How to Replace the Wheel Bearings on a Saturn L200
by Jody L. CampbellUpdated November 07, 2017Items you will need
Floor jack
Jack stand(s)
Wheel wedge/chock
Hub remover/installer kit
Lug wrench
1/2-inch drive breaker bar
Hub nut socket
1/2-inch drive socket set
1/2-inch drive ratchet
Screwdrivers
Metal coat hanger
1/2-inch drive torque wrench
Replacement bearing(s)
Replacement hub nut
The Saturn L200 uses a sealed wheel bearing assembly. This eliminates having to remove the entire knuckle of the vehicle and using a press machine to extract the older bearings, then have new ones pressed in. The operation still requires unique tools, however. The benefits of doing it yourself include self-satisfaction and saving money on outrageous labor costs charged by local repair stations and dealerships.
Place a wheel wedge behind a rear tire. Open the hood and disconnect the negative battery terminal from the battery.
Remove the hubcap(s) of the wheel(s). Crack the lug nuts loose with the lug wrench.
Ask an assistant to apply pressure to the brake pedal while you break the hub nut loose with the hub nut socket and a breaker bar. Do not remove the nut--just loosen it slightly.
Lift the car with the floor jack and safely secure it on both sides of the axle.
Remove the wheel and the hub nut. You will not use the hub nut again, so throw it away.
Remove the brake caliper mounting bolts and pry the caliper off of the rotor using a screwdriver. Support the caliper to the front end by bending a coat hanger into a makeshift hanger/support for the caliper and hooking it to the coil spring.
Remove the rotor. Use the rotor remover adapters from the hub removal kit, if necessary.
Remove the ABS connector from the hub assembly and remove the ABS jumper connector from the strut bracket.
Locate and remove the three wheel bearing retaining bolts located on the back of the knuckle. Use the breaker bar and a socket to loosen them, then switch the breaker bar to the ratchet for speed.
Install the bearing removal tool to remove the bearing. Be sure to take note of the position of the bearing spacer when extracting it so you can replace the spacer on the new bearing appropriately.
Install the new bearing by reversing the order of steps. Be sure to align the bearing spacer correctly. Tighten the bearing bolts to 90 foot-pounds with the torque wrench. Tighten the caliper mounting bolts to 90 foot-pounds. Tighten the new hub nut to 80 foot-pounds. Tighten the lug nuts to 100 foot-pounds once the L200 is back on the ground.
Writer Bio
Jody L. Campbell spent over 15 years as both a manager and an under-car specialist in the automotive repair industry. Prior to that, he managed two different restaurants for over 15 years. Campbell began his professional writing career in 2004 with the publication of his first book.
