Parts for your 2015 Subaru Exiga-Thrust bearing

2015 Subaru Exiga thrust-bearing — is it actually a thing?

Short answer: a traditional clutch thrust/release bearing isn’t used on the 2015 Subaru Exiga. That model, including the 2015 Exiga/Crossover 7, was delivered with an automatic transmission (Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT for the later model, and earlier Exiga variants used electronically controlled automatics). Because there’s no manual clutch assembly, there’s no clutch release/thrust bearing to service or replace.

Why it’s not fitted comes down to how the drivetrain works. A manual gearbox uses a clutch and a release (thrust) bearing that presses on the clutch diaphragm spring when the driver puts their foot on the pedal. The Exiga’s auto/CVT uses a torque converter and hydraulic control instead, so there’s nothing for a release bearing to operate. Any axial loads in the transmission are handled by internal bearings designed into the CVT/auto and are not separate service items.

Worth noting for clarity: the Exiga’s engine does have a crankshaft thrust bearing integrated into the main bearing set (common on Subaru FB/EJ engines). That part controls crank endfloat but it lives inside the engine block, isn’t referred to as a standalone “thrust bearing” in regular servicing, and is only touched during engine overhaul if wear or endplay is out of spec. It’s not a routine maintenance component.

If someone’s chasing a “thrust-bearing noise” on a 2015 Exiga, it’s more likely to be something else: torque converter shudder, CVT pulley/belt whine, an accessory idler, alternator, A/C compressor clutch, or even a front differential bearing inside the transmission. Proper diagnosis matters—listen for changes with the A/C on/off, in Park vs Drive, and at different road speeds, and scan the transmission with the Subaru Select Monitor where possible.

• Technical sources referenced (no external links provided): Subaru 2015 Exiga/Crossover 7 catalogue/specifications indicating Lineartronic CVT availability only, Subaru Service Manual – Lineartronic CVT (general description: no manual clutch/release bearing), Subaru FB25 Engine Service Manual noting integrated crankshaft thrust bearing at a main journal, Subaru market specs for Exiga indicating automatic-only drivetrains.

Popular questions

Does a 2015 Subaru Exiga have a clutch thrust/release bearing?
No. The 2015 Exiga runs an automatic/CVT, so there’s no manual clutch assembly and no release bearing to operate it. Any axial loads are managed by internal transmission bearings that aren’t serviced as standalone parts.

What “thrust bearing” do people talk about on Subarus, and does it need servicing on an Exiga?
Two different things get mixed up: the clutch release (thrust) bearing on manuals, and the engine’s crankshaft thrust bearing. The Exiga doesn’t have the first, and the second is internal to the engine and not part of routine servicing—only checked during engine rebuilds or if there’s endplay issues.

I can hear a rumble or whine—could it still be a thrust bearing?
On an Exiga, that kind of noise is more likely from the CVT, torque converter, or an accessory like the idler or A/C compressor. Get it diagnosed before throwing parts at it—road test, check fluid condition, and use factory scan data to pinpoint the source.