Sage-Tips

How do you install a wheel bearing hub assembly?

Part 1 of 1: Replacing the wheel hub assembly

1. Materials Needed.
2. Step 1: Prepare your work area.
3. Step 2: Loosen the lug nuts.
4. Step 3: Jack the vehicle up and use jack stands.
5. Step 4: Remove the old wheel hub assembly.
6. Step 5: Install the new wheel hub assembly and brake parts.
7. Step 6: Reinstall the wheels.

How tight should spindle bearings be?

The nut on the spindle should be tightened until snug, with no side-to-side play in the hub and then backed off slightly, about maybe a 1/8 of a turn.

What is the proper wheel bearing end play for a manual adjust hub?

For context, the tolerable end-play for truck wheel bearings is the same: 0.001 to 0.005 inches, also expressed as 1 to 5 mil or 0.025 to 0.127 mm. In other words, it’s perfectly acceptable to adjust wheel bearings so that they are just a little bit loose, but not too loose.

How long does it take to replace a wheel hub assembly?

How long does it take to replace Wheel Bearings? Replacing a single wheel bearing can take 90 to 120 minutes depending on the type of vehicle and complexity. There are a lot of moving parts that need to be maintained and properly sealed to complete this type of work.

What happens if you over tighten a spindle nut?

It’s possible to damage the wheel, rotor, and hub assembly. The wheel can come off if over-torquing the nuts/bolts is done. It happens, but it doesn’t happen a lot. The only way to tighten them is with a Torque wrench.

Why do hub bearings need end play?

When it comes to wheel bearings, a small amount of end-play is required to keep the rollers from making hard contact with the races, because hard contact creates heat and wear.

How do you set the end play on a bearing?

To ensure proper end play, a dial indicator should always be used. During adjustment, position the rollers tightly against the bearing cone (inner race) large rib. When tightening the adjusting nut or using a dial indicator to measure end play, always rotate or oscillate the rollers to be sure they are properly seated.

How do I install a wheel bearing on the spindle?

Slide the hub and rotor assembly onto the spindle, pressing it gently but firmly to get the inner bearing to seat on the spindle. Slide the outer bearing over the end of the spindle and into its race, then slide the spacer over the end of the spindle. Thread the castellated nut onto the end of the spindle. Be careful not to cross-thread it.

How do you remove the outer bearing from a wheel hub?

Remove Outer Bearing: 1 Pull out the outer bearing and spindle washer. 2 The outer bearing is closest to the outside of the hub. 3 Set the bearing aside.

Can you replace front wheel bearings with front rotors?

On many vintage cars, replacing front wheel bearings is synergistic with replacing the front rotors. This is because the front rotors are often behind the front hubs, which means that to change the rotors you have to pull the hubs off the front spindles, at which point the bearings are practically in your hand.

How to install inner wheel bearing seals?

Use a glob of grease to coat the inner bearing race, then set the inner bearing down inside it. Take the inner wheel-bearing seal and install it as you did the bearing races, tapping it into place and taking care not to cock it, but only get it flush with the inner surface of the hub. Don’t pound it in any farther than that.