Front wheel hubs (Mazda Capella GD)

14.2.1. Removal

To check the front wheel bearings for excessive wear, place the front of the car on jack stands and grasp the wheel from both sides as shown in the figure 184. Move the wheel inward and outward, and check the size of the gap. For the second check, quickly spin the wheel by hand several times and check the level of possible noise. If one of the defects is detected, the wheel bearing must be replaced. The complete steering knuckle must be removed to replace the wheel bearing.

• Remove the wheel hub cap and loosen the wheel nuts.
• Using a chisel, tap the axle nut grooves to knock them out of the drive shaft groove and release the axle nuts while the wheels are still on the ground.
• Raise the front of the vehicle and place it on suitable jack stands.
• Remove the wheel and completely remove the shaft nuts.
• Loosen the tie rod ball joint nuts from the underside of the steering knuckle arm until the nut surface is limited by the end of the threaded bolt. Install the ball head bolt presser as shown in the figure 185, and remove the bolt connection. Loosen a tightly seated ball-head bolt with a short, strong blow of a hammer against the steering knuckle arm after the puller screw has been firmly tightened.

[Based on website data: Mazbook.ru]

• From the top of the wishbone, unscrew both nuts of the connecting arms for the anti-roll bar and remove the washer, rubber bushing and spacer bushing.
• Release the brake line from the shock absorber supports, while lifting the spring leaf lugs with a screwdriver and knocking the leaf out from the top side.
• Unscrew the disc brake caliper from the steering knuckle and secure it to the front wheel suspension using a piece of wire so that it does not hang down on the hose.
• Remove the brake disc from the wheel hub.
• Loosen both steering knuckle mounting bolts on the top of the shock absorber strut and carefully knock out the bolts. Pay attention to which side the bolts are installed on.
• On the lower side of the steering knuckle, loosen the nuts of the clamping bolts and knock out the bolts.
• Press down on the wishbone and release it from the knuckle.
• With the anti-lock braking system installed, unscrew the wheel speed sensor from the steering knuckle. It is located at the location shown in the picture 186th place.

• Remove the steering knuckle from the bottom of the shock absorber strut and lift it up, at the same time it will disengage from the drive shaft.

14.2.2. Replacing the wheel bearing

Figure 188 shows the assembly drawing of the wheel bearing together with the front wheel hub. Typically, a wheel hub puller is used to remove the hub and bearing, but a press and a pressure plate can be used to replace the bearing. When replacing a wheel bearing, proceed as follows:

• Place the steering knuckle under a press and press the hub out of the knuckle using a suitable mandrel. In this case, observe the following:

— Remove the mudguard only when the part needs to be replaced. If a press is used for removal, be careful not to damage the mudguard.

— Place the steering knuckle in the appropriate position and press out the hub with a press mandrel. If the inner rotating ring of the bearing remains on the wheel hub, it can be ground on a grinding machine (but do not grind in the hub), to split it with a chisel.

• Remove the large snap ring in front of the wheel bearing.
• Press out the wheel bearing using a press mandrel from the inside to the outside.
• Check the bearing separator and balls for wear. Bearings showing signs of discoloration, chipping or similar defects should always be replaced. When installing a wheel bearing, proceed as follows:
• If the mudguard has been removed, it must be placed on the steering knuckle using a piece of pipe of a suitable diameter. In this case, make sure that the guide edge of the mudguard after installation fits precisely into the connection with the steering knuckle.
• Press the wheel bearing from the outside into the bearing hole. To do this, use a piece of pipe of a suitable internal diameter. The steering knuckle must be well supported from below.
• Press a new oil seal ring into the inside of the steering knuckle. Finally, secure the bearing with a snap ring.
• Place the wheel hub under the press and press the assembled steering knuckle onto the wheel hub. The steering knuckle is pressed until the bearing is against the wheel hub.

14.2.3. Installing the steering knuckle

• The installation of the steering knuckle is carried out in the reverse order of removal:
• Slide the wheel hub over the end of the drive shaft and place the steering knuckle with the bottom side on the suspension arm and the top side on the shock absorber strut. Insert the bolts from the same side as before. Tighten both shock absorber strut nuts to 95-120 Nm, and the control arm clamp nuts to 44-55 Nm. Do not fully tighten the drive shaft nuts, as the radial clearance must first be checked as follows:
• Tighten the nut by hand.
• Mount a dial indicator with a suitable stand on the wheel hub, as shown in Figure 189, and move the hub back and forth. The gap shown on the indicator should not be more than 0.2 mm.

• Temporarily install the disc brake caliper and, while pressing the brake pedal (this operation is performed by another person), and tighten the drive shaft nut to a tightening torque of 235-320 Nm.
• Finally, screw the disc brake caliper onto the steering knuckle. Tighten both bolts to 80-100 Nm.
• Finally, make a chasing of the input shaft nut as described in chapter 13.1 and shown on figure 175.
• Reconnect the anti-roll bar.