2006 Chevy HHR Wheel Bearing Hub Replace Right Front

This Chevy HHR Wheel Bearing Hub replacement was an easy fix using the hub puller. No beating on it with hammers.

[@ricklambrecht1018]

Thank you. It was very helpful and much easier than I expected it to be.

[@ginjuice4681]

Howdy great Video, just finished replacing my HHR Wheel Bearings procedure worked great, only problem this HHR is in the rust bucket/snow and ice had to beat the wheel bearing's off with a sledge hammer. Great workout, the bearings were welded in by Galvanic corrosion, salt, water and aluminum nasty mix. The HHR is back on the road again. thanks again.

[@Madd_Jack]

Everything on that HHR came off to easy! xD My brake rotors were so rusted on, I had to snap it in half before it finally broke free. No amount of fluid and airhammer helped. I'm dreading having to do this soon xD

[@SteveAZ711]

California, Arizona rust free car. No rust out here, just lots of plastic, dash killing heat. Ergo dash covers and dark tinted windows and lots of shaded parking if available. And yes it did come off easy. Thanks! Try free all, it is expensive but well worth it.

[@marchallaert7372]

This is a great tutorial that really helped us do the job correctly. Thank you!!!👍

[@SteveAZ711]

You're welcome!

[@dukejupiter9469]

Right now my 2008 HHR has an appointment at the garage due to a noisey wheel hub. Located in Germany it's somehow annoying cause GM has discontinued their Chevrolet sale years ago which leads to shaky supply on parts and mostly expensive shipping from abroad. Not to speak of the question marks on all faces when I name this model even at GM depots. For me and the few leftovers it is kind of dull, once you need service or simply a clue. Therefore I am really grateful for finding your insightful tutorials on YT🙏 even if I leave this job to the pro. Nevertheless, being on eye level is never a false move, doesn't it.✌️ And let me add this. To increase sales some "expatriates" like mine were retrofitted to run on liquefied Petroleum gas which is not bad all speaking of today.

[@SteveAZ711]

Thanks Duke for the great insight. Parts are an issue for sure. LPG is a good fuel and much less expensive. I imagine the tank would have room in the back and I would expect it would be vented...just in case of a vapor leak. I exercise my HHR 2 to 4 times a week. Thanks!

[@dukejupiter9469]

@@SteveAZ711 Full metal LPG-tank has a volume of 13 gallons and sits in the spare wheel well nicely protected against damage and rust. If you avoid full throttle capacity is good for ~300 miles to average cost of 50$. Conventional drive would be ~90$ on the regular gas pump.

[@samphillips8322]

Thanks for mentioning the torque specs. Good video, lots of useful info in 10 minute video.

[@SteveAZ711]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JohnJohnson-ML574]

I have aluminum wheels. I do not have any cheap ass center cap to knock off. Just have some 1 push on the break pedal as you brake it loose.

[@dealerauctionnightmare4689]

Whenever I do front hub bearings, I turn the wheel all the way to the same side I'm working on. Makes it easier to get to the caliper and hub mounting bolts.

[@12chickennuggets3]

Thank you, very well explained 👏 👍

[@oldnick4707]

85, 155 ft.lbs. thanks! :)

[@AboveandBeyondGlobalDrones]

~ Replaced both of mine at around 74k. Thought at first it was tire noise but after putting on some good tires I found it was the hubs after all. Was not as hard a job as I expected and I didn’t need the puller. I used a bungee cord to hold the caliper out of the way. Seems the HHR’s will require replacing the hubs! I’ve seen many a complaint!

[@SteveAZ711]

It is not a difficult repair if the hub is not stuck due to rust. Making sure the vehicle is supported properly is most important and then you can concentrate on the work at hand. Great that you did not need a puller...makes the repair even easier! Thanks!

[@JoseHernandez-oq9yo]

Thanks for the video sr.

[@PappysCorner]

Good job... I would feel comfortable doing this with your video as a guide... Thanks buddy.!!

[@SteveAZ711]

Thanks Pappy!

[@anonymousjohnn7969]

thank you for the tutorial.... but im laughing at the gloves...the mallet....

[@SteveAZ711]

Thanks for watching!

[@perryh.5306]

Should have changed out the rotors also....those things have seen better days....lol

[@SteveAZ711]

They only have 335000 miles on them. They are just now getting broke in. LOL

[@ZLPY]

I am learning how to do this. I am mortified. Ill try another video.

[@SteveAZ711]

Watch all the videos on this you can find. It helps and there may be some little tips you may find on other videos as well.

[@Dorizono]

Hi, I’m doing this on my HHR, and having some issues getting the spline all the way through the new wheel bearing. Did you struggle at all with this?

[@SteveAZ711]

No, I cleaned and lubed everything and there was no issues in installing the new hub.

[@Dorizono]

@@SteveAZ711 shoot. I’ve cleaned everything. I guess I’ll try lube but it’s not even close to on. Anyway I could send you a picture?

[@craiggerlach5548]

That hole does not look round at all, typically that is round and a tight fit to the bearing. Was there a bearing that blew out in past and ate that up or is this car designed that way? I have worked on up to 2008s and never seen this before, always a round hole... looks almost heart shaped.

[@SteveAZ711]

This is a stock 2006 HHR wheel hub. Look at the metal ring and it is also shaped the same way. No a bearing did not blow out. The shape is the design to allow for the abs sensor and wire to sit in.

[@craiggerlach5548]

@@SteveAZ711 I just had to work on a 2010 HHR today and saw that.. customer ordered hubs for SS,. argh.,. he had an LT.. weird design. the sensor is why they did that like you said...

[@clappgen5.949]

What is the metal plate that goes behind the hub? Is it neccessary?

