Rear Axel/Wheels Grinding sound: any common causes?

M

Matthew.Pettis

Hi,

I have a 97 Impreza Outback, and I'm getting a loud grinding sound
coming from the rear. It sounds like what I would imaging rusted
metal being dragged over other rusted metal sounds like. I thought
that I would change the brakes, thinking they would be in as sorry a
shape as my front rotor/pad configuration was (which took care of loud
scraping coming from the front).

Well, I just took the drum off, and the shoes don't look worn at all.
The drum is very rusted on the outside, but inside looks fine (except
for a LOT of soot falling out). So I thought I would just clean up
the drum and insides to the best of my ability and see if that removes
the noise.

I am writing the list to see if anyone else has had a really loud
grinding noise coming from their rear, and if it was something other
than the brakes. We'll see if this clears it up, but I thought I'd
ping the list to see if there were alternate reasons.

Thanks,
Matt
 
Hi,

I have a 97 Impreza Outback, and I'm getting a loud grinding sound
coming from the rear. It sounds like what I would imaging rusted
metal being dragged over other rusted metal sounds like. I thought
that I would change the brakes, thinking they would be in as sorry a
shape as my front rotor/pad configuration was (which took care of loud
scraping coming from the front).

Well, I just took the drum off, and the shoes don't look worn at all.
The drum is very rusted on the outside, but inside looks fine (except
for a LOT of soot falling out). So I thought I would just clean up
the drum and insides to the best of my ability and see if that removes
the noise.

I am writing the list to see if anyone else has had a really loud
grinding noise coming from their rear, and if it was something other
than the brakes. We'll see if this clears it up, but I thought I'd
ping the list to see if there were alternate reasons.

Thanks,
Matt
Hi,
Bearing.
 
Hi,

I have a 97 Impreza Outback, and I'm getting a loud grinding sound
coming from the rear. It sounds like what I would imaging rusted
metal being dragged over other rusted metal sounds like. I thought
that I would change the brakes, thinking they would be in as sorry a
shape as my front rotor/pad configuration was (which took care of loud
scraping coming from the front).

Well, I just took the drum off, and the shoes don't look worn at all.
The drum is very rusted on the outside, but inside looks fine (except
for a LOT of soot falling out). So I thought I would just clean up
the drum and insides to the best of my ability and see if that removes
the noise.

I am writing the list to see if anyone else has had a really loud
grinding noise coming from their rear, and if it was something other
than the brakes. We'll see if this clears it up, but I thought I'd
ping the list to see if there were alternate reasons.


Do a google search and group search on 'impreza rear wheel bearing.'
This is a very common problem on the Impreza. It produces a sound
exactly as you describe. Mine failed both at around 30k miles.

M.J.
2000 Impreza L Coupe
 
Do a google search and group search on 'impreza rear wheel bearing.'
This is a very common problem on the Impreza. It produces a sound
exactly as you describe. Mine failed both at around 30k miles.

M.J.
2000 Impreza L Coupe

Thanks all -- will do. In the mean time, I'm trying to get my left
rear brake drum off -- it is rusted to the axle flange, i believe.
The right rear one came off fine, this one is not. It has more rust
than the right side, and I also broke off a wheel stud in the process
of removing the lug nuts, so I really have to get it off to replace
the stud now. Off topic from this thread, but anybody know how to get
a brake drum that is rusted to the axle flange off? Do I need a
puller? I've been using a propane torch and prybar and don't seem to
be making much progress (heating did work for removing the other lug
nuts without breaking the studs, though...).

Thanks,
Matt
1997 Impreza Outback
 
I would guess that you haven't released the brake shoes using the slot in
the back of the plate?
The shoes are catching on the edge of the drum.
Releasing the adjuster lets the shoes relax to their smallest diameter, so
they likely need to be released.
The shoes are mounted with springs, so they work against you absorbing your
impacts.

My experience of the axle spling rusting to the brake drum isn't as likely
as you think, mostly because they are of different materials and there is a
lot of slop in the fit, likely by design.
 
