Parts for your 2008 Subaru Exiga-Thrust bearing

2008 Subaru Exiga thrust-bearing — does it have one?

Short answer: as a service part, no. The 2008 Subaru Exiga (YA series) was launched primarily with automatic transmissions (4EAT on most variants and 5EAT on GT), which means there’s no clutch release/thrust bearing fitted from factory. That’s straight out of the Subaru Exiga YA Workshop Manual (Automatic Transmission/Transaxle section) and matching Subaru FAST parts listings for the model year, which don’t show a clutch release bearing for the auto-equipped Exiga.

Here’s the nuance: the EJ-series engine in the 2008 Exiga does have a crankshaft thrust bearing surface integrated into the main bearings (documented in the Subaru EJ engine service manual). That engine thrust bearing controls end-float of the crank, but it’s internal and only inspected or renewed during an engine rebuild. It’s not something that’s serviced on its own, nor is it the “thrust bearing” people usually mean when talking about a clutch release bearing.

Why there’s no clutch-type thrust bearing on this car is simple. The Exiga’s autos use a torque converter and flexplate instead of a manual clutch assembly. A release/thrust bearing is only needed to push on a pressure plate’s diaphragm spring in a manual. No manual clutch, no release bearing to replace.

• Relevant: internal crankshaft thrust bearing (engine bottom end) – non-routine, rebuild-time item.
• Not relevant: clutch release/thrust bearing – the factory automatic Exiga doesn’t have one.

If an owner hears noises they’d normally blame on a “thrust bearing,” it’s worth checking more likely culprits for this model: accessory idlers, A/C compressor clutch, alternator bearings, or on higher‑km cars, torque converter or flexplate issues. Engine thrust bearing problems are rare in stock engines and present as excessive crank end‑float, typically diagnosed during detailed engine work rather than day‑to‑day servicing.

For anyone converting an Exiga to a manual (or in the unlikely event they have a market‑specific manual variant), a clutch release bearing will then be part of the clutch kit and should be replaced whenever the clutch is done.

• Popular questions

Does my 2008 Subaru Exiga have a thrust bearing I need to service?
From factory, no. With the Exiga’s automatic gearboxes, there’s no clutch release/thrust bearing to maintain. The engine does have an internal crankshaft thrust bearing, but it’s only addressed during an engine rebuild, not routine servicing.

What noises on an Exiga get mistaken for a thrust bearing going bad?
Common red herrings include idler pulley rumble, A/C clutch chatter, alternator whine, or a cracked flexplate ticking under load. A classic manual “release bearing squeal” isn’t applicable unless the car’s been converted to a manual.

Can a manual‑swapped Exiga use a thrust (release) bearing?
Yes. If converted to a 5‑ or 6‑speed manual, it will use a clutch release bearing matched to the selected gearbox and clutch kit. Replace it with every clutch to save on repeat labour and headaches.