Auto Repair: Replace a Wheel Bearing for a Honda
When you are driving at a casual speed in your Honda Civic or Honda Accord, you may hear an annoying whining or grinding noise that catches you off guard. You will need to be careful and watch out for this noise in your car. This is because your Honda wheel bearing on each side of the car’s rear may need to be replaced. However, do not worry because it is simple enough to replace yourself. Additionally, you can save about $100 in labor fees by giving it try on your own.
Directions
1
Lubricate the Bolts
You can save yourself some time and effort by lubricating all of the bolts before loosening or removing them. You will want to put on some lubricating oil on each one and let it sit for a few minutes. This will allow the oil to seep deeper into the bolts and make it easier for you to loosen or remove them.
2
Raise the Rear of the Car
Firstly, you will want to loosen your lug nuts by using a torque wrench. Be gently as one rotation should do the trick. Then, you need to use a jack lift to raise the rear end of the car. Additionally, you will need to support the car using proper jack stands. Moreover, you need to be sure that the transmission is on reverse if you own a manually operated vehicle or on park if you have an automatic system in your car.
3
Remove the Tires
Next, you will want to loosen all of your lug nuts, and you will want to do this completely until the lug nuts can be removed. Then, you will want to careful remove the rear tires from the car. However, if you are not familiar with how to remove the tires from your car, you should consider using the owners’ manual to help guide you through the process.
4
Take Off the Spindle Nut Cap
Are you able to locate the shiny protruding bump in the middle of the rotor? This would be the spindle nut cap. You will want to remove it using a flat head screwdriver. Then, with a breaker bar and a 1.25-inch socket, you will need to loosen and remove the spindle nut cap from the rotor.
5
Remove the Mounting Bolts
With a 0.3-inch or 0.5-inch socket, you will need to remove the brake hose-mounting bolt. You will see the E-brake as well, and you will need to release it from its original position. Next, you will need to remove the two caliper mounting bracket bolts. Finally, you should remove the bracket assembly and set aside. You will need to put it back, so make sure that you keep it in a safe place.
6
Remove the Screws
The next step is to remove the 0.2-inch disc brake. You will need to be careful with this step because you will need to use a power drill. Next, use your power drill to remove the screws on the disc brake. However, you can use an impact driver to complete this step as well, especially if you are uncomfortable or inexperienced with using a power tool.
7
Push Off the Break Disc
Screw a couple of bolts that are 0.3 by 0.4 inches in size. After about two full turns, the bolts should be placed into the unoccupied holes that are on either side of the rotor. Thereafter, you should be able to push the disc brake off the hub. If your hub becomes loose while working, you can pull it off completely for ease and convenience.
8
Separate the Hub and Disc
Separate the disc from the hub manually. You will want to complete this step carefully because the hub and the disc brake will need to be returned to their former places near the rotor. Thus, make sure that you store these parts in a safe place.
9
Remove the Bearing and Replace it
Now, you can safely remove the hub bearing from the knuckle. The most important step in this process is next. You will need to replace the old bearing with the new ones that you have purchased from your local automotive shop. You can discard your old bearing, or you can bring them to a recycling center. In addition, you can bring the bearing to an auto repair shop, as the store can find a way to use the bearing or dispose of them for you.
10
Put Back the Remaining Parts
Using a rubber mallet, you will want to begin re-installing your brake disc. You can do this by placing the hubcap on the rotor and putting the screws back to hold it in place. Next, you will want to re-install the rest of the parts by reversing the steps that precede replacing the bearings. You will want to make sure that your lug nuts and tires have been put back on the vehicle properly. Re-installation is simple enough to complete because it is all of the steps that you have just done, except the process is reversed. Thus, once you have lowered your car, you will be ready to go.
Once you hear an uncommon or unlikely noise coming from the wheels of your Honda, it is likely that your bearings are making that noise because they are damaged or worn out. Replacing your rear Honda wheel bearing on each side is simple. The best part is that it will not cost you more than your new replacement parts. Thus, you can use the steps mentioned in this article to help guide you through the process of replacing your wheel bearings in your vehicle.