How to Replace the Wheel Bearing on an '05 WRX

The 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an automatic or manual transmission. With an engine that produces 217 foot-pounds of torque and 227 horsepower, the wheel bearings are bound to fail eventually and will need to be replaced. The front wheel bearings on your WRX are part of the hub assembly, and cannot be serviced separately. Anytime the wheel bearing needs to be replaced, you have to replace the entire hub assembly.

Instructions

Removal

1

Park the vehicle on a level surface and set the parking brake. Loosen the lug nuts for the wheel to be serviced, using a lug wrench. Lift the front of the vehicle into the air with the floor jack. Place the jack stands under the front subframe rails and lower the floor jack until the vehicle rests securely on the jack stands.

2

Remove the wheel and tire from the vehicle. Unlock the spindle nut by driving a small, pointed chisel into the opening on the axle and spindle nut. Instruct your assistant to sit in the vehicle and apply the brakes. Remove the spindle nut with the breaker bar and socket.

3

Remove the caliper mounting bolts with a socket and ratchet. Hang the caliper from the front suspension with the mechanics wire. Do not let the caliper hang from the brake hose. Remove the brake rotor from the wheel hub. If the rotor is seized to the hub, install the 8-mm and 1.25-mm bolts into the holes in the rotor and rotate the bolts two turns at a time to force the rotor off the hub.

4

Remove the wheel-speed sensor bolt with a socket and ratchet. Remove the wheel speed sensor from the steering knuckle. Remove the four hub retaining bolts from the rear of the steering knuckle with a socket and ratchet.

5

Remove the wheel hub from the steering knuckle and drive axle. If the hub does not readily come off, install the axle shaft puller to the hub and knuckle and tighten the push bolt with the socket and ratchet until the hub is free from the knuckle. Remove the axle shaft puller and remove the hub assembly.

Installation

6

Clean the hub mating surface on the steering knuckle with a wire brush. Install the new hub assembly into the steering knuckle and spline the axle into the new hub. Install the new hub mounting bolts and tighten to 48 foot-pounds with a torque wrench. Install the new axle nut hand tight.

7

Slide the brake rotor onto the new wheel hub; be careful not to drag the hub over the wheel studs. Remove the mechanics wire and slide the brake caliper over the brake rotor and line up the mounting holes. Install the brake caliper bolts and tighten to 58 foot-pounds.

8

Instruct the assistant to sit in the vehicle and apply the brakes. Tighten the spindle nut to 162 foot-pounds. Lock the spindle nut by placing the small chisel on the nut over the staked area of the axle and hitting it with a hammer. Install the wheel speed sensor and tighten the mounting bolt to 24 foot-pounds.

9

Place the wheel and tire onto the wheel hub assembly. Install the lug nuts until they are hand tight. Raise the front of the vehicle off the jack stands with the floor jack and remove the jack stands from under the vehicle. Lower the vehicle to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts to 66 foot-pounds.