Note: Every vehicle is different. The instructions below are intended as a general set of guidelines and thus will not perfectly fit every vehicle. If you run into problems while attempting to change your wheel bearing or have doubts after you finish, it’s very wise to enlist the help of a professional mechanic. Doing so can save time, prevent future headaches, and save money in the long run.
To prevent dangerous slippage, make sure that the vehicle is securely seated on the jack and that the jack is flush with the ground before attempting to lift the wheel. It’s also important to make sure the jack touches the vehicle on a sturdy, metal piece of the undercarriage, rather than on fragile plastic molding, as the weight of the vehicle can damage the latter. Most vehicles have jack points where the frame has extra support to lift the vehicle. It’s best to check the owners manual to learn the best place to position your jack. It is also extremely wise to use a safety jack stand for added support in the event the floor or scissor jack fails.
Some like to keep track of the lugnuts by removing the hubcap, turning it over, and using it as a sort of “plate” to contain them.
When removing the caliper, be careful not to let it dangle freely, as this can damage the brake hose. Instead, hook it on a secure part of the undercarriage or use a short length of string to tie it in place. A bungee cord or a bent wire hanger are two additional ways to secure the caliper. [6] X Research source
Be sure to keep these small but important parts somewhere that they won’t be lost!
If the rotor gets stuck, you can use a rubber mallet to hit it loose. This can, however, damage the rotor, so it’s best to use a mallet only if you are not planning on reusing the same rotor.
Note that if you’ve purchased a new hub assembly, at this point, you can install the new hub and put the wheel back together and you’ll be finished. To install a new set of bearings inside the hub, read on.
There’s usually lots of grease and grime here, so have plenty of rags handy.
Use lots of grease for your bearings. You can apply the grease by hand or with a special “bearing packer” tool. [9] X Research source Rub plenty of extra grease around the outsides of your bearings and any sealing rings.
When you’re all done, carefully lower the car back down to the ground with your jack. Congratulations - you’ve just changed your wheel bearings.
