need help/info on fr wheel bearings /88 xr7

March 22, 2009, 03:48:08 PM

i need help and info on replacing the front bearings for both front wheels.im not familar yet with this area of the car, money is tight, and i want to see my options.ive seen the bearings are about 11-12 bucks a piece at the auto parts.but how hard are they to replace?ive searched on here for old threads,noticed people have done them but didn't find anything on how to do it.

so i don't know if to shop it, or do it myself.but it needs to be done very soon, as i drive alot to work.please help.

need help/info on fr wheel bearings /88 xr7

Reply #1 – March 22, 2009, 10:53:05 PM

i think its pretty easy to do, but without the right tools, its a PITA!!! Alll you need to do is take the wheel off, remove the center cap, (bearing protector thing). Under the cap there will be a nut with a colder pin in it.
Remove the colder pin,
Unscrew nut,
Remove washer,
tilt rotor slightly downwards so the bearing pushes out some,
Remove outer bearing
remove rotor,
On the back of the rotor there will be a dust sheild, you can remove it by prying it with a screwdriver., to remove the inner bearing.
Now heres the PITA part, Unless you have new rotors with the new bearing cups already in them, you have to remove the old cups, there probobly is a tool for it but at the time i could only think of using a flathead screwdriver, and a hammer.
You have to lay the rotor down flat and place the screwdriver on the edge of the cup on the inside of the rotor,
Then you beat out the bearing cup by working your way around the inside of the rotor.. (caution, if you try to pound on one side,.... youll never get the cup out. its gotta come out straight.)
once one cup is out, you can do the other.
Once theyre out you can put in the new cups, use the removal method for installation, or the right size piece of pipe would do wonders, but be VERY careful not to scratch the face of the new cup, once you think its all the way in, put youre fingernail against the insde edge of the cup inside the rotor, (where you beat the old one, to remove it), and make SURE that there is no more room for the cup to move. Repeat for other side.
Pack your bearings, install inner bearing to rotor.
install dust sheild to rotor,
cover spindle in grease like the bearings, slide rotor onto spindle,
slip in outer bearings,
slide on washer, screw on nut, (when tightening the nut on the spindle, its only supposed to finger tight, but i like to snug it up a bit with plyers, lossen it a bit and retighten with fingers,
put colder pin back in,
put bearing cover back on,
Put the wheel back on,
And you should be good!!! Anybody else can chime in , with any more tips.!!!!!!!!!!!