How to Replace the Front Hub of a 2001 LeSabre

The front hub assemblies in your 2001 LeSabre contain the front wheel bearings and anti-lock brake wheel speed sensors in a single unit. Power from the engine is transmitted to the front wheels by the drive axles, which pass through the center of the hub. Common symptoms of a faulty hub assembly include noise that changes pitch as vehicle speed increases and vibration while driving. Replacing the front hub is a "remove and replace" repair project that will take the experienced home mechanic a couple of hours to accomplish.

Instructions

1

Apply the parking brake and block the rear wheels of the LeSabre with wheel chocks wedged behind the tires. Raise the front of the car with a floor jack positioned under the reinforced lifting point found on the rocker panel pinch weld, a few inches behind the front wheel. Support the weight of the Buick with a jack stand placed under the front sub-frame.

2

Remove the wheel, using a lug wrench, and place the wheel and lug nuts aside. Remove the 13-mm brake caliper bolts, using a wrench to hold the guide pin, and a socket and ratchet to loosen the bolts. Lift the caliper off the caliper support bracket and hang it from the front coil spring, using a piece of stiff wire.

3

Remove the caliper support bracket bolts, using a 15-mm wrench. Lift the bracket off the rotor. Pull the rotor towards you and slide it off the hub assembly. A few sharp blows with a hammer around the hub area of the rotor will loosen it, if rust and corrosion are preventing it from sliding off.

4

Remove the axle nut, using a 36-mm axle nut socket and breaker bar. Insert a punch into the end of the axle and push the axle in towards the transmission by striking the punch with a hammer, to loosen the axle from the hub. The axle will not push completely through the hub, but will move slightly within the hub.

5

Disconnect the ABS sensor harness from the wheel speed sensor on the back of the hub. Remove the three hub assembly bolts by inserting a T-45 Torx socket, extension and ratchet through the hole in the hub to engage the bolts behind the hub. Slide the assembly out of the steering knuckle.

6

Slide the new hub assembly over the axle and install it into the steering knuckle. Torque the bolts to 70 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench. Install the axle nut and torque the nut to 185 foot-pounds. Slide the rotor onto the hub and install the caliper support bracket. Torque the caliper support bracket bolts to 85 foot-pounds.

7

Reinstall the caliper onto the support bracket and torque the bolts to 23 foot-pounds. Install the wheel and lower the LeSabre until the tire touches the ground. Torque the lug nuts to 100 foot-pounds. Lower the car to the ground, pump the brake pedal several times and test-drive the vehicle to verify that the repair has solved the problem.