How to Repair the Rear Wheel Bearing on a 1994 Ford Aspire

In 1993, Ford Motor Co. rid itself of the outdated and unattractive Festiva and left its subcompact level vacant for a year. In 1994, Ford released the more smoothly designed and modern-looking Aspire. The 1994 Aspire is powered by a 63-horsepower, 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine. Front disc brakes and rear drum brakes bring the tiny economy car to a stop. When repairing the rear wheel bearings, you must partially disassemble the rear drum brakes.

Instructions

1

Loosen the lug nuts on the rear wheel that has the failed wheel bearings, using a ratchet and socket. Raise the rear of the Aspire with a floor jack and position jack stands under its rear crossmember. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheels from the vehicle.

2

Pry the grease cap from the center of the drum with a flat-head screwdriver, exposing the bearing-retaining hardware and the spindle shaft. Remove the cotter pin from the spindle shaft, using needle-nose pliers, and pull the castellated nut retainer from the spindle shaft. Remove the spindle nut using a ratchet and socket.

3

Pull the brake drum from the spindle; the wheel bearings, washer and grease seal come off with it.

4

Pull the outer bearing and its washer from the brake drum. Pry out the inner bearings grease seal, using a grease seal puller, and remove the inner bearing.

5

Remove the inner and outer bearing races one on the inner part of the drum and one on the outer part using a bearing race puller. This process varies greatly among different styles of pullers, so refer to the pullers instructions for specific direction.

6

Select a driver head from the bearing race driver set that the new bearing races fit around snugly. Hand-tighten the head that fits snugly onto the inner bearing race onto the bearing race driver shaft. Insert the inner race into the hole in the drum with the tapered side facing up. Set the bearing race driver assembly on the race, with the pilot on the drivers head in the center of the race, then hit the top of the bearing race driver shaft with a hammer until the race seats into place. Flip the drum over and repeat this step on the outer bearing race.

7

Coat the bearing races with a generous amount of long-life grease meeting Ford specification ESA-M1C75-B.

8

Fill a bearing packing tools reservoir to its Full or Max line with new long-life grease meeting Ford specification ESA-M1C75-B. Set one bearing in the packing tool and press the packing tools plunger into the reservoir. With a smooth and even stroke, press the plunger downward until it stops. Remove the plunger and remove the bearing. Place the bearing on a clean, lint-free cloth. Repeat this step for the other bearing.

9

Drop the inner wheel bearing into the hole in the center of the drum. Set a new grease seal in the hole in the drum and drive it into the drum with a grease seal driver and a hammer.

10

Slide the drum onto the spindle shaft, then insert the outer wheel bearing into the hole in the center of the rotor. Slide the washer onto the spindle shaft, then hand-tighten the spindle nut.

11

Tighten the spindle nut to between 18 and 22 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket as you spin the drum forward. Loosen the spindle nut until it is just finger tight, using a ratchet and socket.

12

Tighten the axle nut to between 6 and 24 inch-pounds, using an inch-pound torque wrench. Slide the castellated nut retainer back onto the spindle so that one of the valleys in its castellated top aligns with the hole in the spindle shaft.

13

Insert a new cotter pin through the hole in the spindle shaft and bend its legs in opposite directions, using needle-nose pliers, to lock it into place.

14

Set the grease cap on the center of the rotor and tap it into the hole with a rubber mallet.

15

Set the wheel back on the Aspires rear hub and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Raise the Ford from the jack stands with a floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the vehicle to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to between 65 and 87 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.