🔧 Wheel Bearing - Replacement

On your RAV4, the wheel bearings are built into bolt-on hub assemblies. That means you replace the hub and bearing assembly as one unit instead of pressing the bearing in and out.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support your RAV4 with jack stands only; never work under a vehicle held by a jack.
• ⚠️ Keep the key fob away from the vehicle so the hybrid system cannot accidentally go READY.
• ⚠️ Do not touch or disconnect orange high-voltage cables. This repair does not require hybrid system service.
• ⚠️ The front and rear procedures are different because your RAV4 is AWD.
• ⚠️ Do not pull or stretch the ABS wheel speed sensor wiring.
• ⚠️ Do not let the brake caliper hang by the brake hose.
• ⚠️ Replace the axle nut if the hub being serviced uses one.

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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 nut socket
• Breaker bar 1/2-inch drive
• Torque wrench 1/2-inch drive
• Ratchet 1/2-inch drive
• Ratchet 3/8-inch drive
• 14mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 19mm socket
• 30mm axle nut socket
• 10mm socket
• Flathead screwdriver
• Needle-nose pliers
• Dead blow hammer
• Hub puller kit (specialty)
• Slide hammer hub adapter (specialty)
• Wire brush
• Bungee cord
• Brake cleaner
• Anti-seize compound
• Penetrating oil

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Wheel hub and bearing assembly - Qty: 1 per wheel
• Axle nut - Qty: 1 per driven wheel
• Brake rotor retaining hardware - Qty: 1 if equipped or damaged
• Hub mounting bolts - Qty: 4 if corroded or damaged

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your RAV4 on level ground.
• Shift to Park and set the parking brake only when loosening wheel nuts. Release the parking brake before removing a rear brake rotor if servicing the rear.
• Place wheel chocks on the wheels that stay on the ground.
• A hub assembly is the part that holds the wheel studs and contains the bearing.
• A slide hammer is a puller tool that uses a sliding weight to shock a stuck hub loose.
• If servicing a rear wheel, place the electronic parking brake in service mode before removing rear brake parts.
• Rear EPB service mode path: with ignition ON and brake pedal pressed, release parking brake, then switch ignition OFF and keep the key away from the vehicle.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Wheel Lug Nuts

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to loosen the lug nuts one turn while the tire is still on the ground.
• If servicing a driven hub with an axle nut, remove the center cap and loosen the axle nut with the 30mm axle nut socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive.
• Do not fully remove the lug nuts yet.
• Break tight nuts loose first.

Step 2: Raise and Support the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift your RAV4 at the proper jacking point.
• Place jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) under the body support points.
• Lower the vehicle onto the stands and gently shake it to confirm it is stable.

Step 3: Remove the Wheel

• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to remove the lug nuts.
• Remove the wheel and place it flat under the side of the vehicle as a backup safety cushion.

Step 4: Remove the Brake Caliper

• Use the 14mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to remove the two caliper slide pin bolts.
• Lift the caliper off the bracket.
• Use a bungee cord to hang the caliper from the strut or spring area.
• Do not let the caliper hang from the brake hose.

Step 5: Remove the Caliper Bracket

• Use the 17mm socket or 19mm socket with the breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to remove the two caliper bracket bolts.
• Remove the caliper bracket and set it aside.
• For installation, Torque front caliper bracket bolts to 107 Nm (79 ft-lbs).
• For installation, Torque rear caliper bracket bolts to 88 Nm (65 ft-lbs).

Step 6: Remove the Brake Rotor

• Pull the rotor straight off by hand.
• If stuck, spray the hub area with penetrating oil.
• Use a dead blow hammer to tap around the rotor hat until it loosens.
• If servicing the rear and the rotor will not move, confirm the parking brake is released.

Step 7: Remove the ABS Sensor or Move the Wire Clear

• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to remove the ABS wheel speed sensor bolt if the sensor blocks access.
• Gently twist and lift the sensor out by hand.
• If the sensor feels stuck, leave it in place and only unclip the harness enough to move it safely.
• ABS sensors break easily.

