How to Remove Car Wheel Bearings

Wheel bearings allow your wheels to rotate without friction and are an important tool in supporting your car's weight. That's why it's important to remove, clean, repack and replace your wheel bearings when they start to become worn.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Jack up your car and remove the wheels from your car body. Also remove the brake caliper, the piece that holds the brake pads, and place it out of the way.

2. Remove the dust caps, which cover your wheel bearings, and the cotter pin, the two-pronged pin that keeps the nut in place, from the middle of the spindle.

3. Take out the nut and its washer to get to the wheel bearings.

4. Remove the outer wheel bearings by popping out the disc-shaped piece called the rotor. This should take little effort. The bearing should just pop out into your hand.

5. Pull the disc kit, which includes the rotor, off the spindle and remove the seal from the back of it with a seal remover or a flathead screwdriver.

6. Take out the inner wheel bearings from the disc kit. They should pop out easily.

Tips & Warnings

• When you've removed the wheel bearings, clean them with a rag and some solvent to remove all the old grease. Also, use a brush, rag and solvent to clean inside the hub where the wheel bearings are housed.
• It is especially important to remove and clean the wheel bearings from older vehicles, because the grease can get old and cause damaging friction to your vehicle.
• When you remove the brake caliper make sure you don't leave it hanging near the brake hose.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Need Cash For An Emergency? Auto Repair, Medical or Home Emergency—CashNetUSA.com is here to help you take control.