Remove and Install Front Wheel Bearings

Front

Removal

• Undo the wheel bolts
• Jack up the car on the 'A' jacking point to raise the side of the car off the floor.
• For added security place some support next to the jack
• Remove front wheel

The hub and bearing pack are now visible and accessible. You will notice that there are pry slots on the outer edges of the bearing pack where it mounts to the upright.

• Disconnect speed sensor plug if required
• Turn steering completely to one side
• Depending on the type of bolt used, use a 19MM socket, 10MM allen head (or possibly E18 star socket, T55 torx head) and a breaker bar to undo the three bolts than hold the bearing pack to the upright
• Turn steering wheel straight again
• Use a chisel and lump hammer on the pry slots to separate the bearing from the upright (rust and dirt will make it 'stick')
• If you will not re-use the old bearing you can also hit the flange from the back with a lump hammer (this damages the bearing, so do not use this if re-using the bearing!)
• After several hits on the pry slots the bearing pack will fall out of the upright

The old bearing pack is now removed from the upright and the new one can be installed.

Installation

• Using some coarse sandpaper on a fabric backing (eg. grit 60-80) work on the opening of the upright where the bearing pack sits to remove all of the rust and dirt buildup
• Clean out the bolt holes
• Clean and remove grease from surfaces properly so no grit and dirt is present anymore
• Apply some anti-seize (eg. ceramic grease) along the edge of the hole so the new bearing pack will seat properly and can be removed easier later.
• Offer up the new bearing pack to the upright
• Depending on tolerances it may slide into place immediately or need pulling in by using the bolts (this seems to vary)
• If the original bolts are OK, insert these from the back of the upright and tighten them finger-tight
• Turn steering wheel to one side again
• Using a torque wrench do up the bolts in a circular pattern until they are all tightened to 90Nm
• Check that the bearing pack sits flat and true on the upright