Q&A for How to Change Wheel Bearings

They may not be aligned in the proper places. It also depends on the kind of bearings you got in the first place.

This is certainly the case on some vehicles, although it may not apply to every car. If you have a workshop manual handy, check it for torque specs. Otherwise, check online forums to see if someone else has shared the information for your specific car.

Costs will vary greatly depending on make and model. The bearings themselves may cost between $40 and $100. The labor to install them may also vary vehicle to vehicle, so mechanics' quotes may vary.

Your wheel(s) will eventually seize up while you're driving, you will probably lose steering, and, at the right speed, you could easily end up dead.

The hub is bolted to the steering knuckle from the inside, usually with 3 bolts.

Needle-nose pliers, a ratchet wrench with various sized sockets, flat-head screwdriver, jack and a star wrench for loosening nuts on the wheel.

It's only necessary if you remove the bolts that hold the strut. If you don't touch those bolts, then a wheel alignment won't be necessary.

If the rim/tire won't come off, just get your lug nuts halfway on, jack the car back down, and let it roll for a few feet. The weight of the car on the wheel should break it loose. If the rotor is stuck to the hub, you're probably going to need a torch and a rubber mallet; heat, hammer, and repeat. If the hub is seized to the knuckle/axle, you can try breaking them apart by sledgehammering the axle. (Make sure you spin the axle nut onto the end of it so you don't mushroom the threads with your sledge, and put it on backwards so you're banging on the flat side, not damaging the castellated side.)

Yes, but it's a good idea to both. If one side is worn down, the other probably is too.

My guess is that something happened to your wheel speed sensors. You may have damaged them during the replacement, or you may have forgotten to reconnect them. While you're at it, check the ABS sensors.

It's not a bad idea since you are that far into it, but it can be a little tricky because in some cases it requires a shop press. So, it's not necessary if it's still in good shape.

The best way to make them last longer is use a lot--and I mean a lot--of grease. Fill them up with grease and they should last awhile.

Go to your local auto parts or hardware store and look for the lug bolt specific to your vehicle. The length, diameter and strength of the bolt are very critical. And all you do is press it in, making sure the grooves are aligned, then tap firmly with a rubber mallet until it's seated. Parts are fairly cheap.

You only have to replace the hub assembly if you went for an excessive amount of time with the bad bearings. The damage would be visible marks, gouges or in extreme cases, warped inner housing. Normally the bearings are all that need replaced. Just make sure you have plenty of grease packed in the bearings. I take my thumb with grease on it and push it between race and bearings while spinning it in my hand. To press them in, use 2 C-clamps and 2 flat pieces of wood. Slowly and evenly tighten until race is flush with hub. (However, that's not the case for all vehicles; it's very important to check the specifics about that particular vehicle.)