How To Replace Wheel Bearing (Front) Options

[eggman40]

A few weeks ago I had to replace my wheel bearing so i decided to take a few pictures and do a write up of what i did. It was an easy project which took about an hour to take off, hour to put back on. Youll probably have to wait longer for the machine shop to do the pressing. These steps are good for either side in the front. I only replaced the pass. side so thats all i have here: (please bare with me its my first how to )





1) Here is a picture of the tools that i used for the job, not pictured is a hammer. One thing to note is that i have V6 camry axles which have bigger ends so a 30mm socket will be too big, find the right size for your car before starting.









2) This is a picture of what you are basically trying to take off. This is the Steering Knuckle which contains the wheel bearing in the center. Ive labled the parts that need to be removed in order for the Steering Knuckle to come out. I will go futher into detail as to how to remove everything in the following steps.









3) The First thing you need to do is get the car in the air with proper jackstand supports and then take off the wheel. Once the wheel is off, your first step will be to remove the axle nut as pictured here. I used my 1/2 inch drive with a 30mm socket, and 3 foot breaker bar. Make sure when you use the bar, that the socket is on straight with the nut so you dont strip it. 2nd, notice how i turned the wheel to the left a little, this is to avoind hitting the fender with the bar when you go to turn it.

Also, you will notice the screw driver in the rotor. This is not the best way to keep the rotor from spinning but i was alone and had no one to hold the brakes for me.





4) Once the axle nut is removed, your next step is to take the axle out of the hub. It just slides right out, you may have to play with it a little by turning the brake assembly one way or the other.

*Then, as you see in the picture you will need to remove the brake caliper, with is very easy. Just as you see in the picture, remove the bottom shock bolt, (This gives you clearance for top caliper bolt) and loosen but dont remove the top one. (19mm)

*2nd you will remove the caliper bracket bolts (17mm x2) once they are off, the whole caliper comes off with the pads still in place. LEAVE THE BRAKE LINE ON and just hang it from your spring with a wire or a coat hanger so its out of your way.





5) Once the Caliper is removed you could slilde off the rotor and it should look like this now.





6) Your next step will be to remove your steering Tie rod. In the manual it says you need a puller for this step and you may do so if you feel more comfortable. I'll show you my way, which worked out great and didnt harm anything.

1st- You will need to remove the cotter pin from the castle nut on the tie rod. Then you will loosen the castle nut (17mm) and turn it so that it is ALMOST of the bolt.

2nd- Now you can get a hammer, and give the castle nut a good hit with your hammer in the ^ upwards direction. It doesnt need to be that hard, it should pop the tie rod loose, now you can remove the castle nut.







7) Your next and final step in the removal of the steering knuckle is to take off the the two nuts, and one bolt that hold the hub onto the lower control arm. (17mm I believe) You will need to take these off from under the control arm. (Once these are off, you can take the shock tower bolts completely off and take the hub out)

* These 2 nuts and bolt will be on pretty strong, so i again used a 1/2 in. ratchet drive and the breaker bar to remove them. Here are two pictures of what you will be removing.





Steering Knuckle Removed:





8) Once you remove the two nuts and bolt the hub will come right out. You will then need to take your Steering Knuckle, along with the new bearing and new seals and take them all to a local machine shop to press everything in. I was charged $35 at carquest for the job which was a great deal. Prices will range between $35-$65 per hub.

I bought the new bearing and seals at autozone for $52! so combined, this job only cost me about $85. Which is way better than what some shops charge for doing it for you. I was quoted $350 on labor alone! This will save you a lot of money, and its not hard to do at all with the correct tools.



9)Here is my old bearing which look like its been through a lot in its lifetime:







See the 2nd pic above, it has the new wheel bearing and seals pressed it. (Looks way better now)



10) Once your get your Steering Knuckle back put everything back on in reverse order. Heres a little tip when you go to put your Brake caliper back on: First of all, by removing the caliper from the bracket, It should have kept the pads in place, therefore there will BE NO NEED to push the brake cylinder back in with a "C" clamp. The caliper should slide right over the rotor. BUT in order to do so... the Rotor has to be perfectly flat and as far back as possible. I used my lug nuts for this as you can see in this picture:





Here is the finished product once everything it put back on:











So there you have it, my first How To, I hope someone finds it usefull one day. If you have any questions feel free to ask. If any parts are unclear, please let me know and ill try to clarify as well as edit the post.

Thanks!

This post has been edited by eggman40: Jul 19, 2007 - 1:24 AM

[azian_advanced]

the wheel bearing for both superstrut and mcpherson suspension are the same. in fact, celicas since 86 as well as most corolla's and camry's share the same wheel bearings.
part number: 90369-38003-77