2000 Forester "road noise" or bad wheel bearing?

R

ruzicka

The last few weeks it seems as if I'm getting a lot more road noise in the
back of my 2000 Forester than I had previously. I've tried adjusting the
tire pressures (I've heard both 29 psi and 32 psi as the best "optimum"
pressure), but that didn't seem to help. Of course, I could also be
imagining it as well, I suppose!

I called up the local dealership and explained what I was hearing, and the
service manager told me that it could also very well be that one or both of
my rear wheel bearings (or something like that) might be going bad.

Does this seem like a plausible alternative explanation to the pros on this
newgroups? Any and all serious feedback more than welcome!

P. Ruzicka
Aurora, CO
 
ruzicka said:
The last few weeks it seems as if I'm getting a lot more road noise in the
back of my 2000 Forester than I had previously. I've tried adjusting the
tire pressures (I've heard both 29 psi and 32 psi as the best "optimum"
pressure), but that didn't seem to help. Of course, I could also be
imagining it as well, I suppose!

I called up the local dealership and explained what I was hearing, and the
service manager told me that it could also very well be that one or both of
my rear wheel bearings (or something like that) might be going bad.

Does this seem like a plausible alternative explanation to the pros on this
newgroups? Any and all serious feedback more than welcome!

P. Ruzicka
Aurora, CO
Very plausible. Does it seem worse when veering/turning one direction
over another?

Carl
 
ruzicka said:
The last few weeks it seems as if I'm getting a lot more road noise in the
back of my 2000 Forester than I had previously. I've tried adjusting the
tire pressures (I've heard both 29 psi and 32 psi as the best "optimum"
pressure), but that didn't seem to help. Of course, I could also be
imagining it as well, I suppose!

I called up the local dealership and explained what I was hearing, and the
service manager told me that it could also very well be that one or both of
my rear wheel bearings (or something like that) might be going bad.

Does this seem like a plausible alternative explanation to the pros on this
newgroups? Any and all serious feedback more than welcome!

P. Ruzicka
Aurora, CO
That sounds exactly like the failed wheel bearing I encountered in my
MY02 Impreza!

I think that's what the problem is, you should check the past posts in
this group for details on which types of bearing to have installed, and
some notes on problems with getting them lubricated correctly.

Larry Van Wormer
 
Carl 1 Lucky Texan said:
Very plausible. Does it seem worse when veering/turning one direction over
another?

Carl

Hmmm...no, I don't think it seems any worse when turning. I'll have to
think of that when next driving, to see if there's any difference.
 
Larry Van Wormer said:
That sounds exactly like the failed wheel bearing I encountered in my MY02
Impreza!

I think that's what the problem is, you should check the past posts in
this group for details on which types of bearing to have installed, and
some notes on problems with getting them lubricated correctly.

Larry Van Wormer

Is it possible that all that needs to be done is lubricate these bearings,
or does a "bad" bearing automatically mean replacement?
 
ruzicka said:
Is it possible that all that needs to be done is lubricate these bearings,
or does a "bad" bearing automatically mean replacement?

Replacement is needed. If it's making any noise there is damage to the
bearing surfaces, and that can't be helped by lubrication.

Larry Van Wormer
 
My Forester also developed road noise and having had experience with
wheel bearing on other cars I was 80% sure it was a bearing. My nephew
was checking my tires and noticed a front to back feathering( front of
tread blocks lower than the back of the tread block). I rotated tires
and found little difference in road noise. Several thousands of miles
later I got new tires and the noise was gone. Don't rule out tires too
quick. I now rotate my tires in a modified X as suggested by TireRack
and other tire manufactures to minimize this type of problem. ed
 
Larry Van Wormer said:
Replacement is needed. If it's making any noise there is damage to the
bearing surfaces, and that can't be helped by lubrication.

Larry Van Wormer

Any wild guess as to how much replacement, per wheel, may cost?
 
ruzicka said:
Any wild guess as to how much replacement, per wheel, may cost?
The one I had done recently cost me close to $300 Canadian, including
the bearing and a couple of seals. No real idea if that's a good price
or not. (I had the stronger Legacy-type bearing installed.)

Larry Van Wormer
 
ruzicka said:
The last few weeks it seems as if I'm getting a lot more road noise in the
back of my 2000 Forester than I had previously. I've tried adjusting the
tire pressures (I've heard both 29 psi and 32 psi as the best "optimum"
pressure), but that didn't seem to help. Of course, I could also be
imagining it as well, I suppose!

I called up the local dealership and explained what I was hearing, and the
service manager told me that it could also very well be that one or both of
my rear wheel bearings (or something like that) might be going bad.

Does this seem like a plausible alternative explanation to the pros on this
newgroups? Any and all serious feedback more than welcome!

I have a 97 Grand Wagon(Jap assembled OBW) and I just recently had the
same problem, and it was the rear wheel bearings.
 

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