How to Change the Hub Assembly on a Honda CR-V

The hub assemblies for all four wheels of the Honda CR-V are part of the steering knuckles. The rear hub assemblies also include the backing plate for the brake shoes. Removing and replacing the hub from the steering knuckle requires special tools that only a professional machinist can use. Your best bet is to remove the steering knuckle assembly and replace it as a whole or have the part worked on professionally.

Instructions

Front Hub

1

Unstake the hub/drive axle nut using a chisel or punch and hammer and then loosen the nut with a breaker bar and socket. Insert a pry bar between two of the wheel studs to keep the hub steady as you loosen the nut.

2

Raise the CR-V's front end and support it on jack stands, then remove the front wheel.

3

Unbolt and remove the brake caliper and then the caliper mounting bracket with a wrench; hang the caliper with a strong wire to avoid damaging the brake line. Slip the brake disk off.

4

Mark the relationship of the strut and the steering knuckle with paint or chalk and then loosen the bolts connecting the steering knuckle to the strut using a wrench; don't remove the bolts.

5

Remove the nuts connecting the stabilizer bar to the control arm with your wrench, then remove the lock pin from the castle nut, loosen the nut and separate the control arm from the ball joint with a puller.

6

Remove the strut-to-knuckle bolts and push the drive axle from the hub, supporting the drive axle's end with wire. Separate the steering knuckle from the strut.

7

Guide the replacement knuckle/hub assembly into position, insert the drive axle into the hub, push the knuckle into the strut flange and install its bolts and nuts without tightening them.

8

Connect the ball joint to the control arm with its nut, then tighten the strut bolt nuts, followed by the control arm-to-ball-joint nuts and the tie rod nut.

9

Reinstall the brake disk, caliper bracket and caliper, then install and tighten the drive axle/hub nut.

10

Remount the wheel and lower the vehicle.

Rear Hub

11

Loosen the nut for the rear drive axle/hub with the breaker bar if the vehicle has four-wheel drive, then block the front wheels with wheel chocks, raise the CR-V's rear end, support it on jack stands and remove the rear wheel.

12

Unbolt and remove the brake caliper and then remove the brake disk. If the vehicle is two-wheel drive, unstake the hub retaining nut with the punch and hammer and remove it with the breaker bar.

13

Remove the parking brake shoes, pushing down on the retaining spring with a screwdriver to pop it off and then pulling the shoes with the retractor springs off the backing plate.

14

Raise the floor jack to support the trailing suspension arm and disconnect the suspension arms from the steering knuckle, removing their arms with your wrench. Separate the axle from the knuckle on a four-wheel-drive and support it with wire.

15

Remove the steering knuckle and the brake backing plate.

16

Install the replacement steering knuckle and brake backing plate, connecting the knuckle to the suspension arms and drive axle as needed. Raise the floor jack on the trailing arm to simulate the normal riding height before tightening the bolts/nuts.

17

Reconnect the parking brake shoes and springs to the backing plate, then reinstall the brake disk, brake caliper and hub retaining nut.

18

Remount the wheel and lower the vehicle.