How To Diagnose a Bad Wheel Bearing - Subaru Impreza 2018
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4 жыл бұрынI was experiencing a low rumble or growl when I reached a speed of 30 mph or greater. It was difficult to identify the faulty wheel bearing when I was driving the car. It almost sounded like it was coming from the entire car when seated in the cabin.
The solution was to put the car on 4 jack stands then go around the car and listen for the faulty wheel bearing. You will need someone to sit in the car and press the gas while you go around and listen.
I will mention that I tried the wheel 'play' test as well as spinning the wheel with no clear indication of which wheel had the faulty bearing.
Let me know in the comments if this solution worked for you or what's your preferred method of diagnosing a bad wheel bearing.
Thanks for watching!
DISCLAIMER
I’m not a professional mechanic and do not claim to be. This video is for entertainment purposes only. I’m not responsible for any damage that may potentially happen as a result of trying this method. For any auto repairs or diagnosis, seek the advice of a trained professional.
#subaru #badwheelbearing #impreza #carrepair #diagnosebadwheelbearing #wheelbearingnoise #wheelnoise #subaruimpreza2018
@davcar872 2 жыл бұрын
Great video. I have a 2014 Subaru Impreza with 114,000 miles with the exact same symptoms, only much louder. Originally, I thought the sound was coming from the rear differential as there was no wheel play or grinding while checking the wheel hub assemblies. A bad differential pinion bearing and race would result in the same kind of road noise. I also had to jack the car up to help pinpoint the source of the noise. While up on the stands, I inspected the cv axels for torn boots and slop, the drive shaft for slop, and went ahead and changed out the gear oil on both the rear and front differentials. Very dark-looking oil, but no sludge, metal shavings, or pieces found in the oil. With the car properly secured, I had someone rev the engine in gear while I was underneath trying to pinpoint the noise and looking for slop from the cv axles and driveshaft. I immediately pinpointed the noise coming from the rear driver-side wheel, although, the noise seemed to be coming from the passenger side while driving in the car. I replaced the wheel hub assembly and now my sanity is back with no more loud noise.
@goinhigher 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! It can be tough to pinpoint the noise. When I first found this issue, I was worried it may be my differential too but after doing this test I fortunately discovered it was the rear bearing.
@DeltaTaiChi Жыл бұрын
Heard that noise today for the first time in my 2018 crosstrek with 62,000 miles. I hope it’s that. Thank you for the video.
@parpih91 Жыл бұрын
Thank you!! I being having this issue for 2 weeks and it’s driving me crazy.
@jamesepstein4420 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for this- I have been experiencing this for weeks in my 2018 Forester with 50,000 miles!
@goinhigher 2 жыл бұрын
Awesome, glad it helped!
@OutsideTheTargetDemographic 5 ай бұрын
My rear right bearing went out at 47k miles in my 2018 Forester.
@breezeonby1643 2 жыл бұрын
Great video! Thanks for posting. I have the same noise and like another viewer thought that it might be rear differential. Will investigate deeper. Cheers
@goinhigher 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you, and glad it helped. Let me know what you discover, tough to pinpoint and differentiate wheel bearing and differential noise at times.
@TwoCaptainsOneShip 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks. 2016 Subaru Crosstrek and mine is doing the same, right rear too!
@eseltz 4 ай бұрын
Thank you for the information. Even though I know "how" to check for a wheel bearing, I never had to diagnose one on a AWD vehicle. Dummy me tried the same thing thing but the key you pointed out was I forgot to turn off the traction control!
@jaminjackson8233 Жыл бұрын
Perfect, thank you! Just borrowed my dads outback and noticed it, he hadn’t noticed it probably because he is a little hard of hearing, I figured it was wheel baring or hub or something! Taking it in to the shop stat!
