Front & Rear Wheel Bearing Replacement - ZX3

[gage]

Ok so I've been doing a lot of reading and here is what I think I know as well as some questions that I still have.

Car Info:
2003 ZX3 2.3l non ABS, 90k on the odo.

Front:
My wheel bearing seem bad (slight groan, slight wiggle when on jack) My plan is to buy new hubs with bearings installed (I found some TimKens for 60 each)

Since I will be replacing the hubs there is no need to remove the knuckle?

I plan to get two new locking nuts as well and will inspect the spindle for gouges etc.

What else should I replace when I have it apart? seals etc?

I should have all the tools and from my understanding will not need a press.

What is the torque spec on the hub locking nut and should I appy any threadlocker?

Rear:
I am in need of new rear brakes and shoes anyways so will buy drums with new bearings. I think this is a pretty basic swap. Am I wrong?


THANKS!!!!!!!!!

Gage

[mattm2001]

Ok, the torque spec is 233 lbs, and i wouldnt apply any locking compounds, but i guess you can if it will give you piece of mind. I suggest while you have it apart you check the struts, control arm bushings, Swaybar bushings, brake hoses. e.t.c. And on the rear i couldnt tell you but it sounds easy.

Hoped this helps..

Matt

[fungusfocus]

You will still have to press the hub into the bearing, and then the knuckle. I just did this job on a '00 a couple of weeks ago. The car had 150K miles on it and the RS bearing was HOWLING. The LS was still good! The bearing and hub cost me $94. and the labor to press it, $35. Now, the job is very easy EXCEPT the fact that FORD in their brilliance uses a TORX headed fastener as the balljoint pinch bolt. Well this bolt rusted in it's hole and caused me all kinds of grief. It stripped, trying to move it. I had to work it out with A VICE-GRIP!!! I redrilled the back part of the hole, and replaced the pinch bolt with a hex head, grade 8, 7/16-14 X 2 1/2" long bolt with nylock nut. Worked perfect!
The car sounds beautiful now, silent, tracks like a sports car. I installed a set of KYB GR 2 struts/shocks and did a 4 wheel alignment as well.

OH, and BTW, I used a wheel puller to pull the axle out of the hub, after tons of wet, salty, driving, they tend to rust inside the hub. You put the jaws of the puller on the hub flange, and the center pointed thread section of the puller on the center drill mark on the driveshaft, as you tighten the puller, it will push the driveshaft out of the hub.

John

[gage]

That is good stuff!

Any other tips?

[TXFO]

the hub presses into the bearing and the bearing presses into the knuckle.

Press bearing into knuckle, press hub into bearing, install snap ring.

[gage]

It all makes more sense now. I also got a haynes which helped me with conceptualizing some more.

Any one know what size the Torx bit is? I think i read T-45 or T-50

[TXFO]

T-50