There are two reasons that you should do you rear wheel bearing installation as a DIY project. The first is very obvious; you do not have to shell out for a mechanic to do it for you. When you consider the cost of what a mechanic charge just to open the hood, and you weigh it against the amount of time it will take you to get that rear wheel bearing installed on your own it is clear that doing it yourself is well worth the effort. The second reason is not as obvious but just as important. There is something very satisfying about fixing your vehicle on your own.
It is an easy project that can save you quite the chunk of change. Wheel bearings are very important to the function of your vehicle without functional bearings your wheels can lock up and cause an accident.
Keep in mind that every make of vehicle is a bit different but the general idea is the same. You will need a seal puller, a ratchet set, a rubber mallet, bearing grease and the replacement wheel bearing. You may also want to keep a small container on hand to keep small parts in.
1. Loosen the lug nuts
2. Jack up the vehicle
3. Remove the tire/s
4. Remove the brake assembly (secure it out of the way and to protect the brake line)
5. Remove the dust cap (set the cotter pin someplace safe)
6. Remove the front bearing.
7. Remove the rotor and place it face down on the ground.
8. Use the seal puller to remove the seal in the back of the rotor.
9. Discard the old bearing.
10. Pack the rear of the rotor with grease and work the bearing in.
11. Replace the rotor on the spindle once you have the bearing and the grease tightly packed.
12. Repeat the procedure for the front bearing
13. Replace the caliber, pads, dust cover and finally the tire.
14. You’re done!
The entire project will take about 2 hours from start to finish using hand tools and you will have saved anywhere from $200-$500 depending on what your mechanic normally charges. It is a project that even a novice can do on their own.
*Be sure that you use all safety precautions in the process like blocking the tires, engaging the emergency break and ensuring that you are using the right parts.