How do you change the front wheel bearing on a 2001 34 Alero?

Answer 1

I just did this yesterday 7/10/06, I have fairly good mechanical skills and it took about 30 minutes to do this. You will need a 36mm Impact Deep Well Socket, a breaker bar with a descent extension of some sort, and 15mm Socket with a good 6" and 3" ratchet extension. Jack the one side of the car (SIde in which changing bearing), remove wheel, Take the two bolts out of the brake caliper and hang the caliper by a wire from the strut. Using the 36mm socket and big breaker bar, place it on the axle nut (Center most part of the wheel big nut), be careful not to scrape car fenders when loosening the nut. This is going to take a big amount of force to break the nut free so dont feel like you might break the nut you wont! The factory torques the nut to 287 ft lbs of torque so that means it will take you lets say 185lbs and a 2 foot breaker bar everything you got to break it loose! Once its loose back it off flush with the end of the half shaft. Take the 3 bolts out of the wheel bearing hub, they are on the other side located around the steering knuckle, the top one is difficult since the strut and half shaft are in the way, but this is where you use the socket extension and become ingenous. Once bolts are out use a hammer and carefully hit the axle nut to push the half shaft back into the CV Joint. DO NOT PULL ON THE HALF SHAFT, YOU WILL THEN BE SET BACK 100 BUCKS FOR A NEW ONE!!!!! Now hit the Wheel Hub flange until hub dislocates from the steering knuckle. Be sure to support Half SHaft and make sure it does not extend too far or damage to half shaft will occur. Also disconnect wheel hub sensor fromt he bracket. Place new hub in the same way you found it connect the wheel sensor back to original plug and tighten the 3 bolts on the hub. Tighten the Axle Nut back to 287 lb ft of torque and verify everything is snug. Put rotor and calipers back on and place back on wheel. Drive it down the road and verify there is no noise and that the "ABS" "Traction COntrol OFf" and "Service Vehicle Soon" lights are not present! I hope this helps and I assume no responsibilities for anything that may cause harm to the vehicle. This is what I did and this is how you do it for a lot cheaper than the dealer will charge you for something that is easier than changing the spark plugs! Take it easy!