I need to know how to replace the hub bearings on my grand am
The front wheel bearings on this car come as a sealed unit inside the wheel hub.
things you will need to replace them
-torque specs for your cars axle nut, hub retaining bolts, brake caliper mounting bracket bolts, and wheel lug nuts.
-a socket set
-a breaker bar
-a axle nut socket
-a c-clamp
-a jack
-two jack stands
To complete the job follow these steps
1) remove the hub cap/wheel center cap
2) remove the axle nut cap (use the tip of a small flat screwdriver to pry up one edge, pull it off)
3) remove the cotter pin from the end of the axle shaft
4) using a breaker bar style wrench (non-ratcheting socket wrench) with a helper pipe slid over the end to increase leverage use an axle nut socket to loosen the axle nut without removing it.(these are torqued pretty tight and can be stubborn, don't be afraid to use a generous amount of penetrating fluid).
5) once the nut is loose, loosen the wheel lug nuts
tip: doing steps 4 and 5 is made easier with the weight of the car on the ground to keep the wheel from spinning while you loosen the nuts.
6) jack up one corner of the car, and support it with a jack stand. lower the jack to rest the weight of the car on the jack stand, then lift the jack back up to contact the cars jacking point, without taking the weight off the jack stand. leave the jack in place as added support.
7) remove the wheel
8) remove the brake caliper from the hub (if you remove the caliper mounting bracket with the caliper still attached as a unit it's only two bolts to remove it together) hang it from the strut spring with some heavy wire or a metal clothes hanger being sure not to pinch or kink the brake line in the process.
9) remove the brake disc/rotor
10) locate the wheel speed sensor (a small electronic box located on the back side of the wheel hub) a small bolt secures it to the hub, remove the bolt and move the sensor to the side out of your way.
11) locate and remove the three hub retaining bolts (reachable from the rear of the hub)
12) remove the axle nut and use a jack stand to support the axle shaft
13) use a "soft blow" hammer (if possible) to tap on the back side at the outer edges of the hub working your way around in a circle so as to drive the hub out of its housing/steering knuckle evenly. As the hub comes out of the housing/steering knuckle the axle will want to slide with it, in turn pulling the axle out of the transmission. try not to let this happen. if necessary tap lightly on the end of the axle shaft to free it from the hub, once the hub comes loose remove it. this is where supporting the axle with a jack stand comes in handy. try not to allow the axle to scratch the hub mating surface.
14)clean the cavity that the hub came out of, remove the axle shaft support jack stand as you slide the new hub into place lining up the axle and the holes where the hub retaining bolts go (if you just shove it in, it can be impossible to turn it to line up the bolt holes) be sure that it is seated tightly against the steering knuckle, and that the axle is all the way into place. put the axle nut on but do not tighten it yet
14) replace the hub retaining bolts and torque to specs
15) replace the wheel speed sensor
16) replace the rotor/brake disc
17) replace the brake caliper and mounting bracket unit, this may require you to spread the brake pad pistons (this is easiest with a c-clamp slowly squeezing the piston open so as to not create too much pressure in the brake line or master cylinder). if a c-clamp is not available a large pair of channel lock pliers can do the job. once its in place, torque the caliper bracket mounting bolt to specs
18) raise the car off the jack stand, tighten the axle nut to snug and replace the wheel, remove the jack stand and lower the car to the ground.
19) torque the axle nut to specs
20) replace the axle shaft cotter pin and axle nut cap
21) torque the wheel lug nuts to specs
this should complete one side so switch your tools and equipment to the other side of the car and repeat the process. i hope this helps
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