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Front wheel bearing replacement

6K views 1 reply 2 participants last post by  lx_2nv 
#1 ·
I don't know if this has been posted before but i thought i would share some info. I just replaced both front wheel bearings and due to the amount of rust I found while taking it apart, I chose to bring the spindles to a shop to press out/in the bearings.

Here are some valuable things I learned:
1. The lower ball joints are a bear to get out. I had to heat them and beat them off because I didn't have a $200 New lower ball joint removal tool. Regular pickle forks DID NOT work on my car. Also tore up the ball joint boots while trying to get them off.
2. The CV axles had so much corrosion that I had to beat them out which mushroomed the end of the axles. I ended up replacing one and repairing the end of the other. I also replaced the transmission seal and fluid while the axle was out.
3. The bearings took a shop 3 hours to press out/back in so I am glad they did it for $20/side, that was worth my time/frustration.
4. Upon reassembly, DO NOT tighten the axle nuts while the tires are on the ground. The service manual says that this will damage the new bearings.
5. Also decided to replace rotors and pads while I had everything off, they were corroded also and wearing down.

I learned a lot but I will think long and hard about doing something like this again in the near future. A shop wanted almost $600 for 2 bearings with labor. I spent a total of $300 and replaced both bearings, 1 CV axle and transmission seal, front pads and rotors, replaced transmission fluid, and have 2 new sockets from the job.

Good luck!
 
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