🔧 Rear Wheel Bearing - Replacement

On your Highlander, the rear wheel bearing is serviced as a complete rear hub and bearing assembly. You will remove the rear wheel, brake caliper, rotor, and hub assembly, then install the new hub.

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a flat, solid surface and support your Highlander with jack stands before removing a wheel.
• ⚠️ Never rely on a floor jack alone. A floor jack lifts the vehicle; jack stands hold it safely.
• ⚠️ The rear brake caliper must be supported with wire or a bungee cord so the brake hose is not stretched.
• ⚠️ If the brake rotor is stuck, do not hammer the wheel studs directly because this can damage them.
• ⚠️ If your Highlander has an ABS wheel speed sensor near the hub, keep dirt and metal shavings away from it.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not normally required for this repair.

---

🔧 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
• 21mm lug nut socket
• Breaker bar 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• Ratchet 1/2-inch drive
• Ratchet 3/8-inch drive
• Socket extension 3/8-inch drive 6-inch
• Flathead screwdriver medium
• Rubber mallet
• Ball-peen hammer 16 oz
• M8 x 1.25 bolts 40mm length
• Wire brush
• Needle-nose pliers
• Bungee cord
• Brake cleaner spray
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear wheel hub and bearing assembly - Qty: 1 per side
• Rear hub mounting bolts - Qty: 4 per side
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1 can
• Anti-seize compound - Qty: 1 small tube

---

📋 Before You Begin

• 🚗 Park your Highlander on level ground and shift to Park.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels. Wheel chocks are wedges that stop the vehicle from rolling.
• 🅿️ Leave the parking brake released after the vehicle is safely chocked, because the rear rotor may not come off if the parking brake is applied.
• 🔩 Slightly loosen the rear lug nuts before lifting the vehicle.
• 📌 This procedure is for one rear side. Repeat the same steps on the opposite rear side if replacing both.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Rear Wheel

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to loosen the rear wheel lug nuts about one turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.
• Loosen first, lift second.

Step 2: Lift and Support the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the rear of your Highlander at the proper rear lift point.
• Place jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) under the rear support points.
• Slowly lower the vehicle onto the jack stands.
• Gently push the vehicle by hand to confirm it is stable before working underneath or beside it.

Step 3: Remove the Rear Wheel

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove the wheel and set it flat on the ground.
• Slide the wheel partly under the vehicle as a backup safety measure.

Step 4: Remove the Brake Caliper

• Use the 14mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to remove the two rear brake caliper slide pin bolts.
• Lift the brake caliper off the rotor.
• Hang the caliper from the suspension using the bungee cord.
• Do not let the caliper hang by the rubber brake hose.

Step 5: Remove the Brake Caliper Bracket

• Use the 17mm socket, ratchet 1/2-inch drive, and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive if needed to remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket and set it aside.
• During reassembly, tighten the caliper bracket bolts to Torque to 79 Nm (58 ft-lbs).

Step 6: Remove the Rear Brake Rotor

• Make sure the parking brake is released.
• Pull the rotor straight off by hand.
• If the rotor is stuck, thread two M8 x 1.25 bolts 40mm length evenly into the threaded holes on the rotor face.
• Use the ratchet 3/8-inch drive to turn each bolt a little at a time until the rotor pops loose.
• If needed, tap the rotor hat lightly with the rubber mallet.
• Even turns prevent rotor binding.

Step 7: Inspect the Parking Brake Area

• Use the safety glasses and brake cleaner spray to clean light brake dust from the parking brake shoe area.
• Do not breathe brake dust.
• Use the flathead screwdriver medium only if you need to gently move the parking brake shoes away from the hub area.

Step 8: Disconnect or Move the ABS Sensor Harness if Needed

• Look behind the hub for the ABS wheel speed sensor wiring. ABS means anti-lock braking system.
• If the harness clips are attached near the hub, use needle-nose pliers to release the clips carefully.
• Move the harness out of the way so it cannot be pulled or pinched.
• Do not pry on the plastic sensor body unless removal is required.

Step 9: Remove the Rear Hub and Bearing Assembly

• From the back side of the knuckle, use the 14mm socket, socket extension 3/8-inch drive 6-inch, and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to remove the four rear hub mounting bolts.
• If the bolts are tight, use the breaker bar 1/2-inch drive with the correct socket setup for extra leverage.
• Support the hub with one hand as the last bolt comes out.
• Pull the hub assembly straight out of the knuckle.
• If the hub is stuck from rust, tap around the hub flange with the ball-peen hammer 16 oz until it loosens.

Step 10: Clean the Mounting Surface

• Use the wire brush to clean rust and debris from the knuckle mounting face.
• Spray the area with brake cleaner spray and wipe it clean.
• Apply a very thin film of anti-seize compound to the hub center bore area only.
• Do not put anti-seize on the bolt threads unless the replacement instructions allow it.

Step 11: Install the New Rear Hub and Bearing Assembly

• Position the new rear wheel hub and bearing assembly into the knuckle by hand.
• Install the four rear hub mounting bolts by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use the 14mm socket, socket extension 3/8-inch drive 6-inch, and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to snug the bolts evenly in a crisscross pattern.
• Use the torque wrench 1/2-inch drive and 14mm socket to tighten the hub bolts to Torque to 80 Nm (59 ft-lbs).

Step 12: Reposition the ABS Sensor Harness

• Use your hands and needle-nose pliers if needed to reinstall the ABS harness clips into their original positions.
• Make sure the wiring is not twisted, stretched, or touching the brake rotor area.

Step 13: Reinstall the Rear Brake Rotor

• Slide the brake rotor onto the new hub by hand.
• If the rotor does not sit flat, remove it and check that the parking brake shoes are centered.
• Use brake cleaner spray to clean oily fingerprints from the rotor surface.

Step 14: Reinstall the Caliper Bracket

• Place the caliper bracket back over the rotor.
• Start both bracket bolts by hand.
• Use the 17mm socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to snug the bolts.
• Use the torque wrench 1/2-inch drive and 17mm socket to tighten the bracket bolts to Torque to 79 Nm (58 ft-lbs).

Step 15: Reinstall the Brake Caliper

• Remove the bungee cord and slide the caliper back over the rotor and pads.
• Install the two slide pin bolts by hand.
• Use the 14mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to snug the bolts.
• Use the torque wrench 1/2-inch drive and 14mm socket to tighten the caliper slide pin bolts to Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 16: Reinstall the Wheel

• Place the wheel back on the hub.
• Install the lug nuts by hand with the tapered side facing the wheel.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 17: Lower and Torque the Wheel

• Use the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Lower your Highlander until the tire touches the ground and cannot spin.
• Use the torque wrench 1/2-inch drive and 21mm lug nut socket to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to Torque to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs).
• Lower the vehicle completely.

---

✅ After Repair

• ✅ Pump the brake pedal several times until it feels firm before moving your Highlander.
• ✅ Set and release the parking brake to confirm normal operation.
• ✅ Drive slowly at first and listen for grinding, scraping, humming, or clicking.
• ✅ Check that the ABS warning light stays off after a short drive.
• ✅ Recheck the lug nut torque after 25-50 miles: Torque to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs).

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$750 per rear side (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $120-$280 per rear side (parts only)

You Save: $330-$470 per rear side 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.

---

🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.