How to Replace the Wheel Bearings on Drum Brakes

by Dan Ferrell

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You can maintain and service the drum-brake wheel bearings by cleaning and repacking them with special grease. However, wheel bearings wear out, crack, and develop heat, hard and pitting spots over time. When the time comes to replace them, make sure you have the required tools for the job and the adjusting nut torque specification for your particular vehicle make and model. Then choose a clean working area to avoid contaminating the bearings and hub on your car.

Removing the Wheel Bearings

Step 1

Park your vehicle on a level surface.

Step 2

Loosen the wheel lug nuts with a lug wrench on the wheel/tire assembly you will be working on.

Step 3

Raise the wheel/tire assembly using a floor jack and support it on a jack stand.

Step 4

Remove the wheel/tire assembly.

Step 5

Detach the grease cap from the brake drum using a screwdriver and a hammer.

Step 6

Remove the cotter pin that secures the nut lock and adjusting nut in place.

Step 7

Pull the nut lock from the axle with a pair of nose pliers.

Step 8

Unscrew the adjusting nut using an axle nut socket and ratchet.

Step 9

Pull the washer from the axle using the nose pliers.

Step 10

Wiggle the brake drum, if necessary, to pull the outer wheel bearing free from the axle.

Step 11

Detach the brake drum from the brake assembly.

Step 12

Lay the brake drum on a workbench and remove the grease seal and inner bearing from the back of the drum using a screwdriver.

Step 13

Remove the inner and outer races from the drum using a large drift punch and hammer. Be careful to avoid damage to the hub.

Installing the New Wheel Bearings

Step 1

Clean thoroughly the hub and drum using brake parts cleaner and a shop rag or lint-free towel.

Step 2

Drive the new inner and outer races in place using a driving tool.

Step 3

Grease the inner wheel bearing with high-temperature wheel-bearing grease using a bearing packer.

Step 4

Place the packed inner-wheel bearing on its race inside the hub.

Step 5

Fill partially the cavity inside the hub with high-temperature wheel-bearing grease.

Step 6

Install a new grease seal using the driving tool.

Step 7

Clean thoroughly the spindle on the axle assembly by using brake parts cleaner and a lint-free towel.

Step 8

Replace the brake drum on the wheel assembly.

Step 9

Grease the outer wheel bearing with high-temperature wheel-bearing grease, using a bearing packer and installing it on its race inside the hub.

Step 10

Insert the washer and screw the adjusting nut by hand.

Step 11

Ask a helper to rotate the wheel assembly as you tighten the adjusting nut to the torque specified by your vehicle manufacturer. Use a torque wrench and the axle nut socket. You may find the torque specification for your car make and model on your vehicle service manual. See the Tip box for more information.