Rear Wheel Bearing Service Bulletin

[Zeroboostbuick]

Finally got to attempt doing putting in the new hub assemblies.

Getting to the point of removing the old hub is fairly easy. Removed the brake caliper and pad bracket in one piece, removed the rotor, unbolted the upper control arm (jack suspension up to make it easier and mitigate the control arm from springing up at your face), removed the ABS sensor (one screw) and unclipped the speed sensor plug.

That's where the trouble began...

The hub assembly was rusted to the knuckle so bad, after about 30 minutes of hammering on it, I had to take it to a shop where they put it on a hoist and took a torch to it to finally get it out. Took the mechanic about 30 minutes of heating and hammering to get the left rear to pop off. The right rear took about 10 minutes to come off.

Installation was super easy. Went to town on the anti-seize in the event they need to be done again.

TIP: If you suspect yours will be this difficult to remove, order new brake dust shields. They will get beat up pretty bad in the process of hammering / heating. Just makes it easier if you know you can destroy them... we had to hammer around them to preserve.

I put the hub shields on too, which is a no brainer if your car didn't come with them like mine.

It's normal for the hub to corrode to the knuckle bore.
Gotta use a impact splitter. Break the hub in half so the part there corroted stays in the bore, and the punch it out from behind or any way possible.

Pneumatic impact hammer is not necessary but fastest. A hammer and splitter work too.

 

[Eggsbenny86]

It's normal for the hub to corrode to the knuckle bore.
Gotta use a impact splitter. Break the hub in half so the part there corroted stays in the bore, and the punch it out from behind or any way possible.

Pneumatic impact hammer is not necessary but fastest. A hammer and splitter work too.

Yeah. He used a chisel and a hammer to get it moving from the front a bit. Then he went from under the car with a long pipe touching the back of the bearing and hammered the piss out of it. Should have taken video of that, pretty entertaining.

 

[nizerims]

Went to town on the anti-seize.

Any excess Anti-Seize that is pressed out after the final torque of the 3 hub bolts should be removed with a brush and some rags then the whole area cleaned with Brākleen.

Anti-Seize WILL contaminate your rotor and pads fast!


Good job @Eggsbenny86. Imagine living in an area with no humidity, no salt or snow.... I bet they can just wiggle the hub out with one hand, no glove.