How to Change a Front Wheel Bearing on a Dodge Neon

The Dodge Neon has a spindle with the hub and bearing pressed into it. The only way to remove the bearing itself is to use a large press and special tools to split the spindle from the hub. Therefore the spindle needs to be removed and sent to a machine shop. The machine shop has the equipment to inexpensively split the spindle and press the old bearing out and the new bearing into the hub.

Things You'll Need

  • Floor jack
  • Jack stands
  • Set of ½-inch drive sockets
  • ½-inch drive ratchet
  • Wire cutters
  • 3/8-inch drive ratchet
  • Set of 3/8-inch sockets
  • ½-inch drive air gun
  • Set of wrenches
  • Ball joint separator tool
  • Hammer
  • Prybar

Raise and support the car on jack stands. Remove the wheels using the ½-inch drive air gun and the appropriate socket.

Remove the wheels.

Remove the brake caliper using the 3/8-inch drive ratchet and socket to remove the two bolts holding the caliper to the mounting bracket. Remove the cotter pin from the lower ball joint stud using the wire cutters. Use a wrench to remove the nut holding the ball joint to the lower control arm.

Socket wrench

Remove the cotter pin in the CV axle shaft and then use the ½-inch drive air gun and socket and remove the CV axle shaft nut in the center of the rotor. Remove the rotor by pulling it off of the hub.

Remove the cotter pin.

Separate the lower ball joint from the lower control arm by inserting the ball joint remover tool in between the spindle and lower control arm. Strike it with a hammer and the ball joint shaft will pop out. Use the prybar and separate the ball joint shaft from the hole in the spindle.

Strike it with a hammer.

Remove the outer tie rod end cotter pin, then with a wrench remove the nut on the tie rod end. Place the ball joint remover tool in between the tie rod end and the spindle and strike it with the hammer to remove ball joint.

Wrench

Remove the two large bolts and nuts holding the strut to the spindle with the 3/8-inch drive ratchet and socket. Separate the strut and spindle by hand. Push the CV joint out of the hub.

Ratchet

Take the spindle assembly to the machine shop to have the bearing installed. Replace all parts in reverse order of removal.