How do you replace rear hub on 2004 Saturn vue?

Answer 1

I just replaced the wheel bearing on the rear passenger side of my 2002 Saturn View-
Here's the sequence I followed and it worked quite well...although it is a pain to do.

1. Before jacking up the car, break the lug nuts loose, so they are easier to take off once the tire is off the ground.

2. Remove the wheel /tire from the car.

3. using a breaker bar and socket, remove the nut and washer from the axle that secures the brake drum to the hub.

4. The fun part....trying to get the freaking brake drum off. Took me the better part of an hour, using a rubber mallet and several prying tools between the backer plate and the brake drum. By the way...make sure the parking brake is off! The problem is that the brake shoes "wear in" and there is a lip created on the edge of the brake drum making it difficult to remove.

5. Remove the 4 13mm bolts that hold the hub/bearing assembly . These are located on the back side of the wheel located adjacent to where the axle connects to the wheel.

6. Unplug the anti lock brake sensor from it's clip connection and loosed the rubber grommet so it can pull through when you do get the wheel hub/bearing assembly out.

7. Go to Advance Auto parts and rent a wheel/hub puller kit. My local store had me pay for it and will refund the complete price when I bring it back. Nice of them! Of course, I did buy all my parts there.

8. Use the hub puller per the directions in the case to separate the axle from the hub. No amount of beating on it or prying on it will work to get it off, as it is a factory pressed assembly. As I tightened the hub puller it suddenly "Popped" and as the axle spline separated from the hub assembly. The backer plate holding the brake shoes came off as well. Not a problem just a surprise. In retrospect, the 4 bolts that hold the hub assembly also hold the brake backer plate in place.

9. Before replacing with a new hub, clean out the raceway in the cast portion that receives the bearing. I cleaned it with a small wire Plumbing fitting brush and also a small round file. Be careful not to hit the CV joint boot while you are doing this.

10. When reassembling the hub/wheel assembly, I put the 4 - 13 mm bolts through to hold the brake backer plate in place, which makes putting the new hub/bearing assembly possible with 2 hands instead of 4. As you start to put the new hub on, fish the anti lock sensor wire through the hole or you wont' be able to get it through later.

11. CAREFULLY, guide the axle through the center of the new hub/bearing. Gently work the hub onto the axle, and you'll feel the splines on the axle slide into the grooves on the hub assembly. Now for the fun part.....lining up and starting the 4-13mm bolts from the backside of the wheel and thread it into the hub assembly. Make sure they are TIGHT. The threaded part of the axle should be an inch to an inch and a half past the base of the center of the new hub as you look at it straight on (as long as your spline lined up correctly).

12. Actually, this step should be right after number 9. There is an brake adjustment mechanism on the top of the brake shoes. It has a clip and a little "star" wheel for brake adjustment. If you hold the clip out with a small screwdriver and use another one to turn the star wheel, you can adjust the brake shoes in, making it much easier to put the brake drum back on.

13. Reinstall the brake drum over the studs of the new hub. Tighten the washer/nut on the threaded axle to hold the axle in place in the center of the hub. I think it has to be torqued to 100 ft pounds with a torque wrench. Any tighter can damage the new bearing assembly. Check with a Saturn Dealer or your favorite mechanic for this spec.

14. You're pretty much done once you put the wheel back on.

Hope this helped!