1999 Subaru Forester Axel Replaced but loud noises in rear

HARRIETLOVEY

MEMBER
1999 SUBARU FORESTER
4 CYL
AWD
AUTOMATIC
72,000 MILES

I am in process of purchasing a Forester for a great price. A Mechanic owns it and stated he put the rear axel on it.

He said he did not have a 'Lift' to put the '(?)' Bearings on the axle. He said it takes a machine to insert the parts. I am not sure about the term for the parts.

He is taking my 1997 Hyundai Elantra wagon for $1K credit and I am giving him $2 cash. A dealer/finance company pulled the NADA pricing and told me I am really getting a good price. The current actual value is $7K+.

What is your opinion on the noise (I know this is hard to determine w/o driving the car). One mechanic said it should take about $475 to fix.

I hope to get accurate names of the issue tomorrow to email back and amend my question.

1 Reply

MADMIKE1735

MECHANIC
951 POSTS

Sounds like rear wheel bearings are bad. Have your mechanic put it on a lift, and put the vehicle in gear. Then feel for a vibration in the struts. Whichever wheelbearing is bad, will cause the strut to vibrate. I see this alot on these subarus, and 70% of the time its both rear wheelbearings. So dont think your getting "robbed" if your mechanic says that both bearings are bad. Its common on these.