wheel bearing

I have a front wheel bearing that needs replaced. I found a Hub Assembly Kit availible. Should I get the kit?:screwy:

goto the junkyard. get a used one. much cheaper

check this yo
hardened bearings

http://www.spswebpage.com/store/index.php?cat=s_series&sub=Suspension%20Accessories&sid=9238b0400d7c7a6828d514832c9c0b1a

no, dont go to the junkyard. when u replace the wheel bearing, you have to replace the front hub assy. go with SPS, they have a good set of parts for that.

A wrecking/salvage yard should be able to give you a warranteed part, whether it's 90 days or whatever - the part you're getting will only be as reliable as the work you perform, i.e. correct lubrication and maintenance of seals etc. I personally wouldn't buy an aftermarket hub kit based solely on its cost. You may end up at Schuck's or Autozone or whatever you haxe for some grease or a seal but the money you'll save is well worth it.

no you dont need the whole hub assembly, sure it makes it easier, but if u have a press available all you have to do is press the old one out then press the new one in, no need to spend all the money on the whole thing, plus wheel bearings arent that expensive so just buy one from a store...more reliable than a junk yard.....and for those wondering a friend of mine on my name said to use junk yard parts...

yeah that was me... sorry

You should replace the hub assembly, do the job correct or don't bother.

after a quick but blunt talk with my friend about it. i've decided that everyone else is right and i am wrong.

I dont understand why you have to replace both the hub and the bearing.

I called my local part source and they will sell me both the hub and bearing but I will also need some tool to press them together.. and since I've got to either buy or rent a tool to press wouldn't it be easier to just pull the old one and replace it?

Its actually easier and quicker to replace the spindle itself and requires no special tools other than a long pipe or crow bar to pop the ball join off.

Ive just taken a spindle from a junkyard. Quick, easy and cheap :)

I haven't taken it apart to look at it.. but I think I'm getting confused by hub and knuckle?... is there anywhere that has a good description.. perhaps photo of this type of job.?

I've got my Haynes manual but its very vague on the subject

For front wheel drive cars; I think of the 'hub' as being the item that fits inside the wheel bearing, and with a splined hole through it for the end of the axle shaft. The hub also has the flange with the studs, for the rotor and wheel.
The knuckle is what the wheel bearing fits into. It is a larger steel forging that bolts to the bottom of the MacPherson strut, has the steering arm on it, the mounting for the brake caliper, and connects via the ball joint to the lower suspension arm (or control arm). Also called a 'steering knuckle' & a spindle. (I think of 'spindle' as being the steering knuckle with stub axle on the front end of a rear wheel drive car).
Personally I wouldnt choose a wheel bearing and hub from a junkyard just because of the risk it would be bad. They sell wheel bearings with the hub installed because it usually takes a press and adapter arbors to get the hub pressed out of the old bearing (and which damages the old bearing I think) and to get the new hub pressed in without wheel bearing damage. But your old hub may well be fine.
Its possible to get the hubs out of the old wheel bearings, the wheel bearing out of the knuckle, and to get the hub, new bearing, and knuckle reassembled - without using a hydraulic press. But...its probably faster and certainly less risky to just take the parts to a machine shop; or someone with a floor press and the right arbors.

thanks....

I did some research and I'm pretty sure I've got a good idea of the job.

I took a look yesterday and knew instantly when I pulled the right wheel up that it was the bearing.. the tell tail wobble... although I didn't notices much by way of road noise.

However I'm gunna have to figure out how to get that bearing out of the knuckle without a shop press. Because even if I got one I don't know where to start with getting the proper pieces to press it out...

I'm going to continue in my research to find out;

1) the best way to remove the bearing from the hub and knuckle.
2) best way to install without damage.

I'm going to order a kit from my local part source that contains a bearing, hub, nut and clip...

The worse part is .. I had this done by a mechanic less than 10 months ago...

1) the best way to remove the bearing from the hub and knuckle.
2) best way to install without damage.


Remove the Spindle. Bring it to a shop. Have them do it. There is no other way thats safer and more efficient

I've got a 20 ton press but I'm not sure what to use as an arbor..
I've press these out of boat motors and a nieghbours motorcycle wheel once.. (well I watched)

I'm not really close to anyone where I can just walk over and get it done.. and thus far I've found that many people have been able to do it quite easily with a shop press..

I've learned that to install I need to press the new bearing into the knuckle first then the hub into the knuckle... and bobs my uncle.

I'm sure its going to require a little TLC to get off.
I've got a slide hammer that I was contemplating using to pull the hub away...
or I've got a air hammer to work with... I'm hoping it gets me till friday... thats the big day.. I've got to pull the press out of the corner...

any other thoughts

The hardest thing about this job is getting the snap ring out from the bearing, its usually rusted in there pretty good. Then you have to press the hub out, then the bearing, its not the easiest job, but it doesn't make sense to buy the whole hub assembly, just buy the bearing, take the whole assembly off and bring it into a shop like rc said

Let me know if you are still going to do it yourself, I can describe how I muscle these things apart. It helps a lot to have some large sockets - such as a 3/4" drive set with sockets up to 1.5 or 1.75 inches.

Remove the Spindle. Bring it to a shop. Have them do it. There is no other way thats safer and more efficient


Ditto!!

Im sure a few bucks will get it done. Just dont go when there slammed.

Let me know if you are still going to do it yourself, I can describe how I muscle these things apart. It helps a lot to have some large sockets - such as a 3/4" drive set with sockets up to 1.5 or 1.75 inches.

Yep going to do it tonight.

I've got everything I think I'm going to need.
I'm going to try and pull out the hub using a slide hammer, then use my press to push out the bearing from the knuckle. I've basically assembled a kit similar to this http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=140847439 6672444&bmUID=1236949747355&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443250882&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true
to use as arbors for the press.

I'm expect it to be a pain in the ass but I'm ready for anything.
I've got a whole can of penetrating oil and an airhammer to loosen up the snap spring.

Any advise would be appreciated.. its a first for me on a car.

It would be just as easy to use a deep wall socket and a press to get the hub out.

I usually have to use lots of heat to get the snap ring off.

Make sure when you are putting the hub back through the bearing on assembly that you install the new snap ring first, also make sure that you supporting the bearing so the bearing doesn't get wrecked

Overall the job went without a hitch.

Ran in to a spot of trouble getting the lower control arm loose from the knuckle. But it came off in the end.. however got delayed putting it back on because I had to rethread the bolt as I had accidentally flattened some of it with a stray hammer strike whilst trying to get it off.

The bearing was the easy part once I got it on the press.

In all I spent the most time messing around once I get the knuckle out setting it up to press out and then setting it up to press in... but in all the bearing part was like 15 minutes of work total.

The other several hours were spent making the wife think it was a big job and required a day away from my normal chores .. and yes i did drag it out ... had to even get some of my friends over to reckon and ponder with whilst of course requiring some refreshments and eventually a BBQ.

You are not only a good mechanic, but a master of time & appetite management too!!

Good Job!