Hub and bearing assembly (front) — removal and installlation
Warning: The dust created by the brake system is harmful to your health. Never blow it out with compressed air and don’t inhale any of it. Do not, under any circumstances, use petroleum-based solvents to clean brake parts. Use soap and water to clean the surfaces. Do not use brake cleaner. Brake cleaner will leave a residue on the surface of the components that is just as toxic as the brake dust.
Note: The hub and bearing assembly is sealed for life. If worn or damaged, it must be replaced as a unit.
Removal
1. Loosen the front wheel lug nuts, raise the vehicle and support it securely on jack stands. Remove the wheel.
2. If you’re working on a 4WD model, remove the hub cover, then unscrew the drive axle/hub nut with a socket and large breaker bar see Driveline. Brace a large prybar across two of the wheel studs or insert a large screwdriver into the disc cooling vanes and allow it to rest against the caliper to prevent the hub from turning as the nut is loosened.
3. Remove the brake disc (see Brakes).
4. Remove the ABS wheel speed sensor from the hub (see Brakes).
5. Working from the back side of the steering knuckle, remove the hub retaining bolts (see illustrations). Remove the disc shield.
8.5a The hub and bearing assembly on 1500 models is retained by three bolts — on 2500/3500 models it’s retained by four bolts
8.5b On 4WD models, there’s not much room to get a wrench onto the hub bolt heads, especially when they are backed-out a few turns. As the bolts are unscrewed, push in on the drive axle and pull the hub and bearing out of the knuckle to provide clearance
6. Remove the hub from the steering knuckle. If you’re working on a 4WD model, pull the assembly off the drive axle splines (see illustration).
8.6 When removing the hub assembly on a 4WD model, don’t pull out on the drive axle; the inner CV joint could become separated
Caution: Be careful not to pull outward on the drive axle, as this could separate the inner CV joint components. If the drive axle splines stick in the hub, attach a two-jaw puller to the hub flange and push the stub axle out of the hub.
7. The hub assembly should come right out of the steering knuckle, but if it doesn’t, tap it from side to side to free it. If it is still stuck, try using water sprayed around the mounting area of the hub. Let the water soak in for a few minutes, then try tapping it from side to side to remove it.
Installation
8. Clean the mating surfaces on the steering knuckle, bearing flange and knuckle bore. Make sure the 0-ring came out with the hub assembly, and be sure to install a new 0-ring on the back of the hub before fitting the hub to the steering knuckle.
9. Insert the hub and bearing assembly into the steering knuckle and, on 4WD models, onto the end of the drive axle.
On 4WD models, lubricate the splines of the drive axle with multi-purpose grease before installing the hub. Position the disc shield and install the bolts, tightening them to the proper torque specifications.
10. Install the wheel speed sensor (see Brakes).
11. Install the brake disc, caliper mounting bracket and caliper (see Brakes).
12. On 4WD models, install the drive axle/ hub nut and tighten it to the torque listed in the Chapter Driveline Specifications.
13. Install the wheel, lower the vehicle and tighten the lug nuts to the torque listed in the Tune-up and routine maintenance Specifications.