Subaru Tech Tip: Error Codes Following Wheel Bearing Hub Replacement
On the hubs for 2005-2014 Subaru Legacy and Outback applications, a speed sensor mounts into the knuckle. It’s exposed end extends out behind the bearing to capture pulses from an encoder ring on the back of the bearing.
Preventing ABS Sensor Failure In Pigtail-Style Hub Assemblies
ABS system failures that happen shortly after hub unit installation can cause concern for technicians and dissatisfaction for customers. Several items should be checked during replacement to prevent comebacks.
How Can Water Corrode the Integrity of Wheel Bearings?
If wheel bearing seals are functioning properly, water and other contaminants only have the power to damage the exterior of the bearings. However, if water is able to seep past seals, it can corrode the integrity of bearings by changing the viscosity of lubrication.
VIDEO: Seals Are Critical To Wheel Bearing Life
Andrew Markel discusses the importance of the wheel bearing seal and how it withstands intense heat to increase the bearing’s life. Sponsored by BCA Bearings.
VIDEO: Should Axle Nuts Be Reused On A New Hub Or Axle?
Should the axle nut be replaced when a new wheel bearing or CV joint is replaced? Andrew Markel discusses when to replace the axle nut as well as the proper torque procedure when using an axle nut socket. Sponsored by BCA Bearings.
Subaru: Rear Wheel Bearing Tips
To help avoid repeat bearing failures on 1992-2003 Subaru Legacy and Impreza models, SKF offers a solution to the following overlooked common problems: bent flanges, out-of-round bearing housings, ball bearing failures, premature bearing wear.
Press Fit Bearings: Like Pulling Teeth
Removing a cartridge-style wheel bearing can be like pulling a tooth. Sometimes it comes out in one pull, but sometimes it requires emergency surgery. This can be a service opportunity for your shop, with a lot of import vehicles equipped with these bearings in the front and rear. While the fundamentals of the job have not changed since the 1980s, what has changed is the complexity of the knuckle and the bearing seals, as well as the materials from which the knuckles and axles are made.
Live-Axle Wheel Bearing Replacement
Replacing rear wheel bearings on a live-axle rear suspension requires a few extra steps when compared to a unitized bearing. To remove the axle shaft, the differential must be accessed and the clips that hold the axle in the differential must be removed.
Complete Clutch Replacement: No Noise, No Comeback
Diagnosing clutch and manual transmission noise can be a difficult diagnosis. There is no way of attaching a scan tool or looking into the bellhousing while the clutch is under load. Clutch diagnostics requires logic and understanding of how the parts interact.
Cleaning Bearings: Proper Procedures
While bearings may be out of sight and out of mind, they are subject to wear and damage; so, a proper cleaning can mean the difference between good performance and bearing failure. Always remember to handle any bearing with extreme care, then follow specific cleaning procedures. If a cleaning is done incorrectly, the bearing, shaft or housing may become damaged, creating a more costly repair job.
Preventing Wheel Bearing Failure
Most manufacturers recommend lubrication at 24,000 miles for the front-wheel bearings on rear-wheel drive vehicles, but bearings often are not lubricated until the brakes are replaced. That means bearings may go nearly twice as long as recommended before being relubricated, which can lead to problems.
Servicing Wheel Bearings & Wheel Speed Sensors
If you are replacing a wheel bearing on a late-model vehicle, you’ll be dealing with a wheel speed sensor. In the past decade, wheel speed sensors have been moving from differentials, axles and knuckles to inside or on the wheel bearing or hub unit. At this location, the sensors are more accurate and often more protected from the elements.