This is a response to a remark that came up in a discussion forum regarding how important the axle nut is for cars with bolt-on wheel bearings. The vehicle involved is a 2015 Subaru Forester, but similar design is found throughout the industry.

In the South, even a Subaru wheel bearing may come out without much drama. But in the rust belt, where this vehicle spent much of its life, the outer race of the bearing and its housing can be severely corroded into the knuckle. This design also has thick backing plate contact that can be badly corroded as well, making the job more difficult. To get the remaining bearing half out I used a long stroke air hammer with a chisel to open a split between bearing mounting plate and knuckle, together with a sledge hammer after an attempt to pound on the loosened mounting bolts failed.

Auto repair is inherently dangerous, both to the mechanic, the car, and possibly even to bystanders on the road. Do not walk down the pathway of DIY auto repair unless you’re prepared to accept personal responsibility for those risks.

Music credits:

Bass Walker - Film Noir by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-... Artist: http://incompetech.com/ /

River Meditation by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/