🔧 Wheel Bearings - Front Hub Bearing Replacement

This procedure covers the front wheel hub/bearing assembly on your F-150. On this truck, the front bearing is serviced as a complete hub unit, so you replace the whole assembly rather than pressing a bearing in and out.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-3 hours per side

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels.
• Lift only with a proper floor jack and support the truck with jack stands.
• Do not let the brake caliper hang by the hose.
• The hub bolts can be tight and may need penetrating oil.
• No battery disconnect is required for this repair.
• Tip: A rusty hub may need gentle persuasion.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves
• 21mm lug socket
• Breaker bar
• Ratchet
• Torque wrench
• 18mm socket
• 13mm socket
• 15mm socket
• 36mm socket
• Penetrating oil
• Bungee cord or mechanic's wire
• Dead blow hammer
• Wire brush

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front wheel hub and bearing assembly - Qty: 1 per side
• Front axle nut - Qty: 1 per side
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Loosen the lug nuts slightly before lifting the truck.
• Work on one side at a time so you can use the other side as a reference.
• If the axle nut is staked, plan to replace it with a new one.
• Tip: Spray penetrating oil on the hub bolts early.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and secure the truck

• Use the floor jack to lift the front of the truck at the proper jacking point.
• Support it with jack stands under the frame.
• Remove the wheel with a 21mm lug socket.

Step 2: Remove the brake caliper and rotor

• Use the 13mm socket to remove the caliper guide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off and hang it with bungee cord or mechanic's wire.
• Use the 15mm socket to remove the caliper bracket bolts if the rotor will not come off easily.
• Remove the rotor by hand; use a dead blow hammer if it is stuck.

Step 3: Remove the axle nut

• Use the 36mm socket and breaker bar to remove the axle nut.
• If the nut is staked, flatten the staked area first with a punch before removal.

Step 4: Remove the hub/bearing assembly

• Use the 18mm socket to remove the hub-to-knuckle bolts from the back side.
• Spray penetrating oil into the hub joint and around the mounting flange.
• Tap the hub assembly out evenly with a dead blow hammer.
• Clean the knuckle bore with a wire brush.

Step 5: Install the new hub/bearing assembly

• Align the new hub assembly and slide it into place by hand.
• Install the hub bolts with the 18mm socket.
• Torque the hub bolts to 175 Nm (129 ft-lbs).

Step 6: Reinstall the axle nut, rotor, and brakes

• Install the new axle nut by hand first.
• Use the 36mm socket and torque wrench to tighten it.
• Torque the axle nut to 407 Nm (300 ft-lbs).
• Reinstall the rotor, caliper bracket, and caliper using the 15mm socket and 13mm socket.
• Torque the caliper bracket bolts to 217 Nm (160 ft-lbs).
• Torque the caliper guide pin bolts to 35 Nm (26 ft-lbs).

Step 7: Reinstall the wheel

• Install the wheel and snug the lug nuts with the 21mm lug socket.
• Lower the truck and torque the lug nuts to 204 Nm (150 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• Start the truck and listen for abnormal noises.
• Road test at low speed first, then check for smooth steering and no growling noise.
• Recheck lug nut torque after the test drive.
• If the ABS light comes on, scan for wheel speed sensor faults.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$850 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $120-$260 (parts only)

You Save: $300-$590 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 hours per side.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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