QuestionHow do i change the front hub/bearing assembly
AnswerHUB AND BEARING (FRONT)
NOTE: Removal and installation of the hub and bearing assembly from the steering knuckle must be done with the steering knuckle removed from the vehicle. This is required due to the tool clearance to the ABS tone wheel when removing the retaining bolts. Removing the retaining bolts with the steering knuckle installed can result in damage to the tone wheel teeth requiring replacement of the driveshaft.
REMOVAL
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 front tire and wheel assembly from the hub
CAUTION: Wheel bearing damage will result if hub nut is loosened, then vehicle is rolled on the ground or the weight of the vehicle is allowed to be supported by the tires.
Loosen hub nut while vehicle with the brakes applied. The hub and driveshaft are splined together through the knuckle (bearing) and retained by the hub nut.
Remove front disc brake caliper to steering knuckle guide pin attaching bolts Front Disc Brake Caliper Mounting
Remove disc brake caliper assembly from steering knuckle. Caliper is removed by first lifting bottom of caliper away from steering knuckle, and then removing top of caliper out from under steering knuckle Caliper Removal From Steering Knuckle
Support brake caliper/adapter assembly using a wire hook Correctly Supported Front Disc Brake Caliper and not by hydraulic hose.
Remove the braking disc from the front hub/bearing assembly.
If vehicle is equipped with 15 inch wheels, remove lower ball joint heat shield Ball Joint Heat Shield With 15 Inch Wheels from lower control arm. Heat shield must be removed before attempting to separating ball joint stud from steering knuckle.
Remove nut attaching the outer tie rod end to the steering knuckle Removing Tie Rod End Attaching Nut Nut is to be removed from tie rod end using the following procedure, hold tie rod end stud with a 11/32 socket while loosening and removing nut with wrench Removing Tie Rod End Attaching Nut
Remove the tie rod end from steering knuckle arm, using Remover, Special Tool MB-991113 Tie Rod End Removal From Steering Knuckle
If equipped with antilock brakes remove the speed sensor cable routing bracket Speed Sensor Cable Routing Bracket from the steering knuckle.
Remove cotter pin and castle nut Lower Ball Joint Attachment To Steering Knuckle from the stud of the lower ball joint.
CAUTION: No tool is to be inserted between the steering knuckle and the lower ball joint to separate stud of lower ball joint from the steering knuckle. The steering knuckle is to be separated from the stud of the ball joint only using the procedure as described in step Step 13 below.
Turn steering knuckle so the front of the steering knuckle is facing as far outboard in the wheel well as possible. Using a hammer strike the boss on the steering knuckle, Separating Ball Joint Stud From Steering Knuckle until steering knuckle separates from stud of lower ball joint. When striking steering knuckle, care MUST be taken not to hit lower control arm or ball joint grease seal.
CAUTION: Pulling steering knuckle out from vehicle after releasing from ball joint can separate inner C/V joint. See Driveshafts.
Lift up on steering knuckle separating it from the lower ball joint stud. Use caution when separating ball joint stud from steering knuckle, so ball joint seal does not get cut.
NOTE: Care must be taken not to separate the inner C/V joint during this operation. Do not allow driveshaft to hang by inner C/V joint, driveshaft must be supported.
Separate the steering knuckle from the outer C/V joint. Separate steering knuckle from outer C/V joint, by supporting the driveshaft while pulling steering knuckle away from the outer C/V joint Separating Steering Knuckle From Outer C/V Joint
Remove the cotter pin and nut Upper Ball Joint Attachment To Steering Knuckle from the upper ball joint stud to steering knuckle attachment.
Remove the upper ball joint stud from the steering knuckle using Puller, Special Tool, C3894-A Ball Joint Stud Removal From Steering Knuckle
Remove steering knuckle from vehicle.
Mount steering knuckle securely in a vise.
Remove the 3 bolts Hub/Bearing Attaching Bolts attaching the hub/bearing assembly to the steering knuckle.
Remove the hub/bearing assembly out from the front of the steering knuckle. If bearing will not come out of steering knuckle, it can be tapped out using a soft faced hammer.
Thoroughly clean all hub/bearing assembly mounting surfaces on steering knuckle.
Install the replacement hub/bearing assembly in steering knuckle aligning bolt boles in bearing flange with holes in steering knuckle.
Install the 3 mounting bolts Hub/Bearing Attaching Bolts and tighten evenly to ensure bearing is square to face of steering knuckle. The tighten the 3 mounting bolts Hub/Bearing Attaching Bolts to a torque of 110 N·m (80 ft. lbs.)
INSTALLATION
Slide drive shaft back into front hub/bearing assembly. Then install steering knuckle onto the ball joint stud in lower control arm.
Install the steering knuckle to lower ball joint stud castle nut.
Install upper ball joint stud in steering knuckle. Install the steering knuckle to upper ball joint stud castle nut. Using a crow foot and torque wrench, tighten the upper and lower ball joint castle nuts to the following torque specifications.
Lower ball joint castle nut 74 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
Upper ball joint castle nut 62 N·m (45 ft. lbs.)
If equipped with antilock brakes install the speed sensor cable routing bracket on the steering knuckle Speed Sensor Cable Routing Bracket and securely tighten attaching bolt
CAUTION: When installing tie rod on steering knuckle the heat shield Torquing Tie Rod End Attaching Nut must be installed. If heat shield is not installed, tie rod seal boot can fail due to excessive heat from brake rotor.
Install tie rod end into the steering knuckle. Start tie rod end to steering knuckle attaching nut onto stud of tie rod end. While holding the stud of the tie rod end stationary, tighten tie rod end to steering knuckle attaching nut Removing Tie Rod End Attaching Nut Then using a crowfoot and 11/32 socket tighten the attaching nut to a torque of 61 N·m (45 ft. lbs.) Torquing Tie Rod End Attaching Nut
Install braking disc back on hub and bearing assembly.
Install disc brake caliper assembly on steering knuckle. Caliper is installed by first sliding top of caliper under top abutment on steering knuckle. Then installing bottom of caliper against bottom abutment of steering knuckle Caliper Removal From Steering Knuckle
Install disc brake caliper assembly to steering knuckle guide pin bolts Front Disc Brake Caliper Mounting Tighten caliper assembly guide pin bolts to a torque of 22 N·m (16 ft. lbs.)
Clean all foreign matter from the threads of the outer C/V joint stub axle. Install the hub nut onto the driveshaft stub axle.
With vehicle brakes applied to keep stub axle from turning, tighten hub nut to a torque of 142 N·m (105 ft. lbs.) Torquing Front Hub Nut
Install front wheel and tire assembly. Install front wheel lug nuts and tighten in correct sequence. Then tighten to a torque of 135 N·m (100 ft. lbs.)
Lower vehicle.
Set front Toe on vehicle to required specification. Use procedure listed under Wheel Alignment in this service manual group.