Step 8: Remove the Axle Nut if Equipped

• Use the 30mm axle nut socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to remove the loosened axle nut.
• Push the axle inward by hand to confirm it slides through the hub splines.
• If stuck, use the dead blow hammer to lightly tap the axle end with the old nut threaded on flush.
• Do not damage the axle threads.

Step 9: Remove the Hub Mounting Bolts

• From the back side of the knuckle, use the 14mm socket or 17mm socket with the ratchet 1/2-inch drive to remove the four hub mounting bolts.
• Spray the bolt heads with penetrating oil if they are rusty.
• Keep the bolts organized if you plan to reuse them.

Step 10: Remove the Hub and Bearing Assembly

• Try pulling the hub straight out by hand first.
• If stuck, attach the hub puller kit (specialty) to the wheel studs.
• Use the slide hammer hub adapter (specialty) to pull the hub out of the knuckle.
• Use a dead blow hammer for light side taps only. Do not hit the ABS tone ring area.

Step 11: Clean the Mounting Surface

• Use a wire brush to clean rust and dirt from the hub mounting face.
• Spray the area with brake cleaner and wipe it dry.
• Apply a very thin film of anti-seize compound to the center bore only.
• Keep anti-seize off the brake rotor, studs, and wheel nut seats.

Step 12: Install the New Hub Assembly

• Slide the new wheel hub and bearing assembly into the knuckle by hand.
• Make sure the ABS sensor opening and bolt holes line up correctly.
• Start all four hub bolts by hand.
• Use the 14mm socket or 17mm socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the hub bolts evenly in a crisscross pattern.
• Torque hub mounting bolts to 80 Nm (59 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Reinstall the Axle Nut if Equipped

• Install the new axle nut by hand.
• Use the 30mm axle nut socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten it.
• Torque front axle nut to 216 Nm (159 ft-lbs).
• Torque rear AWD axle nut to 216 Nm (159 ft-lbs).
• Stake or lock the axle nut if the replacement nut design requires it.

Step 14: Reinstall the ABS Sensor

• Carefully insert the ABS sensor by hand.
• Use the 10mm socket and ratchet 3/8-inch drive to install the bolt.
• Torque to 8 Nm (71 in-lbs).
• Clip the ABS wiring back into its original retainers.

Step 15: Reinstall the Brake Rotor

• Spray both rotor friction surfaces with brake cleaner if greasy or dirty.
• Slide the rotor onto the hub by hand.
• Use one lug nut hand-tight to hold the rotor flat while installing the caliper parts.

Step 16: Reinstall the Caliper Bracket

• Place the caliper bracket over the rotor.
• Install the bracket bolts by hand first.
• Use the 17mm socket or 19mm socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the bracket bolts.
• Torque front caliper bracket bolts to 107 Nm (79 ft-lbs).
• Torque rear caliper bracket bolts to 88 Nm (65 ft-lbs).

Step 17: Reinstall the Brake Caliper

• Remove the bungee cord and place the caliper over the brake pads and bracket.
• Use the 14mm socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the slide pin bolts.
• Torque caliper slide pin bolts to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 18: Reinstall the Wheel

• Install the wheel by hand.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Raise the vehicle slightly with the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum), remove the jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum), and lower the vehicle to the ground.
• Use the 21mm lug nut socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque wheel lug nuts to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs).

Step 19: Pump the Brake Pedal

• Before driving, press the brake pedal several times until it feels firm.
• This seats the brake caliper back against the pads.
• If you serviced a rear wheel, switch the vehicle ON and apply/release the parking brake once to confirm normal operation.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Road test at low speed first and listen for scraping, grinding, or ABS warning lights.
• ✅ Then drive at 30-45 mph and listen for the original humming noise to confirm it is gone.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after the test drive using the 21mm lug nut socket and torque wrench 1/2-inch drive.
• ✅ If the ABS, brake, or traction light stays on, scan for wheel speed sensor codes before continuing normal driving.
• ✅ No alignment is normally required for a hub assembly replacement if suspension parts were not loosened.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $120-$300 per wheel (parts only)

You Save: $250-$550 per wheel 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 wheel.

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