I am trying to replace the brake rotors on my '96 Pathfinder. I have completely removed the calipers. I know the next step is to remove the hub, but I can't figure out how to do that. The hub seems to have a cap held on with six nuts. I have removed the nuts, but I can't get the cap off and I'm afraid to be violent with it. What is the correct procedure for removing the hub?
-TC
Unfortunately, it's not a simple take on a Pathpuppy, but not horrible either and it can be done without special tools. You have to remove the grease cap (carefully pry it off). Under there is a snap ring. Remove that and then the 6 10mm nuts and then the bearing retainer. Remove the nut lock (phillips screws), the hub nut (with two holes) and the bearings. They all need to come out. Then you can slide (but it might take some force) the assembly off and unbolt the rotors from the back. Make sure to clean and repack the bearings and you should change the grease seals, but they do last a long time generally. Good time to grease the roller bearings at the end of the drive shafts too.
You can use a #2 phillips in one of the nut holes and a hammer to spin the nut, it's not very tight. When putting it back, I use to old school method of tightening them while spinning the wheel until it starts to bind and then backing it off "a bit". I'm sure Nissan has a special tool to measure the preload. Have fun!
Just to be clear, the grease cap that you need to pry off sits on top of the piece with the 6 nuts. It doesn't look like it prys off, but it does.
Jim,
Thanks for the advice. It's good to know that the grease cap pries off -- I wasn't sure about that. I haven't tried your procedure yet, but I'll give it a go as soon as the rain passes.
-TC
Hey, If that wheel spinning is to tighten the wheel bearing packing nut, do the wheel spin for sure. I have a Jeep and the instuctions say to tighten it to a certain torque and then back it off a 1/4 turn. You'd best find out, because if you don't do it right your gonna burn, loosen, or ruin a bearing.
I am a newbieto the world of 4X4 (or $ X $), but not a newbie in doing brakes. I have a 99.5 Pathy that I replaced the pads and turned rotors on back around 60K.
I bought rotors, but couldn't get the new onesto match up perfectly with hubs- so I put old back on and turned instead.
I did a lot of research on it as far as pulling hubs and all. I searched around on
For the record- it did take me the greater part of a day to do one side. You have to really pry the cap off, and once you have the hub/rotor off- you really have to work to get the rotor off the hub.
I also had trouble getting the hub and new grease seal and grease to seat back for enough on the spindle my first try.
The web sites mention a special tool for $10 - $20 bux for the hub retaining "nut", but on my 99.5 the span on the tool was too wide to fit the holes in my nut. I just used the tighten up and back off method.
Now that I have done both- it should not take as long the next time I gotta do it.
Its a learning experience.
Chris >Jim,
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