to rust. Spray well ahead of time multiple times with pentrant (WD40 does not count).

 

On the "new" used assembly, good idea to replace any wheel seals and make sure no grit gets down into the bearings. Then clean off the axle mating surface so it's sealing good on the seal.

 

I also replaced the bearings and they lasted less than a year - about 20,000 miles. Installed a used hub like John did as well.

Thanks, OB99W and grossgary I will buy the penetrating spray tomorrow and keep you posted, but First it goes to the transmission shop for the torque convertor replacement.... bad t.c. bearing, howls only in gear not N or P ............ Again thanks for the help

I swap the whole assembly as well.

 

Never done the bearing.

Great time to switch to rear disk brakes!

Good news. I found a set of a 2000 impreza non abs for about 60$ but they did not know if it was drum or disc. to close to closing time .

 

So my question now is how is the backing plate held on I do want to keep the drums , because around here we have way to much snow and or freezing rain or both just to make it fun .

 

Imdew, it is good idea for the disc setup , but right now trying to keep costs down with the tranny repair next week

I will buy the penetrating spray tomorrow

 

Soak that entire area for AT LEAST 24 hours before attempting anything.

Believe me, it will make your life A LOT easier.

I just pulled apart (and put back together) my 90 lego rear suspension, and I

procrastinated doing it, just spraying it with PB Blaster like 3 or 4 days in a row

before breaking bolts loose.

Even then I had to use a 3ft breaker bar with a 5ft cheater pipe attached to

break loose that giant bolt, as mentioned by grossgary.

So use as much liquid wrench, Kroil, PB Blaster, or even just brake cleaner as

you want.

 

Twitch

Backing plate retained by 4 bolts. Problem here to completely remove it, the hub has to be pulled. Every time I pulled the hub part of the bearing came with it.