[@SteveAZ711]

It is designed to keep debris and dust away from the rotor. It is also designed to direct air onto the rotor for cooling purposes. Yes, it is necessary if you want your HHR or other vehicle to perform to engineers specifications.

[@paulapaulun4255]

What are the symptoms of this? My son drove my car and said I seem to need a left front hub bearing assembly replacement. I have had the car for few years and and has seemed to have a low whirring/growling sound (not loud), and when I've had wheel bearings checked while car on lift, I was told they seemed o.k. Do BOTH sides have to be done, too, not just one side where noise seems to be heard?? Is this repair horribly expensive?

[@SteveAZ711]

Paula some older vehicles have inner and outer wheel bearings that will make sounds like you mentioned. Both bearings are replaceable on each wheel. Newer vehicles have hub assemblies that have a wheel bearing insert and the whole hub assembly is usually replaced instead of the bearing itself (less time consuming). You generally replace the hub that is at issue on the side that is noisy. That whirring/growling sound will get louder the faster you go. Have your mechanic take it for a test drive to truly diagnose the problem. Sometimes you can have a bad bearing (hub)and it will not show up on the lift. Repair costs vary with the type of vehicle, so get a couple of estimates on the phone. Sometimes the car brand dealership is the best way to go for estimates and repairs. Here is a video link of a wheel bearing noise...kzbin.info/www/bejne/ap-YiaSfdsiql9E

[@paulapaulun4255]

@@SteveAZ711, my car is an 06 Chevy HHR...is this where the whole assembly needs replaced because it's easier? I saw online where it can be up to 700.00-1,000.00 to do this, and I am worried. Is that typical cost?? I read they like to do both sides, too. I would like to take it to a chevy dealership, but they can charge more than independent garages. In the past when it was on a lift, they would spin both front wheels and they said they spun freely, and by looking, etc.

[@SteveAZ711]

@@paulapaulun4255 Yes, in this video I replace the wheel hub assembly. The part cost me around $200, but there are less expensive hubs around $50 and up. Mine had the ABS(auto brake sensor) so I needed the more expensive one. AutoZone has the same part for $102.00. As I mentioned, previously have a mechanic drive your HHR to really determine the issue. It could be as simple as a tire problem or even a CV axle problem. To properly check a wheel bearing on a lift a dial gauge would have to be fitted to the bearing to determine the quality(side to side motion or "play") of the bearing. Your son just may know a mechanic as he diagnosed the issue first. Also, if it is a wheel bearing then you only have to do the side that is bad. Sure the other side will probably need it some time in the future so the mechanic you choose may want the repeat business and give you some kind of break on the labor costs. I hope this helped some. Let me know what you find.

[@ChrisColbjornsen]

tamk you

[@melissapedersen4233]

Do you have to determine which side it's coming from first?

[@SteveAZ711]

If it is real bad you can hear it sounding through either the right or left floorboard as you drive. It helps to have someone in the passenger seat to listen as well. I could hear mine coming from the passenger side floorboard.

[@MissouriOldTimer]

That is much easier than changing the wheel bearings on my Subaru, they have to be pressed in and pressed out, that one just had 3 bolts and you were all set.

[@SteveAZ711]

I have a press for such as those on Subarus. In 2009 Subaru went to a four bolt hub assembly to make the job easier.

[@MissouriOldTimer]

@@SteveAZ711 I'm glad they changed, over all I really like Subarus, but the bearings are rough to change on these older models.

[@Jim-oo7dk]

I could live to be 100, and I will never understand why mechanics will show you every bit of grunting and groaning of every bolt removal, then show you the bolt like it has magical properties, then speed through the actual tricky part like learning to release electrical connectors that are all different. And when the bearing came falling out it looked like its entire weight was hanging on an electrical wire.

[@SteveAZ711]

The hub fell out. I suppose it would have filmed better if I had to slowly pry it out. The ABS sensor wire is an easy disconnect.

[@scottnmelanie5]

At 3:10 you say to disconnect the sensor... my 08 does not have that... I am taking the hub from my 08 and moving it to my 06...should I be worried?

[@SteveAZ711]

I would just buy a new hub for that model and not have to go through all the work. Also, without an ABS sensor on the 06, you will get a error light on the dash that will not go away. Just a few thoughts...

[@scottnmelanie5]

@@SteveAZ711 I use my 08 parts car as a learning experience before working on my 06... but I asked the parts store if they were the same before starting any work and they said yes, exact same part number (learned with the starters a few weeks ago to check)....Dang it!

[@angelsantos1539]

Are all of the bolts the same size as 2007 hhr 30MM 15MM

[@SteveAZ711]

I believe so.

[@nodak81]

I have to do this on my '09 in the next few days. I already know it's not going to be nearly that easy since they use salt on the roads up here. It's going to be a rusted mess.

[@SteveAZ711]

Soak It in Liquid Wrench...been using it for over 50 years. Let it sit overnight. Tap on the hub with a hammer and soak it again. The rest is why mechanics need a beer afterward.

[@FunGuy-yo5ex]

great video steve! very helpful i just have a few questions my 2006 chevy hhr has been making this circular type grinding noise while I drive... and it sounds exactly like the hhr in this video below kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnyxlqN5obtjnpI I cant really tell which side its coming from.. will replacing the wheel bearing hub be the solution to my problem? im a broke college student so I dont like the idea of bringing it to a mechanic, and ive never really worked on a car before but with this tutorial I feel like I coukd do it. please respond because im kind of desperate at this point

[@SteveAZ711]

Have someone ride with you and they can help hear which side. Also, turn the steering loose on a straight stretch and see which side it pulls to(do not go fast.) there are many KZbin videos out there on changing out the wheel hub, so watch as many as you can before you do the repair.

[@FunGuy-yo5ex]

SteveAZ711 thanks for the help!