@OutsideTheTargetDemographic 5 ай бұрын
Good on you. Half of diagnosing is finding out what the problem is. The Second half is finding out what the problem ISN'T. You ruled out the exhaust, engine, and transmission by shifting into neutral and confirming the noise was still there. IDing what it ISN'T helps get to what it IS faster. 🍻
@drobnbrad 4 ай бұрын
My 2017 Impreza sport hatchback has around 92k miles and I started hearing the same noise a few days ago. I’m now certain after seeing this video that my wheel bearing is the problem. I originally thought exhaust but I ruled that out for the same reason as you. Also thought it was my differential but checked the fluids and it looked great despite the cars mileage. Taking my Impreza to Subaru tomorrow!
@ubacool1 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks buddy that helped a lot. Great job.
@goinhigher 3 жыл бұрын
Awesome, that's my goal, glad it helped!
@conniedesimini4185 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video. I just found the bad bearing (left rear) on my 2016 Crosstrek this morning, using your method. (I’m in Larchmont, and it looks like you’re from the area as well).
@goinhigher 3 жыл бұрын
Awesome, glad this video was able to help! And good eye, guess the hutch gave it away 😉
@bigeyejim 11 ай бұрын
Great Video! Got the same issues!!
@EvansTheTraveller 6 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for this Mine is having the same sound. now i know how i will check which one is bad. Thank you so much
@gefflynn7171 2 жыл бұрын
Good find mate! Lifting the 2005 OB 3.0 this week to locate the growling gremlin! Thx
@goinhigher 2 жыл бұрын
Good luck! Glad the video helped.
@gefflynn7171 2 жыл бұрын
@@goinhigher replace both front with Subie bearings - BOOM DONE! Gremlin demons gone. Took a bit to remove after 153k!
@richardwalling9695 Жыл бұрын
I had a bearing noise like that on my 07 Outback. I put it on jack stands like you did . The front wheels didn't turn until I accelerated. Then the check engine light came on. I assumed it was for the traction control. I had to extinguish the light with my OBD 2 checker.
@Charlies1970TA 3 ай бұрын
Definately a Harbor Freight kinda guy, haha! Thanks for the wheel bearing diagnosis info. Fortunate my 2018 Crosstrek with 100k miles doesn't have this problem as yet!
@Mel-cm4jc 2 жыл бұрын
Well just to show all things are not created equally, my 13 Outback is still on the original front wheel bearing on the passenger side at 194,000kms. All the other 3 have been replaced, go figure! The front drivers lasted 150,000kms! Rears went at close to 100,000kms! I go offroad weekly too! Just my 2 cents worth. What's even stranger is my driver's side is beginning to go bad again after 40,000kms but the noise disappears after reaching 30km/h! unpredictable things wheel bearings! Thanks for the video bro, helpful.
@goinhigher 2 жыл бұрын
Interesting, guess it’s all random when it comes to bearings. Glad you enjoyed it!
@carolinacatalan9758 3 жыл бұрын
I recently had the same failure in the same wheel with my 2016 Crosstrek or XV. There is no other choice to change the all piece. The original Subaru part is around $250 here in Chile.
@goinhigher 3 жыл бұрын
Really same wheel? I ended up getting a new bearing from Subaru which cost me $125. Pricey in Chile for OEM Subaru parts
@kyleemoyers7452 2 жыл бұрын
I have a 2016 and it is doing the same thing at 40 mph and I haven’t looked into it much further yet haven’t had the time but lots of wheel bearings get louder or quieter when you turn the wheel and I don’t notice that so made me think it’s something else.
@goinhigher 2 жыл бұрын
its always tough to pinpoint these types of sounds on cars. Ive heard other mention the differential. The bearing on my car didnt increase in volume when i was turning the wheel. It was only once i listened to each wheel I found the issue.
@nishantmalik20 5 ай бұрын
Hi, thanks for the great video. I have a 2019 Impreza and my android auto/carplay automatically disconnects after sometime. I have to replug my device to get it back, but it disconnects after a short while. Tried every possible solution found on the internet as very limited resources available for impreza. Do you also experience similar problem or I'm the only one here.
