1997 Villager front wheel bearing replacement

[Bob Mayo]

My villager is making a high pitched squeeling noise from the front left wheel. It sounds like the brake pad indicator rubbing on the rotor but after I removed the pads and caliper and rotor I can still hear the noise when I turn the hub. I think it is the wheel bearing. The half-shaft was recently replaced.

I would like youir opinion of my diagnosis. Also do I need a machine shop to press in the new bearing or can I do this with a vise?

Thank you. Bob M.

[steamplant]

It's easier with a press but not necessary. I didn't press mine in I used a socket and hammer to "tap" the new bearing into place. basic procedure is a follows:

1)disconnect battery
2) break free lug nuts and hub nut
3) jack up van remove wheel
4) remove brake caliper and rotor
5) remove hub nut and hub using puller, inner bearing race may come out with hub.
6) remove steering knuckle by disconnecting lower ball joint, 2 knuckle/strut bolts and abs sensor.
7) take steering knuckle off to work bench, remove bearing snap ring,
8) from back of steering knuckle use large socket and hammer to drive out old bearing race from knuckle.
9) from front of knuckle carefull tap new bearing into knuckle houseing and install snap ring.
10) using puller remove old inner bearing race from hub.
11) carefully tap hub into new bearing/knuckle assembly.
12) install knuckle onto van, watch spline shaft and install and snug hub nut,install ball joint, strut bolts and abs sensor.
13) install rotor and brake caliper.
14) tighten all bolts, hub nut to 174-231 FT-lbs
15) install wheels and lower van.

took me about 4 hours and 50 dollars in parts new bearing and hub nut, only problem was needed torch on strut bolts to loosen and I never disconnect my battery so now I have Abs light on, I need to reset it. Good luck let me know how you do.

[Bob Mayo]

Thanks for the detailed instructions. I would have never thought to disconnect the battery. I will tackle within the next week or so. I still need to further pinpoint the noise. Once I get the axle out there will be nothing turning except the hub. I hope the noise is not at the transmission end. Bob

[Bob Mayo]

Steamplant, I'm holding the new bearing and wondering if the race and bearing are installed as a unit, since all that is in the box is a one piece bearing. When removing the old bearing does the race separate from the assembly? You mention removing the inner and outer race but I did not see a step to install new races. That's why I am asking. Thanks. Bob

[steamplant]

Bob,

I hope your repair is complete, I appologize for not getting back to you sooner I've been off-line for a while.

You are correct that the new bearing is a single assembly and is to be installed into the knuckle as such. Then the snap ring is installed and the hub tapped into the bearing.

What happened to me is when I used the puller to remove the hub the bearing inner race stayed attached to the hub shaft it was pulled apart leaving the ball bearings and outer race inside the knuckle.

Hope you made out okay.

[Bob Mayo]

Originally Posted by steamplant

Bob,

I hope your repair is complete, I appologize for not getting back to you sooner I've been off-line for a while.

You are correct that the new bearing is a single assembly and is to be installed into the knuckle as such. Then the snap ring is installed and the hub tapped into the bearing.

What happened to me is when I used the puller to remove the hub the bearing inner race stayed attached to the hub shaft it was pulled apart leaving the ball bearings and outer race inside the knuckle.

Hope you made out okay.

Steamplant, I have not completed the job. I did start though and pulled the hub. The inner race came out with the hub. Then I reasoned that the shaft was disconnected from the bearing so I turned the shaft by hand and I still hear the noise. Not sure if my reasoning was correct. Do you think that the axle was still connected to the bearing at that point with the hub out? I reassembled it without replacing the bearing thinking that the noise was coming from the transmission or possibly the shaft.
When you say inner and outer race are they both the same diameter or is the outer one the one that surrounds the assembly? Thanks again. Bob

[steamplant]

The outer race is on the outside, it probably remained inside the knuckle along with the ball bearings when you pulled the hub. The inner race probably came out with the hub.

how did the ball bearing look when you had the hub out?

[Bob Mayo]

Originally Posted by steamplant

The outer race is on the outside, it probably remained inside the knuckle along with the ball bearings when you pulled the hub. The inner race probably came out with the hub.

how did the ball bearing look when you had the hub out?

The ball bearings looked clean and lubricated at the hub side. Do you think that the axle was still turning the bearing, with the spline disengaged from the hub, when I turned the axle by hand? I will probably disassemble it again next week. Funny thing how when the brakes are applied the noise stops.

[steamplant]

When you pulled the hub, from the end of the splined axle shaft and the bearing race came out with it, the axle is just setting inside the knuckle. There is no bearing, I didn't try turning mine by hand so I dont know, I would think that the shaft wouldn't turn at all because the tranny is in park.

yeah, that's wierd that the noise stops when the brake is applied, do the pads look okay? maybe remove them and make sure the pad backs and pins are lubricated?

good luck

[1998Villager]

Bob, What ended up being the problem? I seem to be having a similar problem. There is a rotational noise that appears after doing about 10 miles. Noise seems to be coming from the front central/right area at speeds less than 40mph. Noise only happens when coasting, it goes away when braking, turning or accelerating. It is not a brake wear pad indicator noise and the brakes are in good shape. The right side CV shaft was replaced last year and when I started looking for a problem yesterday, I noticed the left side outer boot was ripped, so I replace the left shaft hoping that was the problem but the noise is still there. Thanks.

[tempfixit]

When you replaced the right side halfshaft was the hanger bearing replaced??

[Bob Mayo]

It's been a while since I fixed this problem. I'll have to check my log book this weekend and I'll let you know what the fix was. I recently replaced the right half shaft for a clicking noise on turns. The inner bearing (trans mount) came attached to the rebuilt shaft.

[Bob Mayo]

I checked my log and it looks like the bearing was where the noise was coming from. Bob

[1998Villager]

When I replaced the right side drive shaft, the hangar bearing was part of the new shaft so it was replaced. I lifted the van last week and found that the left side boot was torn so I assumed that was what was making the noise. Even if it wasnt I'd have to replace it anyways. With the new shaft put on the noise didnt go away and I felt it was coming from the right side. I went to take off the right side front wheel and to my surprise the lugs wern't very tight. I took the wheel off and inspected the brakes etc. and put the wheel back on and tightened the lugs to 110 ft/lbs and checked all the other wheels. The noise went away - so I think thats what it was. I have no explanation as to why the lugs wern't tight but I was happy that it was a cheap fix. Thanks, Jon