Rear wheel bearing replacement

Are the roads salted in your area in winter? If so, you may find a use for a slide hammer. If not, you'll probably be done with the job in a matter of minutes. Some tips are here.

Confirming the ABS wheel sensor signal is the most "special" part of the job, but can be done with a jumper wire if you don't have the Techstream software.

-Chap

 

The movie you found doesn't apply to your car anyway. The 2001-2003 Prius ("Gen 1" in Prius-community language) has "Gen 1 hub bearings" in front and "Gen 3 hub bearings" in the rear (these are bearing-industry terms, not Prius generations, just to keep things confusing).

"Gen 1 hub bearings" do allow replacement of the bearing alone using a press - a job with a low parts cost but high labor - many steps and specialized tools required. That's the story for the front bearings on your car.

"Gen 3 hub bearings" are built and replaced as a complete hub - a higher parts cost but lower labor - a wrench, four bolts, and you're done. Unless they use salt on the roads. That's the story for the rears on your 2001.

Starting in 2004, the Prius uses "Gen 3 hub bearings" at all four positions.

-Chap

 

Hi Alex, Chapman's advice above is good, as usual. As he says, the bearing is not replacable on your hub, it will be obvious when you get it off that there's no practical way to pull it apart.
I changed out a rear wheel bearing on my 02 last week, cost $85 delivered off Ebay and took half an hour to swap out, I cheated and used a friend's lift.
Drum was seized onto the hub, I heated it with a propane torch in a ring around the hub and it popped off when it was ready.
At the back side of the backing plate, unclipped the ABS wire, loosened the 4 hub bolts 2 turns . Then put a foot long drift punch on one of the hub bolt heads and hit it straight on with a hammer, then worked my way around the bolts in an x pattern. It came free readily, and this car has lived in the salt belt all it's life.
the hub can wiggle out with brake shoes intact.
When you're done you will be amazed at how quiet your car becomes, this is a very satisfying project, doable in the back yard, nothing to be afraid of.

 

Hello Alex;
I have been hearing a low hum/growl getting louder for about six months now. I have about 144,00 miles on my 2001 US Prius. My wife says she heard it almost a year ago. My ears are shot from motorcycles, concerts and of course tool and die work. Any ways, this weekend I finally began taking things apart, suspecting rear wheel bearing problems. They did not feel too bad and show no excessive play when measured with a dial indicator and compared to factory specs. (.002" thrust play factory recommended and .0028" runout at edge of hub flange). The next morning however I could feel a little lumpiness and slight roughness on the right rear.

The hub was a little tricky to get off. I removed the return spring and adjuster springs from the brake shoe adjusters but left the shoes in place. The lousy connector to the speed sensor is taken off with a tiny screw driver inserted in the tang area to spread it down and apart, (see someone else's post on a 3rd gen. job). The four 12 mm bolts came out easy despite the factory's red Loctite. I put the bolts in backwards with a little grease on them and had to tap them rather briskly with my socket and extension to get the hub to move away from the axel flange. Only leave about two threads of free space to keep the brake plate and brake lines and cables from coming with it. Once a space is observed I sprayed some rust buster on the mating surfaces, carefully keeping the brake shoes clean and dry. Now it was time to tap and rock the hub away from both the axel and the brake plate using the backward inserted bolts loosened a little at a time. Finally I took them out completely and from the side of the car pushed against the brake shoes and plate with MY well shod feet. Shoe against shoe the battle raged on. You will feel it starting to give when it is about 3/16 " away. By then a large screw driver or brake adjusting tool helps wedge the two surfaces apart.

I will order my two new OEM Timkin Bearing hubs along with front pads from Rock Auto tomorrow. Might even comment on the front caliper pad change as well.

Ciao, Chiuse and Cheers to you all.

 

How did you make out, Alex?

 

Alex, try ebay item 261539145902 2001-2003 Prius rear hub assy. $77.00USD/ 46 pound sterling

 

Alex try ebay UK item number 330763289279 £65 free delivery. New.

John (Britprius)

 

The picture at the top does show 5 studs, but these are often generic pictures. There item checker does say it fits the NHW11 Prius. Hope it is the correct one for you, but I'll keep looking.
I had to change a front wheel hub last week on my gen2 and managed to pick one up for £60. I also found rear hubs for the gen2 in Ireland at £40 delivered when they are normally in the £160 range.

John (Britprius)

 

Alex try ebay item 281393703141 at £32-32 with express delivery.

John (Britprius)

 

Sorry that,s a front bearing.

John (Britprius)

 

Can't you just take a grinder and cut off the extra stud? Or get a 5 bolt rim....

 

Complicates tire rotation.

-Chap