gathermewool
Site Donor 2023
Vehicle: 14 Subaru Forester XT
Miles: ~80k
Symptom: Low-pitch humming from the rear that grows louder with vehicle (NOT engine) speed. It sounds similar to having meaty all-terrain tires, though it’s a constant hum.
Tire rotation did not change magnitude nor general location of the noise.
I originally associated the noise with wearing tires, but my wife came back from a road trip recently and I immediately noticed that the noise was something like double the magnitude it was not too long before the trip. Before, wind noise would drown out the bearing noise at highway speeds. Now, the low-pitched hum is obtrusive.
NO change in noise while turning or while driving windy roads.
Tires were rotated again a couple of days ago. No change.
Diagnosis: The noise was confirmed by a trusted mechanic to be a rear left wheel bearing. He recommends that I replace both rear bearings at the same time, though he admitted that I wouldn’t save on labor charges by doing both at the same time.
Questions: should I do both at the same time?
How hard is this job? Unfortunately, I don’t have access to a lift any longer and my garage is on the tight side, which is why I’m willing to shell out $2-300/axle for this job.
Money is a little tight, but we can afford this without issue.
My main concern is that I’m not sure I want to risk fixing what ain’t broke on the other side.
Finally, the shop is letting me supply my own Subaru OE part, since I had a 20% off coupon to burn.
Parts: $290 for two hub assemblies and two axle nuts. Did I miss anything the shop can’t reuse during the R&R???
Miles: ~80k
Symptom: Low-pitch humming from the rear that grows louder with vehicle (NOT engine) speed. It sounds similar to having meaty all-terrain tires, though it’s a constant hum.
Tire rotation did not change magnitude nor general location of the noise.
I originally associated the noise with wearing tires, but my wife came back from a road trip recently and I immediately noticed that the noise was something like double the magnitude it was not too long before the trip. Before, wind noise would drown out the bearing noise at highway speeds. Now, the low-pitched hum is obtrusive.
NO change in noise while turning or while driving windy roads.
Tires were rotated again a couple of days ago. No change.
Diagnosis: The noise was confirmed by a trusted mechanic to be a rear left wheel bearing. He recommends that I replace both rear bearings at the same time, though he admitted that I wouldn’t save on labor charges by doing both at the same time.
Questions: should I do both at the same time?
How hard is this job? Unfortunately, I don’t have access to a lift any longer and my garage is on the tight side, which is why I’m willing to shell out $2-300/axle for this job.
Money is a little tight, but we can afford this without issue.
My main concern is that I’m not sure I want to risk fixing what ain’t broke on the other side.
Finally, the shop is letting me supply my own Subaru OE part, since I had a 20% off coupon to burn.
Parts: $290 for two hub assemblies and two axle nuts. Did I miss anything the shop can’t reuse during the R&R???
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