Questions and Answers

Outback Throw-out Bearings Q. Hi, I am currently in the middle of a very frustrating situation with my 1999 Subaru Outback Limited wagon. It's a 5-speed with a little over 76,000 miles and I'm the original owner. At 55,000 miles I had to have the clutch plate and throw out bearing replaced. These parts are not covered under the 60,000 warranty, so I paid.

Every 4,000 miles or so since that repair, the car has needed another throw out bearing. Bearings 2, 3, and 4 were replaced by Subaru under the 12,000 mile parts warranty; the fork was also replaced with #4. During the bearing #5 repair (74,025 miles), the district representative checked out the car while it was apart.

He says the throw out bearing had signs of wear consistent with riding the clutch, and Subaru would not pay for this replacement. He says they could find no other reason for these signs of wear (no binding). I have been driving hydraulic clutch cars for the last 20 years, and have never had this problem; I do not ride the clutch!

Unfortunately, I don't know precisely what Subaru checked in their determination that the only reason could be riding the clutch. My local mechanic has said he would have to take it apart in order to check, and, of course, that would cost me more money, so I haven't pursued that yet. During the latest repair (#5), my copy of the bill shows the following as replaced parts: COVER CP, DISK CP C, RADIAL BA, CLIP CLUT, and BALL BRG; $298.71 in parts and $420.00 in labor.

Now with a little over 2,000 miles on the last repair, I am starting to hear the chirping sound when depressing the clutch pedal and releasing it; the sound Subaru has always told me indicates a wearing throw out bearing.

Judging from past experience, it will continue to become more pronounced until it will be heard while the car is idling, without even touching the clutch pedal. I have checked the clutch pedal while in the fully released position (all the way up), and I am unable to force it any further up.

If there is no resolution to this problem, I will be forced to sell this car, even though I have already been told by 2 car dealerships that the most I can get for it is $9,000 on trade-in; it cost me $26,000. Do you have any suggestions?

Thank You,
Howard

A. I would try adjusting the clutch pedal free play. It is possible that it is not fully releasing the clutch, making it seem like you are riding the clutch. I would also try replacing the Clutch Damper. It might be holding the clutch slightly engaged.

About the only other thing I can suggest without actually seeing the car is the next time it needs replacing, replace it with non-Subaru parts. It is possible the Subaru parts are not any good. While it is apart, have the throw-out bearing ID measured and compared to the OD of the bearing riding point. If it seems too tight, then it can probably be sanded down a little bit to assure the bearing rides smoothly and completely.