-04 Front Wheel Bearing Replacement "The Answer"
 

Updated 6/10/2011

I needed some place to put the answer, and thought others would appreciate it...

First, here is the thread with the How-To...

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=787070

Here is the thread with more bearing and grease tech than my brain can handle.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=987976

And here are the "answers" as far as I can tell.

Bearings (For the enthusiast):

NTN: 4T-CR1-0823 On the box(4T-CR1-0823CS113#01[J100])
Nissan: 40210-16E00 (Original), 40210-94N00 (Replacement but, not sure it is identical) Also: 40210-01E00, 43210-01E00
NSK: 42KWD02A
SKF: FW105
Timken: 513015
Auto Extra(Timken):379-513015 Summit

Grease:

Mobil SHC220 / Mobil 1 red synthetic

Seals:
Front Outer:
28015-AA070 Subaru
22038 SKF & CR (Chicago rawhide)
Bore=2.835"; Shaft=2.205"; Outside diameter=2.8460"; Width=.315"

Front inner;
28015-AA080 Subaru
22026 SKF & CR (Chicago rawhide)
Shaft=2.205"; Width=.315"; Outside diameter=2.8580"; Bore=2.846IN

That is all.
Reference:
http://www.timken.com/en-us/products...eGuide7536.pdf

NTN Bearing source:
BearingDepot.com
$40.67 EACH , SHIPPING IS $7.50 As of 6/9/06
CALL 732-563-2225.

That torque spec is for the king nut?

If the "King Nut" is the nut on the end of the axle which I would call the "axle nut".

king nut = castle nut = axle nut = whatever the real name is for slotted nuts that you put cotter pins through.

It's not slotted on any of the Subarus I've seen. It is one of the ones that you dent into a square recess in the axle shaft. And I removed the Torque number because it was wrong.

Ah, that's right. I've seen them enough, I should have remembered.

The king nut/castle nut is not the axle nut!!

The axle nut goes on the end of the axle and holds the bearings/hub to the axle, while the castle nut (w/ the cotter pins) holds the ball joint to the knuckle.

So I noticed when Dean corrected me.

I think technically, any nut with the slots for cotter pins is technically king/crown nut, and they have many uses, including axle nuts, though mostly those are front axles on RWD cars.

Just to update###

New Nissan part # is
40210-94N00

Dean, I will start on this job in coming weeks and let you know how it goes.

Just so you guys know here's Napa pricing on the bearing and seals. I have these in stock if needed...

FW105 $55.00
22038 $4.62
22026 $5.00

Scott did this process and part# change for our cars?I know you switched for a reason but why?

Thanks man, Cory's price at Nissan is still the best.

Khail, do you guys stock the mobil-1 red grease?

Updated first post with a cheap bearing source.

BearingDepot.com
$40.67 EACH , SHIPPING IS $7.50 As of 6/9/06
CALL 732-563-2225.

They may have the seals as well.

Nope, just the engine oil.

No I switched to '05 hubs. This is just a "stronger" bearing that fits in the '04 hubs.

My 03 WRX is in Fernley about to get worked on at a shop on Monday.

Should I tell the shop to order Nissan bearings or is whatever he can get the fastest along with the axle I need.

Should I tell the shop to repack the bearing with high performance grease?

Yes!

You can order parts or pick up local maybe. You need to have it torn down first to see what all has to be done. I destroyed everything in that corner except the strut and caliper. spindle, axle, seals, retainers, rotor, etc...

Go find the Axle thread for the AZ guys. Gotta run...

IHeartSTI or SedonaBugEye might have some of the parts you need....

I know I need the axle and the bearing. The first post is a little wild. What exactly would you tell the shop, Dean?

Not sure I understand the question, but here goes.

It has to be torn down to see if the spindle, bearing retainer, etc. are hurt. You need a full parts list...

Bearing part numbers and seal part numbers in first Post are Non-Subaru, so can be matched or cross referenced, except maybe Nissan #. I do not have the generic #s for the Subaru bearing, but they are in one of the referenced thread. You don't want those, and don't let them convince you they are the same. You want the Nissan bearing, NTN or SKF numbers listed above, or don't buy it. Again, I have not read those threads for updates, or can I verify that the new Nissan number is actually the same improved bearing, but trust Matt/Cory enough to add it to the first post.

You can get the Subaru seals and retainers if you want/need. It is all about the harder bearing with the improved cage.

Axles are axles, there is no reason to pay up, or not to buy a used one with good boots from a club member or wrecking yard. CVs seldom if ever fail with good boots unless beat upon or run dry which doesn't happen unless the boot fails really.

Did that help? Unless you know this shop, I would still suggest asking Pat H. if he is interested. He is a good mechanic and is right there in Fernley, and could use the work. Also has a trailer to get it to his place if needed.

If you want to bring it back to Reno, I could do it with my trailer, but it will cost you gas and such...

Gas, Grass or .....um.......nevermind

Cody, second thread in the first post is the one worth reading. People are still blowing up the Nissan bearing, but it appears to last a bit longer.

People who don't replace damaged spindle housings or the wrong grease (with sulfur) get reamed by refailure.

6Gun Racing makes a $830 5X100 version of the '05+ STI setup that accepts '02-'07 XRX and '04 STI axles/wheels.

Thanks for the generous offer Dean. I should have called you last night about a possible tow back to Reno but didn't want to impose. The car has been towed to Auto Doc's Complete Car Care in Fernley and they have the keys. The owner seems receptive to my special instructions suggestions so far (hand tools only on the lugs, Napa parts, etc.). I'm nervous but it should be fine. I just hope they can/will do the clean out the existing grease completely/repack with Mobil-1 Red Full Synth. And I hope they do a good job installing and let me know if the hub needs replacing, if it really does, etc. I'll ask them to keep the parts they pull off. That might keep them honest.

I did some research on nabisco and I'm just going to stick with the Subaru bearing since my car is at a shop in Fernley and I don't want to overcomplicate it.

If Cory were doing the work, I'd go that route but I don't want the shop that's doing the work blaming the Nissan part if they do an improper installation resulting in a premature failure of the replacement bearing. It sounds like the right grease and proper installation is far more beneficial than going to the Nissan bearing anyway.

Plus, there's very few people reporting that they've tried this and the few that have haven't exactly had glowing reviews. And has anyone said what cars these fit? It seems to fit the 04 STi but that's all I saw.

At least when I tried Uncle Scotty's Cocktail, I could read through hundreds of positive reviews that typically included the particular application...and that turned out to be a bust anyway. There are some "gurus"/engineer posts that it's a good idea and some that say it's not recommended/necessary.

CN: I'm skipping it this time.

The '04 STi hub/spindle is the same as the WRX (hence the '05 upgrade).

So that means the Nissan bearing would fit my WRX?