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View Full Version : Greased my BD tophats today-(strut bearings)


Bluto
10-31-2008, 01:33 AM
Got my struts in today-much better! L/R strut was blown-up and leaking all over. The car goes straight too. Are there any rear allignment adjustments? Only toe on front?

BTW,,, The Tophats Can be greased :wink: I had one that was gritty/binding so I took a pic and carefully pryed off the rubber dust seal from the bottom side(cant get at the top side). Once the seal is off you can see the cage & ball bearings. I sprayed a bunch of penetrating oil into the bearind and then spun it w/drill back & forth until the rust & crud was disolved. Then flushed it out w/WD40 until clean. NEXT, Set upside-down and let drip dry. Using a grease gun and a grease needle, pump some grease between ea. bearing and cage, then pack the grease in w/your finger. Finish up by flattening the seal back down- its brass & rubber & easily bent back into shape. The seal will push back into place with a little effort. PRESTO! a smooth turinig strut bearing - for FREE! I did the other one too when it was off-takes 5min at most. Ive been greasing sealed bearings on idlers & tensioners for years & this works great! Try it :smile:
Huffer
10-31-2008, 07:27 AM
The majority of front top-hats can be greased.
1998 GT and Outback top-hats are SEALED and cannot be regreased.

But nice moves on that!
decke48
10-31-2008, 11:51 AM
the rear can be aligned in camber and toe
Zedhead
11-15-2008, 07:39 AM
The majority of front top-hats can be greased.
1998 GT and Outback top-hats are SEALED and cannot be regreased.

But nice moves on that!


I've always been able to grease a sealed bearing. Just get a syringe and fill it with grease. Works great.
Huffer
11-15-2008, 07:52 AM
You can't do that to 1998 top hats:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/11/Subaru_1998Legacy_FrontStrutTop1-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2007/02/Subaru_1998Legacy_FrontStrutTop0-1.jpg

They're SEALED in the rubber.
Zedhead
11-17-2008, 06:08 AM
If You insert the syringe under the plastic seal between the inner race and seal. You can inject grease into the bearing.

You can see the seal in the first pic. Where the printing is on it. Carefully wiggle the needle between the inner race/seal.