front passenger Hub noise

[Creamfeeder]

Hi all, new Brumby issue for you all to diagnose.. Im getting alot of grinding noise from the front passenger side hub. I thought it was worn brake pads but upon pulling apart the brakes and replacing only half worn pads with new ones, the noise is still present. Had a mechanic have a look and he says its the splines on the shaft connecting to the front hub? Does this sound right, if so whats the solution? new drive shaft? new hub? new bearing? or all of the above? And whats the availability of front hubs for 92 brumbys if that is what the problem is? any ideas guys?
As an addendum, I recently replaced my pedal box and clutch cable with one that I found at a wreckers. Since then I have found that my Accelerator pedal doesnt quite reach the floor like my old one did.. Is this symptomatic of a pedal box from the wrong series? or if I replace the accelerator pedal from my original pedal box with this solve the problem?

[Creamfeeder]

bump

[AndrewT]

It's possible it's the splines, but more likely to be a worn bearing. Need to pull it apart to diagnose properly really.

I would get yourself a spare hub just in case yours is chewed out from the worn bearing (not sure if you have another car to drive around while this one is apart), and a new bearing. Hubs shouldn't be too hard to source from someone wrecking any MY, or go to a wrecker, should be cheap too.
If it does turn out to be the splines then you will most likely need a new outer CV too (this is the part that has the splines to correspond to the hub's splines).

Do a search, I've done a pretty detailed writeup in the past on how to replace the front bearings.
You will need a large breaker bar and 36mm socket.

Hopefully it just turns out to be a worn bearing and that's all that needs replacing.

[Creamfeeder]

hmm... considering the CV joints are only a a couple of years old, I'm holding out hope that its just a bearing... Do you reckon it would be worth while just replacing the hub and bearing straight off? thanks for the detailed response, I really value this site its given me alot of information thats helped me keep the beast going.

[TOONGA]

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heres a write up from USMB

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/sho ... hp?t=77491

informative, funny and complete with pictures

TOONGA

[subybrumby]

My first thought would be the cone washer behind the castle nut. We've been there before with this and I have had issues with this also. It will make a god awful crunching noise. Go to Subaru and buy the new cone washer and flat washer. This castle nut needs to be extremely tight and virtually all your weight on a breaker bar until its super tight. Anything less and you will get that crunching noise from the cone washer. Make sure the flat washer is right way around with the dab of paint and rounded side outward.

Try this first and see how you go. I've had it on mine including the back wheels and you will find that if you source a new cone washer and pull the nut up extra super tight, you will probably solve the problem.

[Cliff R]

OK I know this a simplistic approach but is there any grease in the bearing housing. ?
I say this as it happened to my 82 MY wagon a while ago. Driving along and there was a grinding coming from the front LH hub. had a look and for whatever reason there was virtually no grease. Apart from me being slack and not checking at regular intervals I gave the bearings a clean, put some grease in and Bob's your uncle. No more noise.

[El_Freddo]

This castle nut needs to be extremely tight and virtually all your weight on a breaker bar until its super tight.

I'd recommend a 3/4 drive breaker bar. I've busted dad's good 1/2 drive breaker bar and I can't find the company to replace it I've since got a 3/4 drive breaker and its been great.

Cheers

Bennie