Subaru Impreza Wheel Bearing Noise

[101RRS]

A friend has a 2004 Subaru Impreza that I have somehow been tasked with getting roadworthy and getting back on the road. The car has numerous defects due to lack of maintenance including the Subaru headgasket oil leak problem, a split CV boot, a check engine light, various electrical issues, other minor issues but also at least one wheel bearing (or possibly a UJ) on the way out.

I can work through most of the other issues but the wheel bearing is the one that causing me grief at the moment. No noise below 40kph but it then chimes in with a slight worn bearing sound linked to the road speed up to about 80kph then it is just a continuous load hum.

From within the car it sounds as if the sound is coming from the drivers rear wheel but it really could be coming from anywhere. Driving and turning the sound does noticeably increase but unfortunately it does not matter whether turning left or right.

Jacking each wheel up in turn does not show any slackness or movement.

So any suggestions how I might determine which wheel could be causing the issue before I start dismantling each one in turn to find the culprit/s - I will start with the back drivers rear.

Thanks

Garry

[Tins]

I can't help with the diagnosis but I can warn you that Subaru wheel bearings can be a right bastard to seperate from the shaft. :censored:

[101RRS]

I can't help with the diagnosis but I can warn you that Subaru wheel bearings can be a right bastard to seperate from the shaft. :censored:

Yes I heard that - so going to ring the roadworthy tester to ask if a noisy wheel is a fail, I suspect it is but I might as well ask.

[eddy]

I have a version of this kit Electronic Stethoscope Car Noise Finder Diagnostic Listening Device Machine T4N7 | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/264876628692?chn=ps&_ul=AU&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1N0Gv0BYrRmOxiQYq9VIk6Q5&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-139619-5960-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=264876628692&targetid=1740279244769&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9070514&poi=&campaignid=18277121424&mkgroupid=142426603833&rlsatarget=pla-1740279244769&abcId=9301724&merchantid=119048994&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4uCcBhDdARIsAH5jyUnNeioOettyuNESrRfP FkW3r6J7CnfYBhN-vFauY-L29_nnhiw-SPUaAlnAEALw_wcB) invaluable for tracing odd sounds!

[101RRS]

I have a version of this kit Electronic Stethoscope Car Noise Finder Diagnostic Listening Device Machine T4N7 | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/264876628692?chn=ps&_ul=AU&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1N0Gv0BYrRmOxiQYq9VIk6Q5&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-139619-5960-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=264876628692&targetid=1740279244769&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9070514&poi=&campaignid=18277121424&mkgroupid=142426603833&rlsatarget=pla-1740279244769&abcId=9301724&merchantid=119048994&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4uCcBhDdARIsAH5jyUnNeioOettyuNESrRfP FkW3r6J7CnfYBhN-vFauY-L29_nnhiw-SPUaAlnAEALw_wcB) invaluable for tracing odd sounds!

Thanks but a bit hard to fit to a wheel going 80kph.

After looking up a few You Tube videos on this I decided wheel bearings on this vehicle are best left to the experts - why the designers made things complicated I dont know but aftermarket suppliers are now supplying the bearings pre installed in the hub on an exchange basis at a good price.

Spent the day removing a front driveshaft to replace a CV boot - showed me one thing - I am not as young as I used to be as I could not remove the hub nut even with a air rattle gun or a breaker bar with a 4 ft extension (the You tube vids all had them removed with a battery torque driver - yeah right). But getting old also showed a bit of cunning as I just removed the whole hub with the drive shaft attached and then did the boot - smarter than the average ......[bigsmile1]

[eddy]

You obviously do not fit it to the wheel,you fit it to the hub.
No problem detecting rear wheel bearing on a D4 after dealer diagnosed front bearing!

[Tins]

I have a version of this kit Electronic Stethoscope Car Noise Finder Diagnostic Listening Device Machine T4N7 | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/264876628692?chn=ps&_ul=AU&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1N0Gv0BYrRmOxiQYq9VIk6Q5&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-139619-5960-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=264876628692&targetid=1740279244769&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9070514&poi=&campaignid=18277121424&mkgroupid=142426603833&rlsatarget=pla-1740279244769&abcId=9301724&merchantid=119048994&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4uCcBhDdARIsAH5jyUnNeioOettyuNESrRfP FkW3r6J7CnfYBhN-vFauY-L29_nnhiw-SPUaAlnAEALw_wcB) invaluable for tracing odd sounds!

On a Disco? I hope you bought two.

[eddy]

The kit contains six pick ups....usually sufficient!

[Tins]

The kit contains six pick ups....usually sufficient!

I was thinking more along the lines of it wearing out...[bigwhistle]

[101RRS]

As mentioned in my initial post I have a few things to fix on this POS. Done the CV, done the lights, not doing the wheel bearing until next year, now looked at the engine check light.

The light comes on, on a cold start, then goes off after a couple of minutes and occasionally comes on at idle after that. I will get it looked at next year when the wheel bearing is done but is most likely either a knock sensor or an O2 sensor. So as an interim I thought I would just disconnect the check engine light for the roadworthy. The dash binnacle comes out no issue and completely unplugs from the loom. This gives easy access to all the globes and their holders - except for one - of course the check engine light - it does not live in a removable holder like all the other globes - no the globe is hard soldered direct to the circuit board where it is no really accessible unless you dismantle the entire instrument assembly and desolder the globe. - really [bigsad]

How many other cars have their instrument lighting hard soldered to circuit board?

Oh - also there is a crack in the windscreen that is just to the left of the drivers field of view. It has been there before the car was purchased 11 years ago. Passed garage rego and over the govt pits 4 times at the time with an advisory from the garage and nothing said from the Govt roadworthy inspectors. I bet if gets a fail this time just knowing my luck.

[Tins]

A thorough tester would check that lights such as SRS or the "money light" come on pre start. I think it's hard soldered precisely to prevent naughty people from circumventing it....[bigwhistle]

The money light on those is often connected with pollution control systems. Even a fuel cap gasket can cause it. It doesn't usually go off in that circumstance though. Borrow a scan tool.

[101RRS]

Well I am absolutely dumbfounded - the Subaru POS passed its roadworthy. Its not as if the tester was easy as I had to wait quite a while and of about the 10 cars before mine only 1/3 passed - including dealers good near new vehicles.

The check engine light must have behaved and not come on, the oil leaks from the head gaskets must have not yet migrated past the under shield after my clean, the bars leak in the coolant held up to stop the leak in the water pump and he must not have had his glasses on and missed the crack in the windscreen. He did not note the roo accident damage with the front held together with cable ties and the headlamps pointed in slightly different directions. He did note the wheel bearing howling but also noticed the new wheel bearing box sitting on the back seat so must have assumed I intended to fix it. I was hoping his wheel shake test would tell which wheel bearing it was but there was no slack in any of the wheels, even though it howls at 60-80kph.

The only downside was that the number plate light was out but he fixed that on the spot.

So it does go to show there is a god afterall.

182591

[Tins]

I guess I should move to Canberra... oh, wait..