How to Replace the Hub?
3 Answers
Remove the spray nozzle on the front hood. Use a flathead screwdriver to gently pry from the gap underneath the nozzle, and it will come off with a single pry. After removal, you will see a thin water pipe connector clipped onto the nozzle's inlet. There is a black retaining ring at the connector—use the flathead screwdriver to pry it off. There are four of these small black pads in total, and the removal method is very simple: pinch them with your fingers and twist counterclockwise to remove. Install the new hub in the reverse order.
Last time I changed the wheel hubs myself, I found that preparing the right tools is crucial. You need a jack, torque wrench, cross socket, and wheel chocks. First, park the car securely and engage the handbrake, locate the designated jacking points on the chassis, lift the car before loosening the hub bolts but don’t remove them completely, then secure the car with the stands. When removing the old hub, loosen the bolts diagonally to avoid uneven force that could deform the hub. Before installing the new hub, clean any rust off the flange, align the hub with the bolt holes, hand-tighten the fixing caps, then tighten the bolts diagonally in three stages, finally using the torque wrench to reach the specified torque value in the manual. After the change, always test-drive at low speed, listening for unusual noises over speed bumps—this is critical for driving safety.
Changing wheels isn't actually difficult but has its tricks - with proper tools it can be done in half an hour. I recommend removing the tires first for easier cleaning of the wheel's inner surface. Make sure the new wheel's mounting surface sits flush against the hub, otherwise you'll get vibrations at high speeds. Use a star pattern when tightening lug nuts in three stages - never tighten them sequentially in one go! I learned this the hard way when my wheel developed runout. Before lowering the car, check the wheel rim with a level - if it's off by more than 2mm, you'll need to reinstall. Oh, and don't forget to get a wheel alignment after changing front wheels, or you'll end up with uneven tire wear costing you more.
