Wheel Bearing: Service and Repair

Fig. 1 Exploded view of wheel hub & steering knuckle assembly.:

Removal

1. Raise and support vehicle and remove wheel.
2. Disconnect and plug brake line, then remove brake caliper assembly.
3. Remove cotter pin, then loosen hub, Fig. 1, nut while preventing hub from turning.




4. Disconnect side rod ball stud.
5. Disconnect lower ball joint from transverse link.
6. Drain transaxle fluid into suitable container, then disconnect driveshaft from transaxle. Insert suitable rod into transaxle to prevent side gear from falling off. On some models, remove transaxle oil seal, if equipped.
7. Remove attaching bolts, then the wheel hub, steering knuckle and driveshaft as an assembly.
8. Remove hub nut, then separate driveshaft and wheel hub.
9. Remove ball joint from steering knuckle using suitable puller.
10. Separate wheel hub and knuckle using suitable tool.

Disassembly & Inspection

1. Remove wheel hub-to-rotor attaching bolts and separate hub from rotor.
2. Remove outer wheel bearing.
3. Remove inner grease seal and wheel bearing outer race from steering knuckle.
4. Clean wheel bearing with suitable solvent and dry with moisture-free compressed air.
5. Inspect wheel bearing for wear or damage and replace as necessary.
6. Inspect wheel hub and steering knuckle for cracks by magnetic particle or dye penetrant test method. Replace components(s) if any cracks are evident.

Assemble & Install

Pack seal with suitable grease, then to assemble and install steering knuckle on Pulsar, Sentra and 1982-86 Stanza models, proceed as follows:
1. Lubricate wheel bearings with suitable grease, then install bearing outer races to each side of knuckle.
2. Install inside bearing inner race and grease seal, then the outside grease seal and bearing using a suitable drift.
3. Determine proper spacer to be used as follows:
a. If steering knuckle is not being replaced, replace spacer with one having same mark as old one, or reinstall old spacer, if serviceable.

Fig. 4 Hub spacer thickness chart:

b. If knuckle is being replaced, measure distance between outer races of bearings and subtract the following amount from this measurement: Stanza, .0209 inch; Pulsar and Sentra, .0063 inch. This indicates spacer to be used. Refer to chart, Fig. 4, to determine correlation between spacer thickness and mark on spacer.
4. Install spacer, then the wheel hub to disc rotor.
5. Insert driveshaft into knuckle, then clamp driveshaft into a vise and install knuckle with bearings, spacer and hub nut. Torque hub nut to 87-145 ft. lbs. (Stanza, 145-203 ft. lbs.).
6. Ensure that wheel hub spins freely in both directions, then measure bearing preload at wheel hub bolt, using a suitable spring scale. Preload should measure 3.1-10.8 lbs. If not, replace spacer to bring preload within specifications.
7. Install the assembly in reverse order of removal as outlined previously.