How To Replace Your Ford's Wheel Bearing
When one of your Ford’s wheel bearings fails, there’s too much friction between the axle and the hub. This accelerates wear, which can result in the wheel wobbling and eventually even falling off. So that’s why you want to replace a bad wheel bearing ASAP.
You don’t have to schedule an appointment with your dealership and pay out of the nose for them to replace the bearing for you. With the right tools, you can do it at home! You’ll save a lot of money that way. We’ll show you how.
Ordering Replacement Wheel Bearings
The first thing to do is to order a replacement wheel bearing, or a set of wheel bearings. Even if the other wheel bearings on your Ford are still in good shape, you may still want to replace them. If your wheel bearings are still new and one of them fails, you may replace only the bad bearing. If all your wheel bearings are nearing the end of their lives and one fails, you may want to replace all of them at once. It’s safe and convenient because:
- You’d be preventing another wheel bearing from failing sometime soon
- It’s easier to take care of all the wheel bearings when you have your vehicle ready and all your tools out
OEM wheel bearings are inexpensive when you order them from us. We offer wholesale pricing for genuine OEM Ford parts. You’ll save about 30% by ordering from us. For example, this wheel bearing for 2009-2011 Ford Focus is nearly $65 at a Ford dealership. You can get it from us for under $48. Talk about big savings! Check out our catalog of wheel bearings to find one that’s made for your Ford model.
The Ford Wheel Bearing Replacement Process
Image Credit: FordTruckEnthusiasts
If you have the right tools, replacing the wheel bearing(s) on your Ford should be a breeze. The process varies slightly between Ford models (especially sedans and SUVs). We'll provide a general overview that applies to all Ford models:
- Loosen up lug nuts while the vehicle is on the ground. Don't remove the lug nuts yet.
- Jack up the vehicle and place it on jack stands for safety.
- Remove the tire/wheel and set aside.
- Remove the caliper. Do not let the caliper hang on its own. That's how you cause brake leaks on the brake line. Instead, use a wire to hang the caliper.
- Remove the caliper bracket, if applicable.
- Remove the axle nut.
- Remove the rotor.
- Remove any ABS sensors, speed sensors, and/or wire connections.
- If applicable, disconnect the control arm from the steering knuckle.
- If applicable, disconnect the sway bar links from the control arm.
- If applicable, remove the bolts from behind the steering knuckle to remove the wheel bearing hub assembly.
- Most Ford trucks have 3 bolts behind the steering knuckle to allow you to remove the wheel bearing. Be sure to use WD-40, or you'll have a hard time removing the wheel bearing.
- If the wheel bearing is in the knuckle, use a press to push the wheel bearing out of the knuckle.
- Install the new wheel bearing.
- Repeat the process backwards.
If you find that your Ford model needs extra steps, find a model-specific tutorial.