Wow..30 minute front wheel bearing change..Zing.

[vectorsc]

I had a front drivers side wheel bearing toast on me. After taking 4 hours and experiencing a giant pain in the arse for the passenger's side last year, I wasn't too happy about this one.

However, I figured out a way to do it really easily.

Take the brakes and such off, leaving just the hub. Loosen the nut that holds on the bearing after taking off the cover and bending the tab out on the nut. It takes a giant socket that I happened to have from last time.

Don't take the big nut off, though. Spray it all down with WD40 and let it sit for an hour. Put the wheel back on now with the lug nuts somewhat loose.

Then take the wheel and use it like a giant slide hammer. Pops that sucker right off wit da quickness. Put the new on, and put it back and you are done.

Lord help you if the inner bearing race stays on the stub axle.

[e30sd]

fronts are cake.

the rears? plan for longer than 30 mins.

[vectorsc]

I've done the rears before. Reminded me of what pissing in my own mouth would be like.

[nando]

it took the shop that did my rear wheel bearings about 12 hours. most of that was spent trying to get the hub nut off the passenger side.. it was completely seized. I think he did the drivers side in an hour. it cost money but I'm glad I didn't have to go through that! :D

[euroshark]

I've done the rears before. Reminded me of what pissing in my own mouth would be like.

Word. Doing it on a big body car (5,6,7) is like that, but with attaching jumper cables to your nipples.

[Jand3rson]

it took the shop that did my rear wheel bearings about 12 hours. most of that was spent trying to get the hub nut off the passenger side.. it was completely seized. I think he did the drivers side in an hour. it cost money but I'm glad I didn't have to go through that! :D

I'm fully planning on taking my car in to have that job done, that's one of the few that I'm not doing on my own.

[KenC]

Lord help you if the inner bearing race stays on the stub axle.

Well it's a good thing that 90% of them do.

[redhatpat]

fronts are cake.

the rears? plan for much longer than 30 mins.

You left out a word there. ;) Ask me how I know.

[StereoInstaller1]

Spray it all down with WD40 and let it sit for an hour.

IMHO, WD40 is the lamest penetrant this side of water.

Next time, try PB Blaster, Howes, or Wurth. All 3 kick ass, but PB Blaster is the best, imo.

Would have been a 12 minute job then!

Luke

[JasonC]

it took the shop that did my rear wheel bearings about 12 hours. most of that was spent trying to get the hub nut off the passenger side.. it was completely seized. I think he did the drivers side in an hour. it cost money but I'm glad I didn't have to go through that! :D

I had to take the trailing arm off to get my rear wheel bearing out. Talk about a fun job.

[T.Dot_E30]

I did a rear on my lunch hour one day at work.

But that was only after spending like 4 hours on the other side a week before.
Now that I've done it before, its cake, but took me too long the first time.
Gotta love a snap-on air hammer. :D

[Mike325]

LOL, I was going to try and do this myself with the arms off the car. I will skip that idea and get raped with the charges of having someone else do it. Dang.

[BahnE30]

Well it's a good thing that 90% of them do.

pickle fork pops those bastards off in a second,

[Massive Lee]

Guys. The easy way to remove a wheel bearing is with a 3-leg puller. Don't forget that the big nut is torqued at around 250ft.lbs and that it takes an impact gun or/and a 4 foot lever to remover it. If the race stays on the spindle, simply heatt it with a torch to make it expand, or use a ViceGrip to twist it a bit. As soon as it will move, you know it is almost done. Do not forget to retorque the nut to 250ft.lbs.

[M42]

My front passenger side is giving me the howl of death lately so I'll be changing my front bearings soon . I bought a 3 leg puller for the job.Going to get the bearing kit from bav auto for 90 bucks a piece .front driver side isn't making any noise but it can 't be far behind so both will be replaced.
186,000 miles , I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and hope I don't hurt myself.