@xcboothmanxc1 2 жыл бұрын
If you're by yourself and don't have a second person you can jack the car up spin the wheel you think the noise is coming from with your hand and have your other hand on the corresponding spring and if you feel a vibration in the spring you know it's a bad wheel bearing.
@goinhigher 2 жыл бұрын
Good trick, thanks for the tip! I will try that next time.
@ImaSHUTup 3 жыл бұрын
So I have a 2014 Crosstrek and my left rear wheel does not sound anything like that. It doesn't sound like a growling noise. The sound is more like a squeaky pitch. I've changed brake pads and rotors and it's still doing the same thing. Could it actually be the bearing?
@goinhigher 3 жыл бұрын
It certainly is possible. I would take a look at the brake dust shield and make sure there is no contact with your rotor. I'd also inspect any suspension bushings for possible wear. This includes ball joints, control arm bushings, and sway bar end links. Many of these parts are likely to squeak as they wear.
@miken8720 2 ай бұрын
Yup same ironing noise I got b Forester
@achilleonv Жыл бұрын
I've been hearing the same noise on my 2015 Forester with 116k. I realized today it might be a wheel bearing.
@goinhigher Жыл бұрын
If it has a rumble/ grinding sound that gets louder as you pick up speed, it most likely is your bearing.
@natesgaminglife 3 ай бұрын
i know this is a late comment but you can also check the wheel bearing by just grabbing the tire while its in the air and wiggling it up and down and side to side, if it had play in all directions its bad. if only one of those directions, could be a tie rod or ball joint. something about having the car in drive at RPM while on jack stands does NOT seem safe.
@karambiler349 Жыл бұрын
Thank you, I’m having the same noise, but how to fix the problem?
@goinhigher Жыл бұрын
My advice would be to replace the bearing with a new one. I haven’t found a way to quiet the sound of a wheel bearing once it starts to make noise.
@tomwalma4762 3 жыл бұрын
I hope yours is still under warranty. Go with OEM. Mine lasted 80K.
@goinhigher 3 жыл бұрын
I was out of warranty by a couple hundred miles! I ended purchasing an oem bearing and it’s been all good since.
@femmefatale437 2 жыл бұрын
My 2018 Impreza is having the same problem, only at 38,000 miles. Hopefully it is under warranty!
@goinhigher 2 жыл бұрын
Sorry to hear! Mine was just out of warranty by a few hundred miles 😔
@fmorada1988 2 жыл бұрын
Did you replace both rear bearings? Mine 2012 impreza.
@goinhigher 2 жыл бұрын
I ended up replacing just the one in the video.
@MeiklesAndDimes 2 жыл бұрын
I had this problem with about 50K miles on my 2017 Impreza. It was covered by the 60K miles powertrain warranty and I didn't pay anything to get it fixed.
@goinhigher 2 жыл бұрын
Glad you were able to get it repaired within the warranty. I only had the 36k warranty and was over on the miles. From all the comments, this seems like a persistent issue with late 2010s models.
@spidusp 3 жыл бұрын
Going through same.problem left rear bearing failure 80000 km Subaru Outback
@goinhigher 3 жыл бұрын
Interesting. What year is your Outback? I always wondered if the issue was related to a specific year, as some others have mentioned.
@cliffjones9882 2 жыл бұрын
I have a 2016 outback limited addition six cylinder and at 36,000 miles I had a front left wheel bearing go bad. I took it to the dealer they tell me it’s out of warranty because of the age not the mileage. Just so happens I was talking to other people that were in the waiting room and two other people head bad wheel bearings. Both of them were 2018‘s with more miles than mine but we’re covered under warranty. After I talk to the sales people a little bit they replaced my wheel bearing for free. They said it would be a one time courtesy because it had such low miles. These wheelbearings should not be going out with such low miles on them.
