Wheel Hub: Service and Repair

1. Raise and support front of vehicle.
2. Remove front wheels.
3. Using a suitable hammer and chisel, remove driveshaft nut tab.
4. Apply the brakes and loosen driveshaft nut.

Fig. 2 Separating tie rod from steering knuckle:

5. Using tool No. 490118850C or equivalent, separate tie rod end from knuckle, Fig. 2. Temporarily leave nut in position. If tie rod end does not separate from knuckle, use a soft faced mallet and lightly tap knuckle and ball joint.
6. Remove clip and disconnect brake line from shock absorber.
7. Remove brake assembly from knuckle and secure with a piece of wire.
8. Remove nuts and bolts from ball joint and knuckle nuts and bolts from shock absorber. Hold knuckle assembly by hand to prevent it from falling.
9. Remove knuckle and ball joint assembly from driveshaft. During removal of ball joint and knuckle assembly, be careful not to scratch the oil seal.
10. Separate ball joint from knuckle assembly.

Fig. 3 Removing wheel hub:

11. Using tool No. 49B001726 or equivalent, Fig. 3, remove wheel hub.
12. Using an arbor press and tool No. B49F401368 or equivalent, remove outer bearing inner race. During removal of inner race, hold wheel hub to prevent it from falling.
13. Using a suitable hammer and drift, remove outer bearing outer race. Remove bearing races only if bearing is to be replaced.
14. Reverse procedure to install, noting the following:
a. Clean components thoroughly.
b. Check components for wear and damage. Use fine sandpaper to remove minor rust spots. Replace bearing races as one set.
15. Check bearing preload as follows:
a. Install bearing, spacer and tool No. 49B001727 or equivalent onto knuckle, using spacer removed previously.

Fig. 4 Measuring bearing preload:

b. Measure bearing preload when the spacer selector is torqued to 145 ft.lbs. (20 mkg). Using a spring scale measure preload. Preload should be 1.7-6.9 inch lbs. (2-8 mkg) measure when torque force is started, and 0.5-1.9 lbs., measured at caliper mounting hole of knuckle, Fig. 4.
c. When tightening, increase the torque by 36.2 ft.lbs. (5 mkg) at a time. Ensure knuckle can be turned by hand each time torque is applied.

Fig. 5 Available spacer thicknesses chart:

d. Refer to Fig. 5 and select proper spacer to keep the preload to specification. Increase spacer thickness when preload is high and decrease it when preload is low. Changing the spacer thickness by 1, changes bearing preload by 1.7-3.5 inch. lbs. (2-4 cm-kg). The spacer mark is stamped on the outer diameter of the spacer.
16. Torque the following to specified limits:
a. Knuckle and shock absorber nuts to 58-86 ft.lbs. (8.0-11.9 mkg).
b. Knuckle and lower arm ball joint nuts to 32.5-39.8 ft.lbs. (4.4-5.5 mkg).
c. Lower arm and lower arm ball joint nuts to 69-86 ft.lbs. (9.5-11.9 mkg).
d. Knuckle and brake assembly nuts to 41-48 ft.lbs. (5.6-6.6 mkg).
e. Drive shaft locknut to 116-174 ft.lbs. (16-24 mkg).
f. Knuckle and tie rod end nuts to 21-32.5 ft.lbs. (3-4.5 mkg).
g. Wheel set nut to 65-80 ft.lbs. (9-11 mkg).