Honda wheel bearings lack mounting hardware to hold them in place, relying only on pressure. Depending on the specific assembly you are working on, you may need to use special equipment to replace them. Even if you lack the proper equipment, you can remove and install the assemblies at home, leaving the specialty work to you local auto shop, and still save some money along the way.
If you are replacing the front wheel bearings, remove the steering knuckle first. Use a chisel to lift the lock tab on the front axle spindle nut from the groove in the spindle. Then you can unscrew and remove the axle spindle nut using an axle nut socket, says John Wegmann in his Honda Odyssey Repair Manual.
After raising and removing the wheel/tire assembly, detach the caliper and secure it to a suitable suspension component to avoid damage to the brake hose connected to the caliper. Also, if your Odyssey model comes equipped with an anti-lock brake system (ABS), move it out of the way, but do not unplug it.
At this point, you can disconnect the tie-rod end from the steering knuckle using a tie-rod end removal tool and the ball joint from the lower control arm using a ball joint separator.
If you have a CR-V or a four-cylinder Odyssey model, detach the ball joint form the upper control arm too. On the V6 model, remove the strut-to-knuckle mounting nuts and bolts.
When ready, pull the knuckle away from the spindle by hand. If the knuckle seems stuck, tap lightly on the spindle using a rubber mallet.
If you do not have access to a hydraulic press, you may want to take the steering knuckle/bearing assembly to a machine shop, where they can replace the bearing for you. Otherwise, you can follow the next procedure.
With the steering knuckle out of the vehicle, unscrew the hub/bearing assembly from the knuckle and then mount the assembly on the plate of a hydraulic press. On the CR-V and V6 models, set the complete knuckle and hub assembly on the hydraulic press.
On four-cylinder models, use the press to separate the hub from the inner wheel bearing race. Then install the new wheel bearing and inner race on the assembly. When installing the hub on the steering knuckle, torque the mounting bolts to 33 foot pounds (44 Nm) using a torque wrench, and install the assembly on the vehicle.
On the CR-V and V6 models, first remove the large circlip, and then set the assembly on a hydraulic press plate. Press the outer race and wheel bearing out of the assembly. Then install the new outer race, wheel bearing and circlip. When ready, install the knuckle and wheel bearing assembly on the vehicle.
You will have much less trouble working on the rear wheel bearings compared with the front assemblies. Still, different models have slight differences. On the V-6 model, once you remove the center dust cap on the wheel assembly and brake drum, you can unfasten the spindle nut and remove the hub/bearing assembly.
On four-cylinder models, detach the brake caliper and rotor. Then proceed to remove the spindle nut and hub/wheel bearing assembly as a single unit.
For the rear assembly, Honda recommends replacing the hub and wheel bearing as a single unit. Once you install the new unit, replace the rest of the components following the same procedure in reverse order.