Thanks Bob,

I ended up renting a brake drum puller, and that worked with a lot of
tension (shot about a yard off the axle when it finally gave). I
didn't know about the slot in the back that released the brakes. I
didn't think there was one because the drum on the opposite side came
off without any problems. I will have to back and check, but it
doesn't seem that that was the problem, because i was able to slide
the drum back on and off without any problem.

There was some loose stuff rattling around inside the drum -- I just
cleaned it out and put the original back on. I still hear the loud
jet-engine noise, so the suggestion that I have a bearing going out
seems to be right.

Anybody have any suggestions as to the best manual for a 97 Impreza
Outback to use to attack this? Very new to car repair, but really
want to try...

Thanks,
Matt
 
Thanks Bob,
Anybody have any suggestions as to the best manual for a 97 Impreza
Outback to use to attack this? Very new to car repair, but really
want to try...


When I did it on my 97 Impreza, I got the whole unit from a junk yard
and was lucky enough to get a good one. The reason I did that instead
of simply changing the bearing which would have been my first choice
was that the unit had to come off anyway. The bearing is pressed out
and in and I didn't feel I had a press that would do the job.
Actually I believe Harbor Freight might have one at a reasonable
price. In any case, the bearing was expensive as well, sooo....
Don't remember if I had the wheels aligned after, but you would need
to keep an eye on that. My junk yard change lasted several years
until the Impreza's demise a couple of months ago. If you want to go
with the more reliable new bearing, you could possibly need the
services of a machine shop to put the new bearings in place. Since
many parts stores have machine shops, check before you buy. A four
wheel alignment would be a good idea as well if you take the unit
off.
If anyone has an easy way (or hard way) to press out the bearing while
on the car, please correct me.
 
Thanks turkey,

If I'm reading the parts I need correctly, for a whole new bearing
(ring), it would be ~$70, which I'm willing to pay. If I had to press
out the one bearing from the whole ring, I think I wouldn't attempt it
myself...

Again if you (or anyone) can recommend a definitive manual for this,
I'd be grateful...

Thanks,
Matt
 
Thanks Bob,

I ended up renting a brake drum puller, and that worked with a lot of

I had trouble getting mine off a few months ago. (2003 OBS). I
didn't know what the two little holes were on either side of the drum,
outside of the flange. Turns out you drive 8mm bolts into them and it
pushes against the flange, breaking the drum from the flange. Worked
like a charm on the drums and one rotor, but I had to revert to heat
and a big hammer to get the final one off since the 8mm bolts broke.
 
Thanks turkey,

If I'm reading the parts I need correctly, for a whole new bearing
(ring), it would be ~$70, which I'm willing to pay. If I had to press
out the one bearing from the whole ring, I think I wouldn't attempt it
myself...

Again if you (or anyone) can recommend a definitive manual for this,
I'd be grateful...

Thanks,
Matt

Consider pulling, re-installing the hub(s) yourself (you 'should' be
able to hang the caliper with a coat hanger or some twine from something
nearby), but have the Subie shop press in the new bearing. Some folks
have mentioned early failures if the press job isn't done accurately.
I'd also confirm with them that you got yhe 'new style' roller bearing
and not the old ball bearing(unlikely unless they have extremely old
stock). And confirm that the bearing is properly greased. I dunno about
now, but there was confusion at one time as to wjether the bearing was
supplied properly pre-greased or not.

I guess you should expect to have a 4 wheel alignment done afterwards too.

Carl
 
1) the noise is enough to worry you.

2) you can't figure it out yourself.

sounds like you need to visit a competent mechanic.

the last time i had odd noises from the wheels of my '02 legacy, the
mechanic guessed a bad wheel bearing, but it turned out that some bozo
at the last service had forgotten to tighten the lug nuts on the
right-side wheels - all 10 were finger-tight, and i had driven over
1,000 km that way!

ya just never know...
 

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