How to Replace the Front Hub Assembly on a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix

For years the Grand Prix has been the go-to full-sized car in the Pontiac line. The car had various engine sizes that were available which allowed you to get anything from good fuel mileage to great performance. In 2001 the Grand Prix had three engines available: the 3.1-liter V-6, the 3.8-liter V-6, or the pavement pounding 3.8-liter supercharged V-6. The supercharged model was the most exhilarating to drive and many people added custom wheels to this car. The addition of these wheels is where most people had problems. If you added a large wheel with the wrong offset or backspacing, the front hub bearings were the first part to fail.

Instructions

1

Park the Grand Prix on a flat, hard surface. Apply the parking brake. Place the wheel chocks around the rear tires. Loosen the front lug nuts 1/4 turn. Lift the front of the vehicle and place the jack stands under the frame. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands. Remove the front wheels. Have an assistant hold down the brake pedal as you remove the center axle nut in the middle of the hub with the ratchet and socket. You may need to use a long pipe or breaker bar to gain leverage, as this bolt will be tight. Release the brake pedal.

2

Remove the two caliper bracket retaining bolts. Hang the caliper and bracket from the coil spring with the wire hanger, so the caliper does not hang by the brake line. Remove the brake rotor. If the rotor does not come off easily, then install the lug nuts by hand. Strike the rotor between the lug studs with the hammer until the rotor comes loose. Remove the lug nuts and the rotor.

3

Locate the wheel speed sensor connector behind the steering knuckle, near the axle. Disconnect the sensor and remove the hub end from the connector bracket. Place the punch into the middle of the axle nose and strike it with the hammer until it starts to move in the hub. Remove the three hub mounting bolts from the back side of the steering knuckle. Remove the hub. Clean any corrosion from the axle nose and from the hub mounting surface.

4

Install the new hub and bearing assembly using new mounting bolts. Torque the bolts to 96 foot-pounds with the torque wrench. Connect the wheel speed sensor and install the connector into the mounting bracket. Install the brake rotor. Install the caliper and bracket and torque the bolts to 85 foot pounds. Install a new axle nut. Have an assistant hold down the brake pedal and torque the axle nut to 159 foot-pounds. Install the front wheels and in a star pattern snug the lug nuts. Lower the vehicle to the ground. Torque the lug nuts to 100 foot-pounds.