Does anyone have a Subaru Wheel Bearing Press Kit Availible?

I'm going to have to replace the rear wheel bearings soon on My OBW.

Just wondering if anyone in the club has the $800 Subaru/Kent Moore J-45697 Wheel Bearing Press Kit.

If so, I'd be willing to put a deposit down + rental fee.

If not, knowing the poor design of these bearings. It might be worth chipping in to get a community owned kit? Then, all would have access to it?

 

Why don't you just remove your suspension knuckle. Then bring the knuckle to a shop and have them press a new bearing in.

 

Because Subaru doesn't recommend that. They worry about deforming the knuckle when applying that much pressure. Also, with the press kit, You don't have to have the car aligned afterwards.

 

Well I guess I have done about 10 rear bearings on wrx's that way. Zero problems. As for an alignment. Spray paint the knuckle and the strut. It will leave an outline where the strut originally was. Then no alignment necessary.

 

How long have the replacement bearings lasted?

I've heard of peeps getting less than 10K miles on pressed bearings/knuckles.

 

^wow, i put roughly 50k on my pressed bearings and it's still going.

 

Lotsa probs posted over at NASIOC pressing them in.

There must be a prob, If SOA changed their repair procedure?

 

Never had one come back.

 

My question is, are people using the tapered roller bearings or the ball bearings?






I had a couple done on my Legacy with a press and they lasted over 100k.




The Hub Tamer Pro/ Hubster Elite is a nice setup that will do damn near anything, and runs about $400-450.

 

I bought a cheap copy of the Hub Tamer at harbor freight, it was about $85 and it worked great for me. I put in two rear wheel bearings with it and so far no problems. The knuckles were already out of the car, but I didn't have access to a press. I had to also buy a bearing splitter to get one of the races off the hub, that didn't come with the kit. But if you can get to a harbor freight, that kit is an option.

I did one rear wheel bearing in my wife's impreza using a press a few years ago, no problems at all for probably 50k+ miles now.

My only question is, if you leave the knuckle on the car to change the bearing, you still have to get the axles out, right? Seems like that can be more of a pain than taking the knuckle out.