How to Reinstall Your Car's Rotor and Outboard Bearing

Knowing how to properly repack, grease and adjust wheel bearings can extend the life of your vehicle's braking system and save you time and money. Reinstalling the rotor and outboard bearing correctly is an important part of this process.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Remove the wheel, calipers and rotor to gain access to the wheel bearings and spindle. This is where you need to be working in order to repack, grease and adjust the wheel bearings.

2. Complete the inspection and maintenance needed on the wheel bearings, braking system and other wheel components on the car. You will now be moving to the reinstallation phase of this project.

3. Notice the stud sticking out from the spindle where the rotor is to be seated. You want to avoid jamming the rotor seal onto this stud, which would damage the seal and perhaps require its replacement.

4. Slide the rotor back onto the spindle and hold it with one hand or finger while placing the outboard wheel bearing over the stud and sliding it all the way back. Follow that with the washer and then start the retaining nut. Tighten the retaining nut down to finger tight.

5. Use a wrench or socket wrench with appropriate socket to tighten the nut to vehicle manual specifications. Continue with the reinstallation process by adjusting the wheel bearing nut, cleaning the entire area and reinstalling the other components you removed.