QuestionI thought it was the tire at first.. used to notice the sound at slow speeds wu wu wu and it would disappear at higher speeds. Then it got louder. I replaced the right front tire with the spare and the sound went away for a couple hundred yards then it came back. i gave a ride to a dealer one time and he said it was the wheel bearing. The parts store guys, said no way I could do this job by myself. I have done a lot of stuff, so i'm not too bad, but I'm not in daily practise either.
Can I do this? Pep boys wants about 350 to do the right front assuming I have it diagnosed right.
thanks
paul mulcahy
AnswerHi Paul,
Here is the procedure that was posted by Kevin a couple of weeks ago from the '98 manual which is probably the same as for your '02. I think you can do this yourself with the tools required. It is basically the same as removing a half-shaft to service a cv-joint.
"HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY
REMOVE
NOTE: Replacement of the Unit III front hub/bearing assembly can be normally done without having to remove the steering knuckle from the vehicle. In the event that the hub/bearing is frozen in the steering knuckle and cannot be removed by hand it will have to be pressed out of the steering knuckle. The steering knuckle will require removal from the vehicle to allow the hub/bearing assembly to be pressed out of the steering knuckle. Refer to Front Steering Knuckle in this section of the MDS2 for the required removal and installation procedure.
Remove the cotter pin, and nut lock from the stub axle Cotter Pin And Nut Lock
Remove the spring wave washer Nut Lock Wave Washer from the end of the stub axle.
CAUTION: Wheel bearing damage will result if after loosening hub nut, vehicle is rolled on the ground or the weight of the vehicle is allowed to be supported by the tires.
With the aid of a helper applying the brakes to keep the front hub from turning, loosen but do not remove the hub nut. The hub and driveshaft are splined together through the knuckle (bearing) and retained by the hub nut.
Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a frame contact type hoist. See Hoisting in the Lubrication and Maintenance section of this manual, for the required lifting procedure to be used for this vehicle.
Remove wheel lug nuts, and front tire and wheel assembly.
Remove front disc brake caliper to steering knuckle attaching bolts. Front Disc Brake Caliper Mounting Bolts
Remove disc brake caliper assembly from steering knuckle. Caliper is removed by first rotating top of caliper away from steering knuckle, and then removing bottom of caliper out from under machined abutment. Brake Caliper Assembly Removal/Installation
Support disc brake caliper assembly using a wire hook, Supporting Brake Caliper do not hang caliper assembly by hydraulic hose.
Remove the braking disc from the front hub/bearing assembly.
Remove the retaining nut and the washer Hub/Bearing To Stub Axle Retaining Nut And Washer from the end of the stub axle.
Remove the four hub and bearing assembly mounting bolts from the rear of steering knuckle Hub/Bearing Assembly Mounting Bolts
Remove the hub and bearing assembly from the steering knuckle Hub and Bearing Assembly Removal From Steering Knuckle
INSTALL
CAUTION: Hub and bearing assembly mounting surfaces on the steering knuckle and halfshaft Hub And Bearing Assembly Mounting Surfaces must be smooth and completely free of foreign material or nicks prior to installing hub and bearing assembly.
CAUTION: When installing hub and bearing assembly into steering knuckle, be careful not to damage the bearing seal Hub And Bearing Assembly Mounting Surfaces on the outer C/V joint.
Install hub/bearing assembly onto stub axle and into steering knuckle until squarely seated on the face of the steering knuckle.
Install the 4 hub/bearing assembly to steering knuckle attaching bolts Hub/Bearing Assembly Mounting Bolts Equally tighten all 4 mounting bolts in a criss-cross pattern until hub/bearing assembly is squarely seated against front of steering knuckle. Then tighten the 4 hub and bearing assembly mounting bolts to a torque of 65 N·m (45 ft.lbs.)
Install the hub/bearing assembly to stub shaft washer and retaining nut Hub/Bearing To Stub Axle Washer And Retaining Nut Tighten, but do not torque the hub nut at this time.
Install the braking disk on the hub and bearing assembly.
Install front brake caliper back over braking disc and align with caliper mounting holes on steering knuckle Brake Caliper Assembly Removal/Installation Caliper is installed by first installing bottom of caliper under machined abutment on bottom of steering knuckle and then rotating top of caliper toward steering knuckle. Install the disc brake caliper to steering knuckle attaching bolts Front Disc Brake Caliper Mounting Bolts and tighten to a torque of 19 N·m (168 in. lbs.)
Install wheel and tire assembly on vehicle. Tighten the wheel mounting stud nuts in proper sequence until all nuts are torqued to half specification. Then repeat the tightening sequence to the full specified torque of 129 N·m (95 ft. lbs.)
Lower vehicle to the ground
CAUTION: When tightening hub/bearing assembly to stub shaft retaining nut, do not exceed the maximum torque of 244 N·m (180 ft. lbs.)
With vehicle brakes applied to keep vehicle from moving, torque stub shaft to hub/bearing assembly retaining nut to 244 N·m (180 ft. lbs.)
Check the Toe setting on the vehicle and reset if not within specifications"
I can xerox the pages and postal mail them to you as some of the drawings would be helpful. You could reimburse me for the copy cost (10 cents per side) plus postage after you get the pages.
Use the thank/rate tab below to get back to me with a postal mailing address, if so.
Sorry for the delay, your question just appeared in the "pool" this morning.
Roland
