Hi everyone I have a friend that needs his wheel bearing to be changed, in the brooklyn,ny area, is there anyone here with the experience to do this in a garage with a regular jack?

 

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You need a press.

You have two options if you do not have a press and dont wanna buy one from Harbor Fright for $300.

A). Buy a used spindle from a J/Y $50-75
B). (What I reccomend) Replace it on your own accord.

Step B In detail:
1. Goto Autozone and buy a TIMKEN bearing (If you're a 4th genner reading this you need to order two seals also, but 5th gens dont need to... bastards), also while you're there... Rent the Ball Joint removal tool (fork lookin thing).

2. Remove the spindle
-Remove the Axle Nut
-Loose the nuts on the wheel
-Jack car up put one stand on the side that needs a bearing.
-Remove the Wheel
-Remove the brake caliper and rotor
-Remove the outer tie rod (watch youtube how-to videos for tricks on taking it out the spindle, it's the same as any other damn import)
-Remove the strut from the spindle (you may have to remove the sway bar bolt if the strut is giving your trouble... 1 14mm nut easy)
-Remove the spindle from the ball joint (this is fun yours is probably a bit rusted so enjoy this last step and if you tear your ball joint boot in the process then well.... prepare to replace your control arm or replace your BJ down the line like I am).

3. Install the new Bearings.
Once the spindle is out, take the spindle w/ the bearing (and seals if you're a 4th gen) to a small piza shop have em press the old out and in with the new, I've done this for $40 each time (once on le red car, once on le white nightmare)

Step B cost more than Step A, but bearings aren't a quick and easy replacement unless you like changing spindles every once and awhile....

I'd only do step A if I could find a spindle w/ a lifetime warranty from a salvage yard... If only I were to be as lucky as to find some of those suckers

 

Uhhh....lol i'm gonna read this a couple times....then try to figure it out, hopefully i can help him out

 

you can just remove the spindle and and take it to a machine shop and have them press out the old bearing and press in a new one, i would use a Timken or SKF bearing , those are solid bearings

 

Thanks, i'll try this also

 

 

you will need to remove the lock ring on both sides of the bearing. You need a neat little tool for this. it's like 3/4 of a circle with pin holes on each end. the tool is like pliers but the ends point down and fit those little pin holes. When you squeeze it it contracts the 3/4 circle lock ring and you can take it out. At that point you can press out the bearing. This is a PITA DIY job for the simple fact of how much needs to be removed. Also get an alignment when you are done.

 

Overkill, nice to do but not neccessary.

Done it 2x on my cars and 1x for a friend's 5th gen, no alignments were needed.

Now if you have a lifetime alignment somewhere go ahead and have it done since technically you're messing with the tie rod.