@goinhigher 2 жыл бұрын
Interesting, yeah something is up with these bearings. I’ve had bearings last on cars that I have never changed with close to 200k miles. Maybe it was a bad production run for certain model years. Either way, glad the dealership replaced it for free.
@brianyang4265 3 жыл бұрын
Mine went bad as well. Same wheel.
@goinhigher 3 жыл бұрын
Huh interesting.
@ericdeitz6981 2 жыл бұрын
I’ve had 2 bad wheel bearing and 2 bad cv axles on my 2017 forester
@goinhigher 2 жыл бұрын
Interesting, guess Subaru has a few bugs to work out.
@Turnoble 10 ай бұрын
Where is part 2?! Did it work?
@goinhigher 10 ай бұрын
It’s did work! I ended up swapping out the bearing. I wasn’t able to film the repair unfortunately 😔
@Turnoble 10 ай бұрын
Awesome! I wound up getting the TSB done for the bearing assembly and backing plates and so far so good!
@breezeonby1643 2 жыл бұрын
Mine is a 2012 Impreza...
@treymitchell8024 2 жыл бұрын
Same with my 13 Outback
@goinhigher 2 жыл бұрын
The back one too?
@treymitchell8024 2 жыл бұрын
@@goinhigher no mine was driver side front. Same noise at the same speed though
@jtwu8931 2 жыл бұрын
your subie should be within the 5 year powertrain warranty for a new bearing and a re-designed backplate.
@goinhigher 2 жыл бұрын
Even if I’m over 36k miles?
@jtwu8931 2 жыл бұрын
@@goinhigher yes, powertrain warranty is 5 years or 60k miles.
@Align700nitro Жыл бұрын
it sounds like uneven worn tire
@retiredarmyvet2018 Жыл бұрын
Subarus are know for having horrible wheel bearings. Got 77K on my 2018 forester. Just changed both rears. I got more than the average out of them.
@donaldbynum6612 3 жыл бұрын
You didn't have to rev up the engine. All you needed was to lift up the tires off the ground and shake them and they was loose meaning the bearing need replacing.
@goinhigher 2 жыл бұрын
I actually tried that and all the bearings felt solid. This was my last attempt to identify the wheel with the bad bearing.
@davcar872 2 жыл бұрын
Not necessarily. Often times there are no physical symptoms indicating a worn or bad part.
@michaelskinner896 2 жыл бұрын
Bad wheel bearings don't always have "play" in them.
@pimkwakman Жыл бұрын
Please don't put your jack there!!!!🤐
@pimkwakman Жыл бұрын
and your jackstands are in the wrong place!
@hillbillyheadcam1729 8 ай бұрын
Ugh these things are money traps. Bad wheel bearinG at 37 thousand is ridiculous
@Mister-Christer 3 жыл бұрын
such a new car has wheel bearing problems? Okey not gonna buy a Subaru
@goinhigher 3 жыл бұрын
could be just a defect batch that came off the line the day/week/month. idk. this is my first subaru and other than the wheel bearing, the car has been solid. still handles nice after 3 years 53,000 miles, easy to work on, relatively inexpensive oem parts, its a winner.
@Earthmama1968 Жыл бұрын
Could also be the backer plate.
@jjjjjjjjjjjjkjjj 11 ай бұрын
I hate the rear wheel bearing on line, dealership keeps saying it's fine. It's loud and annoying though. I had the wheel bearing on one side go bad, but they didn't replace the other. Not buying Subaru if they gonna make me keep my wheel bearing that's super loud. It's like they can only fix 1 major issue at a time when you make it the main thing to look into to fix for the day. This car comes with cheap wheel bearings, defective front exhaust (cracked) , key stuck in ignition issue. My other cars don't have this. What's next?
@ARDG89 Жыл бұрын
stop driving over curbs and you'll be fine.