I'm in the process of replacing my front wheel hub. I'm at the point where I'm trying to remove the hub itself. It's not budging even with a air hammer. I might just remove the whole assembly and go get it pressed out. Question.. 1. If removing the two upper bolts holding it to the strut, will that require an alignment? 2. For the lower connection, do I remove it at the ball joint, or the 3 bolts attaching to lower A arm? Will one method require alignment, the other not? 3. The tie rod end, is it pretty easy to remove it from the spindle? EDIT: I finally removed it without removing the spindle. However, I would still like to know answers to above questions since I'll need to do the other side soon. One other question, after removing the hub, their is a lot of corrosion in area where the hub sits in. Is there a chemical to help dissolve that? Or just wire brush and elbow grease? I'm sure living where they use salt liberally doesn't help :-/ Thanks!
If you undo the two bolts holding it to the strut it will need an alignment with camber check as when the bolts are slack there is movement at this point for camber adjustment. At the bottom you can do either, some find it easier to undo the ball joint. Ideally you should do an alignment any time you disturb the suspension. To clean a wire brush works well. Aluminium wheel cleaner does remove the corrosion on the aluminium parts as does phosphoric acid if you can buy it. This is harmless to skin but do nor splash it in your eyes. It is one of the main ingredients of wheel cleaner. John (Britprius)
Thanks John! I hope I can get the hub out without removing the spindle on the right side. I plan on getting an alignment, however, I'll be installing new summer tires(running my winter wheel/tire combo now) in the early spring and was waiting to get an alignment then. When I was at the dealer recently, they checked my alignment and said i'm good. However, I've got a bigger issue. I "grumbling" "whirring" whatever you want to call the noise sounded like it came from the drivers side. It also was much louder turning slightly left especially at higher speeds. Barely noticed it going straight or lower speeds. I replaced the wheel bearing and the noise is still there. I hope it's the right one and not something else? Anything else I should be looking at? Maybe bearings at the transaxle? Internally to the trans/diff? Not sure how to diagnose it. Any help appreciated!!
I assume your in the US. If turning left makes the noise louder that would point to the passengers side bearing, as when turning left that is the wheel that has most load. Please put your location in your avatar as this makes a difference to the answers to your questions. In the UK the drivers side is the other side of the car, so turning left to make the noise would make it the drivers side bearing in the UK and some other countries. John (Britprius)
Rumbling and vibration especially on the pass side is indicative of trans failure. Whats the deal on the trans? Ever changed the fluid? How many miles? See lots of mountain work? Throwing any check engine lights? Go here as they discuss it: lusciousgarage.com
I've heard CV joints going.. usually sound more like "snap, snap, snap", or "crunch, crunch, crunch" and usually get louder the sharper you turn?? What other way to diagnose CV joint/shaft? Yes, I'm in the US… North Eastern IL to be exact. The '07 Prius has almost 150k. I am the original owner. Trans fluid was changed with WSF at 70kish and 120ish. I actually looked at the fluid when the noise started. The fluid is at the correct level and smells normal No check engine lights. No mountain work. However, I do drive aggressively.. especially turns. I have the Touring and it has the upper strut brace, lower frame brace and body brace. Makes a huge difference in how the Prius handles What else would be indicative of "trans failure"? Wouldn't the trans make a noise regardless of turning? Is there a "differential" that is part of the trans? I can see that making noise turning one way or another. How do I check it? Does it have it's own fluid, or shared with trans? Everyone, thank you for your help!!!!
Ok good new fluid and no lights. Be aware all those braces are hard on the suspension. Careful look at suspension is a good idea. Keep an eye on the lower bj's. They take a beating with all those braces and hard cornering. Tiny little a frame and ball joint. Most likely mechanical. Be aware if it turns out to be the inner cvt's are bad good idea to replace the trans/inner seal on both sides. The seal where the inner cvt's enter the trans on both sides (2). The inners will be out already labor wise and your mileage is rather high. Would suck to put new cvt's in and not the old seals and have a trans leak later you may not notice and lunch the trans. Sounds like your pretty mechanical. I would put the front end up on stands. Put the car in inspection mode...wait till the engine warms up real good. Then get out of inspection mode and turn the car on. Since its all warmed up the engine should not turn on. Listen underneath while someone in the car accelerates in ev very slowly and see where the noise is coming from. It may just creep away in idle-ev once in gear. Point being with the engine off in ev should be pretty quiet under there and you'll quickly hear any bad mechanical sounds. It may throw an abs nag...don't worry you can boot the 12 battery and get rid of that nag later. Make sure your stand mount system is very good with back up. Good Luck.
Yes, and as I'm putting higher mileage.. I'm also taking it easy on the little bugger We do live in the Chicagoland area, besides on/off ramps.. no real good curvy roads arounds here I'm hoping it's something simple and not overly expensive to replace. Inner cvt's could be the noise. And yes, if i'm removing the the cvt's, I will replace the seals… good idea! Question, would the inner cvt make noise turning in one direction but not the other? Yes, I'm not afraid to work on my cars and actually prefer it. I wrenched on cars in my teenage years.. many moons ago. I have never put the vehicle in inspection mode. I've seen instructions and will try that for sure. I think that would help a lot! And yes, I will make sure it's on stands securely plus a backup. Thank you very much for taking your time to help me out!!
Your welcome. Search you tube for "Prius Inspection" Good yt on it. It forces the engine to stay running at idle till you shut it off. Warm it up real good and it will then creep in ev for a long time. Or enough to see whats what under there. Chock the back tires good. Post pics please on what you find. We like pics.
It ended up being the Right Front Wheel bearing. I replaced both fronts and the car is much quieter now Plus new tires a couple of days ago and my car feels like new again
Yep the wb's take a beating too rolling hard into corners. Somethings gotta give. You'll have clunking lower control arm's next or stab links clunking. Performance suspension or in your case all braced up is really hard on those. Fun ain't free brother but roll on!
Was there play in the wheel when it was off the ground, or did everything seem tight? I'm trying to track down the same issue with my 2007 Prius and really thought it was the right front wheel bearing, but I'm still not sure. I was expecting to be able to wobble the front wheel some from the loose bearing, but I can't do that. I'd hate to spend the time/money replacing it and find out it is something else down there. Thanks, dave
The wheel won't be loose. If the wheel was so loose from a worn out bearing you wouldn't be able to drive it too far. That and its a hub bearing assy so it really doesn't get loose. If you can make it complain by turning into it thats the wheel. Usually speed dependent too.
There was a little play.. it was more a "click, clack" when I moved the wheel while it was up in the air. Again, it was small.. but I could feel it. When I put the new wheel bearing on, no such noise/feel. Sure you can, the bearing develops a play sometimes. However, the noise is turn dependent and speed dependent more usually.
Thanks for the replies. I'm going to go and attempt to replace the right front hub from what I've read. The noise is loud, and does get louder as I go faster and sounds similar to the rear wheel bearing which I had to replace on my old 2002 Prius. When I turn the wheel slightly to the right, the noise definitely gets less noticeable, which is what is leading me to believe it is the right front bearing (Right turn should put more of a load on the left side of the car). I'm trying to find a good write-up on replacing the front hub assembly, but have not seen one that is clear enough so far. I really have not done much work on the front suspension of cars in the past, but am not adverse to getting my hands dirty if I know what I need to do. Thanks, dave