How to Change a Front Wheel Bearing on a 2000 Nissan Maxima

The wheel bearing supports the weight of the Nissan Maxima while allowing the transmission to supply torque to the wheels to move the car. When the wheel bearing begins to fail, a noise will be heard from the front end that increases and decreases in pitch with the increase and decrease of vehicle speed. Eventually, if ignored, the wheel may become loose at the hub assembly. Replacement of the bearing requires a hydraulic press to remove the old bearing and install the new bearing in the hub assembly.

Things You'll Need

• Wheel chocks
• Floor jack
• Jack stand
• Socket set
• Wrench set
• Pry bar
• Torque wrench

Instructions

1. Lift the front wheel that has the bad bearing in it off the ground using a floor jack, and place a jack stand under the front sub-frame. Remove the wheel using a lug wrench.

2. Remove the cotter pin using a wire cutter and axle nut using a breaker bar and 35 mm socket. Remove the two 14 mm caliper bolts using a wrench, and lift the caliper off the rotor. Slide the brake rotor off the hub assembly.

3. Remove the two strut mounting bolts that attach the strut to the steering knuckle using a 19 mm socket and ratchet and a 21 mm wrench. Remove the 17 mm lower ball joint lock nut and the 17 mm tie rod end nut, using a wire cutter to remove the cotter pins and a wrench to unscrew the nuts. Hit the steering knuckle near the steering arm and ball joint mount, on the steering knuckle, to loosen the joints.

4. Slide the steering knuckle off the axle, and have the new bearing pressed into the hub assembly at your choice auto parts store or repair shop. The hub has to be pressed out of the bearing, the bearing has to be pressed out of the steering knuckle and the new bearing has to pressed into the steering knuckle. The machine that is used to do this is a 10-ton hydraulic press.

5. Reinstall the steering knuckle by slipping the ball joint into the knuckle and sliding the axle into the new hub. Attach the strut to the steering knuckle, and tighten the bolts tightly. Reinstall the 17 mm nuts on the ball joint and tie rod end, and tighten them securely. Install new cotter pins into the ball joint and tie rod. Install the axle nut. Torque the axle nut to 165 foot-lb. using a torque wrench. Side the rotor onto the hub, and slip the caliper into place over the rotor. Tighten the caliper bolts securely.

6. Reinstall the wheel and torque the lug nuts to 80 foot-lb. using a torque wrench. Raise the car off the jack stand, and remove the stand before lowering the car to the ground. Test drive the car to make sure the problem is corrected.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear safety glasses and work gloves to prevent serious injuries.