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Features
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  • Land Rover
  • Discovery 3

How to replace a D3 front hub bearing - pictures

by: Auto Express team
27 Sep 2017
Go to: How to replace Discovery 3 front hub bearing
  • Step 2

    Usual stuff – jack up securely and remove the road wheel. Steve slackens this 32mm stake nut while I apply the footbrake to hold the axle firm.

  • Step 3

    We check there is space in the brake fluid reservoir for fluid to come back in, then lever the pads back to give clearance from the disc.

  • Step 4

    Release the caliper’s two bolts (21mm 12-point socket) and secure it above without straining the hose. Renew brake pads if worn.

  • Step 5

    Remove the single screw holding the brake disc to the hub flange and lift the disc off. It may need a tap from behind with a mallet.

  • Step 6

    Wire brush the thread ends of the four bolts that hold the hub to the knuckle. Apply easing oil on the threads and leave to soak.

  • Step 7

    To confirm the hub will slide off over the halfshaft, this puller, held by the wheel nuts and studs, should push the halfshaft in slightly.

  • Step 8

    But the shaft is tight, so a larger puller is tried, then a 10-tonne puller, but the halfshaft still won’t move in the hub.

  • step 9

    Finally, an air-powered vibrating impact hammer manages to move the halfshaft slightly into the hub, confirming the two parts will separate.

  • Step 10

    The four (15mm AF) rear bolts holding the hub to the knuckle, are turned a little at a time (back and forth) to crack the rust.

  • Step 11

    With the hub bolts all removed, the halfshaft is pushed inward, ready to pull the hub off, but the hub is rusted to the knuckle.

  • Step 12

    Pullers and levers gave way to the hammer and, eventually, to some rather heavyweight blunt instruments.

  • Step 13

    Millimetre by millimetre, rotating the hub to keep the movement equal all round, the hub reluctantly edges out of the knuckle.

  • Step 14

    Finally, the old hub comes away, exposing the dry splines on the halfshaft, and the rust that was jamming the hub inside the knuckle recess.

  • Step 15

    <span>Looking at the inboard side of the hub, the rust that held it firmly to the knuckle is seen around the bearing housing (arrowed).</span>

  • step 16

    <span>FITTING THE NEW HUB: The new hub is a tad smarter than the old and looks a nice piece of engineering. New stake nut for the axle shaft is also needed.</span>

  • Step 17

    <span>Before fitting the new hub, the knuckle recess is scraped clean to remove the surface rust. Otherwise, the new hub simply won’t go in.</span>

  • Step 18

    <span>The knuckle’s flange with the four bolt holes is cleaned, too. Note the toothed ring is the ABS reluctor ring for the ABS sensor.</span>

  • Step 19

    <span>Before positioning the new hub onto the knuckle, a light smear of grease is applied around the knuckle recess and flange face.</span>

  • Step 20

    <span>The four bolts are fed through the back of the knuckle and screwed through the hub flange. After tightening, the exposed threads are greased.</span>

  • Step 21

    <span>The brake disc and caliper are now fitted to the new hub, and corrosion inhibiting grease applied lightly to the protruding wheel spigot.</span>

  • Step 22

    <span>Steve fits and tightens the stake nut on the axle shaft while I hold the brake pedal to prevent the axle rotating.</span>

  • Step 23

    <span>Finally, the stake nut’s flange is peened into the axle shaft groove to lock it, before refitting the road wheel.</span>

  • Replacing front hub bearing - 3
  • Replacing 3D front hub bearing - 1
  • Replacing 3D front hub bearing - 2

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