How to Adjust Your Car's Wheel Bearing Nut

Knowing how to perform repairs on your own car can save you hundreds of dollars over taking it into a repair shop. When you need to repair your car, most of what you wind up paying for is the labor. Knowing how to adjust the wheel bearing nut on your car is a cost-effective way to keep your car in good shape.

Instructions

1

Remove the tire to expose the wheel bearing dust cap. Pry off the dust cap.

2

Straighten the cotter pin tabs and remove the cotter pin and the cage to get to the wheel bearing nut.

3

Take the channel locks and twist the wheel bearing nut, and then spin the rotor. This allows you to make sure the bearing is where it should be.

4

Make sure the nuts are at least 1/2-turn to 1/4-turn hand tight. Check this by attempting to wiggle the rotor. If you can wiggle it back and forth, it is not tight enough, and you will need to adjust the wheel bearing nut.

5

Adjust the wheel bearing nut by installing the retaining cage and cotter pin. Slide the cotter pin in.

6

Bend the cotter pin tabs over to keep the cotter pin in place.

7

Reinstall the dust cap by tapping it into place with a rubber mallet. Make sure to fully seat the cap into the rotor hub. Reinstall the tire.