How do you change the front wheel bearing? Can I heat the hub? Is the hub aluminum or magnesium?

Hi, replacing the front wheel bearings on any vehicle is difficult if you don,t have the right tools, as the driveshaft and wheel hub (where the bearing is seated) needs to be removed. The hub housing the bearing may have to be heated (depending on corrosion) when the bearing is being pressed out, by using a heavy duty vice , and the new bearing is pressed in using the vice and the old bearing as a guide. I would strongly suggest you refer this repair to someone who has done this before, I personally would not undertake to change front bearings ever again, the first time for me was an experience I wouldn't want to undertake again. All the best.

every fact on topic , hubs here.

it's not the locking hubs its the wheel bearings in its own hub.
http://www.fixkick.com/

dangerous condition that... very much so.

The bearings are part of the wheel hub assembly. All you need to do is take the wheel off, remove the brake caliper and pull off the wheel hub. Some tools are likely to be needed. One would be a puller. Your parts are going to be frozen on once you take off the center nut holding the hub on. You can also get this off with a big hammer and a lot of swearing but it will come off. WD-40 soaking on it does not hurt and you can try heating it up to get it off. You could also be lucky enough to be 1 in 4000 that it just pops off without any fight.

There is a little difference between the front and rear. The days of packing wheel bearing is almost over. The front bearing you have to pull the hub and change to bearing. The rear wheel you have to change out the hub bearing and all. The front is a sealed bearing and not serviceable. Please rate my answer so I am rewarded points for it.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • Front wheel
   • Brake caliper and rotor
   • Locking hub or hub drive flange, if equipped
   • Hub grease cap, if equipped
   • Wheel speed sensor, if equipped
   • Wheel bearing lockwasher
   • Wheel bearing locknut and inner washer
   • Wheel hub and bearing assembly
   • Wheel hub oil seal
   • Wheel bearing oil seal
   • Snapring
3. Press the wheel bearing and race out of the hub. To install:
   
4. Press the wheel bearing and race into the hub so that the race is fully seated in the hub bore.
5. Install or connect the following:
   • Snapring
   • Wheel bearing oil seal
   • Wheel hub oil seal
   • Wheel hub and bearing assembly
   • Wheel bearing locknut and inner washer. Tighten the nut to 157 ft. lbs. (216 Nm).
   • Wheel bearing lockwasher. Tighten the retaining screws to 13 inch lbs. (1.5 Nm).
   • Wheel speed sensor, if equipped
   • Hub grease cap, if equipped
   • Locking hub or hub drive flange, if equipped
   • Brake caliper and rotor
   • Front wheel

--- Go to your local auto parts store or library to get a copy of the repair manual for this model.

need detailed pictures of how to change rear wheel bearings on a chevy equinox

okay i assume the rotor is off,remove the bolts out the back, take a hammer and beat the front of the hub the top then bottom then the sides to free,hit so that hub pull out,you will be hitting the back side the hub where the wheel would sit,if that doesnt work then use a chisel to break free, stick it where the hub meet spindle,ITs just frozen beat it.

SECTION 204-01: Front Suspension 2000 Focus Workshop Manual REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Procedure revision date: 03/18/2003 Wheel Bearing
Special Tool(s) Installer, Wheel Hub Bearing Cup
204-023 (T73T-1217-A) Remover/Installer, Bushing
204-180 (T93P-5493-A) Installer, Drive Pinion Bearing Cup
205-140 (T80T-4000-F) Adapter for 303-224 (Handle)
205-153 (T80T-4000-W) Puller, Bearing
205-D064 (D84L-1123-A) Installer, Wheel Speed Sensor Ring
206-054 (T93P-20202-A) Removal

1. Remove the wheel knuckle. For additional information, refer to Wheel Knuckle in this section.

1. NOTE: When removing the hub from the wheel knuckle the bearing will be destroyed. The bearing inner ring will be on the hub and the bearing outer ring will be in the wheel knuckle.
   Using the special tools, remove the wheel hub from the wheel knuckle.

1. CAUTION: The special tools must be used to prevent damage to the hub. If the hub is damaged a new hub must be installed.
   CAUTION: Do not use heat to remove the bearing inner ring.
   Using the special tools, remove the bearing inner ring from the wheel hub.

1. Remove the circlip from the wheel knuckle.

1. Install the old bearing inner ring.
   1. Install the bearing cage on to the bearing inner ring.
   1. Install the bearing cage and inner ring assembly to the wheel knuckle.

1. Using the special tools, remove the bearing outer ring from the wheel knuckle.

Installation
CAUTION: Avoid any impact on the wheel speed sensor ring.
CAUTION: Make sure the wheel speed sensor ring is clean.
CAUTION: Avoid any contact between the wheel speed sensor ring and a magnetic surface.

1. CAUTION: Make sure the wheel bearing is installed into the wheel knuckle with the wheel speed sensor ring, colored black, at the wheel speed sensor end of the wheel knuckle.
   Using the special tools, install the new wheel bearing to the wheel knuckle.

1. NOTE: Make sure the circlip does not cover the wheel speed sensor.
   Install the circlip to the wheel knuckle.

1. Using the special tools, install the wheel hub to the wheel knuckle.

1. Install the wheel knuckle. For additional information, refer to Wheel Knuckle in this section.

They are not too bad if the bearing/hub assy is not frozen into the aluminum steering knuckle.They are held in with 3 13mm bolts from the back side.Remove the front wheel on the side in question,remove the brake caliper,brake bridge,pads,remove the axle nut 36mm(big socket required here)once you have all this removed remove the 3 13mm bolts tha retain the hub/bearing to the steering knuckle by hammering downward on the hub,don't worry if you tear it up come with new one.If you dont see it coming apart after 10-15 blows with a large hammer it maybe siezed up.Then you will need to hit alot hard or heat the knuckle.But be carefull the knuckle is aluminum.hope this helps

u will need to remove the brake cailper and the the brake rotor, then the hub retaining nut, that is a large metric nut, the bearing and hub must come off, then u will need to take this hub to a machine shop or the dealer and have the new bearing pressed in.
BCA/NATIONAL Part # 510078 {Ball Bearing Bore=1.5354" Outer Diameter=2.9134" Width=1.4173"}
Front Wheel PRICE: $47.99, PART SOURCE: Rockauto.com