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2009 RX 350 Rear Hub Replacement

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Old 09-04-14, 04:58 PM
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Vonhasch
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Default 2009 RX 350 Rear Hub Replacement

My apologies in advance if this topic has already been covered. I tried several searches but came up empty. My wife's 2009 RX 350 needs to have the right rear hub replaced. Does anyone know where I can find a procedure to perform the replacement? Also if any special tools are required. I would think the hardest part would be to remove the old hub. I'm pretty sure I can do the job myself. I purchased a replacement NSK hub and was going to try the job this weekend. Thanks again for any help.

Carl
Old 09-04-14, 07:10 PM
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thomas1
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Here is a procedure from LOC
http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums...4-lexus-rx330/


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Posted 24 April 2011 - 07:26 PM

I put together this to help anyone trying to do this on their own. I just got done replacing my left rear bearing assembly on my 2004 RX330. I make the assumption if you are doing this you can at least take off your tire, caliper and rotor. I am not a mechanic by trade, but can do many of my own repairs. Some of the names of the parts I refer to may not be exact, but I will describe them as best as I can. I had some tips on this from my buddy, who is a former Lexus master mechanic. So props to Ron for the help! Some tools I would recommend having before you start:

1. 32mm 12 point deep well socket
2. Ball peen hammer
3. Large heavy hammer, such as a 3lb steel mallet.
4. A small chisel, strong flathead screwdriver or metal starter punch.
5. Hex head 8mm -- 1 25 x 50 mm bolt.

Here is the part I am replacing. The specific one I purchased was the Koyo W0133-1890398, which is an OEM part. I would recommend getting OEM parts if you can afford the cost difference.

Update: For all who have asked, the vehicle used in this tutorial is AWD (All Wheel Drive).

http://www.partsgeek...b_assembly.html

First, take off the tire.

1.JPG

2.JPG

Remove the two bolts holding down the brake pads to the caliper.

3.JPG

Next, remove the two bolts holding the caliper to the rotor.

4.JPG

Now pull off and remove the rotor. If the rotor won't budge and you can't pull it off, you can screw the hex head 8mm -- 1 25 x 50 mm bolt into the front of the rotor in one of the the two holes pictured below. As you screw it in, the rotor will push against the assembly pushing off the rotor.

5.JPG

Once the rotor is off, you will see the emergency brake with the hub assembly in the center. You will see a groove in the center of the spindle that is held down by a 12 point nut. The edge of the nut will be slightly bent down into the groove to prevent it from spinning.

6.JPG

Using the chisel, screwdriver or punch, you will need to bend this back up so the metal is even with the circular shape of the spindle nut so that it can be unscrewed. Be careful here because you can mess up the threading on the spindle if you don't bend it back well enough. Once you have successfully bent the spindle nut back to the correct shape, stop.

7.JPG

Next, remove the center cap on the tire and place the tire back on the hub. Firmly tighten the tire directly to the assembly with 3 or 4 lugnuts, but you won't need it to be completely tightened down. Lower the vehicle down to the ground so that there is only enough weight to prevent the tire from spinning. Do not completely lower the vehicle down. Alternately, you can place a pipe or rod in between the lugnuts and prop it against the wheel well or ground. Basically, you will need to prevent the assembly from spinning in order to break loose and remove the spindle nut.

8.JPG

Using the 32 mm 12 point deep well socket, remove the spindle nut. You can place a pipe on the end of the ratchet to achieve more leverage to break the nut free.

9.JPG

Once, you have broken the nut free and removed it, raise the vehicle back up, secure it and remove the tire. Slowly turn the assembly so that the holes in the front match up with the bolts securing it to the backing plate. You will have to do one bolt at a time and remove all four bolts. There is no need to remove or do anything to the emergency brake.

10.JPG

Once all four bolts are removed, locate the divet on the end of the spindle.

11.JPG

Center the rounded end of the ball peen hammer against the divet and using a heavy hammer, give it a few good hard whacks. You will definitely need a hammer with some weight, I used a 3 lb steel mallet. Do not simply use a hammer to hit the spindle directly. Using the round end of the hammer against the divet distributes the strikes evenly down the spindle. You will risk damaging the threading if you start beating at it with a hammer directly. You will start to see the assembly move forward about an inch or two.

One of two things will happen here. Either the assembly will break free of the backing plate, which you will simply need to hit it up, down, left and right to slowly knock it loose and out. Or as in my case, the backing plate will separate from from the axle.

12.JPG

You are almost there! Remove the backing plate from the spindle and prop one side of it against the ledge of the axle. Hold the other side of the plate with your hand. As long as you have the one end against the ledge of the axle, holding it with your hand will be more the enough to brace it. When I tried to prop the other side of the plate against my tire, it started to slightly bent the backing plate.

13.JPG

Give the edges of the bearing a few good whacks with heavy hammer and the assembly will drop to the floor. Now just put everything back together in reverse!

Last but not least, don't forget the bend the metal of the spindle nut back down into the groove once you tighten it back down.
Old 09-04-14, 08:53 PM
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Vonhasch
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Thanks for the quick reply! So there is no difference between a 2004 and 2009?
Old 09-05-14, 04:34 AM
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thomas1
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I would think they are very similar.
the hub is same from 2007 thru 2009. jUST confirmed that on RockAuto.com

Last edited by thomas1; 09-05-14 at 06:32 AM.
Old 09-06-14, 08:23 AM
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Vonhasch
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Thanks I'll let everyone know if I find any differences.
Old 09-15-14, 11:09 AM
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Well I finally finished the wheel hub replacement. Thanks to everyone for their input. I tried to do the job last week but I didn't notice the "deep" part for the 32mm socket. Some of the items I noticed was:

1) I needed a 30mm deep socket not a 32mm deep socket. I guess at some point Lexus changed the size of the spindle/nut.
2) If at all possible time this when you need a brake job because you have everything already disassembled.
3) Replace the spindle nut. They are inexpensive.
4) Absolutely use a gear puller when removing the hub assembly. Hammering on the ball peen hammer with another heavier hammer just doesn't work. I purchased a three arm 5 1/2 ton gear puller from Sears and the hub assembly came right off.
5) Removing the wheel hub from the backing plate was simple. I propped it up on some tractor weights I had laying around, sprayed some WD40 on the hub, waited a few minutes then hammered on the hub. Took less then 1 minute.

The job took me about 4 hours because I had a hell of a time taking everything apart and I was being real careful. Now that I did it once, I'm sure I can do the other side in less than 2 hours.That being said it cost me $130 (NSK) for the wheel bearing, $10 for the spindle nut, and about $100 (gear puller/sockets/hammers) in tools. I can only imagine what the dealer would charge.
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