How to replace a rear wheel bearing

Sometimes, if the rusting is not too bad, some brute force is all it takes to loosen up the assembly. Make sure to use penetrating oil to lubricate the wheel hub before using any brute force.

When you have issues removing your wheel bearing and hub assembly, 365HubsPro wants to help! We’ve put together a how-to guide on the different methods of getting these parts unstuck, but first—we’ll go over why they get stuck and the functions of these parts.

How to remove wheel bearing without press

TL;DR car is making a vibration and kind of a muted helicopter noise, worse at higher speeds. Think it's a wheel bearing. What else should I ask the mechanic to look at?

Take a pipe wrench and attach it to the lip of the wheel hub. Tighten the wrench in place and use a hammer on the handle of the pipe wrench to attempt getting the wheel hub loose enough to change out.

Rear wheel bearing replacement cost

another edit: does this look like enough of a bend to cause a problem? obviously I replaced the tire (and the opposite tire), but you can see a bending of the rim (am i calling it the right name?) a little bit above the hole in the image

Using a hammer, tap the back of the wheel hub assembly to loosen it and detach it. If it does not work the first time, respray the knuckle with the penetrative oil and let it sit for 20 minutes before trying with the hammer again.

If this fails, soak the hub assembly with penetrative oil for at least 20 minutes and try again. You can also try using the sledge hammer at this stage to tap the hub assembly to loosen it.

Salt used to melt ice on the roads as well as weather conditions can cause rust to build up much quicker, making it vital to check on the status of your bearings regularly and replace them when necessary. However, there are many different ways to resolve this issue. We’ll cover those in a moment—but first, let’s take a closer look at the parts you’ll need to know and where to find them.

When rust builds up on or around these components, the wheel bearings are unable to rotate smoothly. This can cause handling and braking issues, which can pose a danger to drivers, their passengers, and other motorists. In severe cases, rust can also make it difficult to separate the wheel hub assembly from the knuckle—so it’s important to replace these components before it ever gets to that stage.

Front wheel bearing replacement cost

Hi guys. I noticed my vehicle has lately been making kind of a vibrating noise, and even feels a little like driving on a flat when I get up to around 70 (shakes a little bit). I did a little bit of research and based on some of the youtube videos I watched (or listened to, rather) I think it may be a bad wheel bearing. Before I take it to a shop (I'm all for ladies like me doing car maintenance themselves when they can! I replaced my battery two months ago! But I don't want to F up my car by driving 400 miles a week on a poorly replaced wheel part), what else should I ask them to check on? I just got the tires aired and balanced this morning and the noise/vibration is still present. Rear tires are about two months old, front ones are still driveable but will probably need to be replaced in another month or so. The roads here are atrocious, so a damaged wheel bearing wouldn't surprise me, but I want to get to the bottom of this on one bill if I can.

The most common cause for the wheel bearing in most cars or trucks to freeze up is rust. People who live in climates with cold and snowy winters are the most likely to run into this problem.

Replace wheel bearing or entirehub

Now that we know more about the parts we are looking to replace, let’s go over the different ways of loosening a stuck wheel bearing in order from least to most invasive (depending on how rusted together the parts are).

Wheel bearing replacement near me

Keeping the two bolts from the previous steps tightened in place, thread another bolt into the back of the hub assembly and tighten it. If this still does not work, try alternating between tightening the bolts on the front of the wheel hub and the back.

Keeping the bolts in from steps 3 to 5, find the ears on the hub assembly then use an air chisel to create pressure on these points. If there is no give, use a sledge hammer again to tap the hub assembly to loosen it.

Replace rear wheel bearing bike

Using a cut-off wheel, cut off one of the lug nuts and hammer the rest of it out. Thread a bolt through the hub to put pressure against the knuckle and place a nut between the bolt and the knuckle to protect it from any damage.

If removing one lug nut fails, repeat step 3 and remove a second lug nut. Alternate tightening the two bolts to create extra pressure against the knuckle.

Severe rust buildup can make replacing your wheel bearing and hub assembly considerably more difficult—and can also make it harder to operate your vehicle responsibly. For best results, use the information above to check and switch out these vital parts before too much rust can form.

If a hammer doesn’t do the trick, a slide hammer just might. Using a slide hammer can be painful on the hands, but it can get the job done without having to take the knuckle off the vehicle. Secure the slide hammer with tight lug nuts and yank the hammer until the wheel hub loosens.

How to change wheelbearingson a trailer

If the wheel hub is still stuck, you can heat up the part where the hub meets the knuckle and then repeat steps 3 to 5 tightening all the bolts once again. Using the sledge hammer again, tap the hub assembly as the heat may break up the rust buildup.

Next, use a wrench to hold the nut on the bolt in place and use an air hammer on the bolt. This should create enough force to loosen the hub assembly. If not, try using a sledge hammer to tap the wheel hub and loosen it.

The wheel hub assembly sits on the outer side of the rotor. In addition to helping tires stay attached to a car, it is responsible for ensuring proper steering. The wheel bearings allow the wheels on a vehicle to turn with minimal friction. This allows the vehicle’s brakes, suspension, and steering to function without putting undue strain on the drivetrain and transmission.

If the wheel hub is still stuck after completing the steps above, a last resort is to remove the knuckle completely off the vehicle. Spray down the knuckle with penetrative oil. Once the knuckle is removed from the vehicle, use a hammer or a press from the backside to push out the wheel bearing.

For a guaranteed fit on new wheel bearings and hub assemblies at a competitive price, use our handy tool to find parts for your vehicle. To learn more about any products we sell, contact us for more information.