Front wheel bearings - testing and renewal

Suspension and steering / Front wheel bearings - testing and renewal

Testing
1 Jack up the front of the car and support on axle stands (see “Jacking and vehicle support”). With neutral selected, spin the wheel. A rumbling noise will be evident if the bearings are worn and excessive play will be apparent when the wheel is rocked, however check that the lower balljoint is not responsible for the play.

Renewal
2 To renew the wheel bearings first remove the suspension strut as described in Section 2.

3 Support the outside of the strut, then using a suitable metal tube, drive the hub from the wheel bearing. The outer bearing race will be forced from the bearing during this procedure and therefore it is not possible to re-use the bearing.

4 Mount the hub in a vice and use a suitable puller to remove the race (see illustration).

5.4 Using a puller to remove the outer wheel bearing race from the hub

5 Extract the circlips then support the strut again and use a suitable metal tube to drive out the wheel bearing.

6 Clean the inside of the bearing housing in the strut.

7 Fit the outer circlip to the strut.

8 Support the strut then smear a little grease on the bearing contact surfaces and drive in the bearing using a metal tube on the outer race only. Fit the inner circlip.

9 Place the hub upright on the bench and smear a little grease on the bearing contact area.

10 Locate the strut horizontally on the hub, then using a metal tube on the bearing inner race drive the bearing fully onto the hub.

11 Refit the suspension strut as described in Section 2.