How to replace rear wheel bearing - S40 DIY

[m0eeb]

Here's a quick summary of how to DIY your rear wheel bearings on a 2001 S40.

Tools needed (recommended list):

3/8 ratchet
3/8 hand impact driver
1/2 impact wrench
24" 1/2 breaker bar
1 foot of stiff wire/cut up coat hanger

Small prybar
Deadblow or other BFH (hammer)
14mm socket for caliper bolts
21mm socket for wheel nuts
30mm socket for hub nut
4mm hex socket for caliper retaining bolt

Hub puller or slide hammer w/ puller but may not need,depending on how tight.

1) Set wheel chocks, jack up car and place on jack stands

2) Using 21mm socket and impact wrench remove rear wheel

3) set wheel underneath car for safety and then using prybar and hammer for tapping, gently pry off dust cap (if you are very careful in removing you can reuse)

4) using hand impact driver and 4mm hex socket loosen caliper retaining bolt

5) using 1/2 breaker bar and 30mm socket loosen the hub nut but do not remove

6) take 3/8 ratchet and 14mm short socket and remove caliper retaining bolts (very tight fit due to bleed screw position)

7) cut up about a foot and a half of a coat hanger and suspend the caliper from the rear spring so that the caliper does not stress the rear brake hose

8)remove disc and hub nut

9) using hub puller or slide hammer puller remove the rear hub assembly. Actually, on mine both rear hubs slid off by hand with a couple hard pulls so the pullers were not necessary. However, you might need one and heres a pic of how it works against the spindle.

10) take old hub and using 3/8 ratchet and 10mm socket remove two retaining bolts that hold the ABS hub ring. Clean all parts and install on new hub.

11) Install and slide new hub onto clean spindle. Use brake cleaner to clean the spindle and ABS sensor (dirty spindle shown)

12) use torque wrench and install hub nut to torque specs per VADIS. My 01 S40 was stage one - 120NM and then stage two was another 30degrees


13) install clean dust cap, rotor and retaining hex screw, caliper to torque specs per VADIS and then install wheel. Torque road wheel to specs and you are done

14) Enjoy a cold one... maybe two. You earned it.

Hope this helps those interested in taking this one on.

Mick