Wheel Bearing - Press-In Front

Remove the front hub assembly from the spindle, press out the old bearing race, press in the new bearing race, and reinstall the hub assembly with proper torque specifications.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front wheel bearing race (inner and outer) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Wheel bearing grease (high-temperature) × 1 — NLGI Grade 2
• Cotter pin for axle nut × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Brake cleaner × 1 — Non-chlorinated

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake.
2. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while vehicle is still on the ground but do not remove.
3. Raise front of vehicle with floor jack at designated lift points.
4. Support vehicle securely on jack stands placed under frame rails.
5. Remove front wheel completely.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove axle nut and cotter pin
   Remove the cotter pin from the spindle nut using pliers or side cutters. Use a breaker bar and appropriate socket to loosen and remove the spindle nut. Note that this nut torque must be confirmed against the factory service manual specification for the 1992 Viper front hub before reassembly. Ensure the vehicle is stable on jack stands before applying force. Note: The front spindle nut torque and preload procedure must be confirmed against the factory service manual for the 1992 Viper before reassembly. Ensure the vehicle is stable before applying force.
2. 2

   Remove brake caliper
   Remove the two brake caliper mounting bolts located at the rear of the caliper bracket. Carefully lift the caliper off the rotor and suspend it from the suspension or frame using wire or a bungee cord. Do not allow the caliper to hang by the brake hose as this can damage the hose internally.
3. 3

   Remove brake rotor
   Remove the brake rotor from the hub. If the rotor is seized to the hub face, use a dead-blow hammer to tap around the outer edge of the rotor to break it free. Some rotors may have threaded holes for jacking screws; if present, thread bolts into these holes evenly to push the rotor off the hub.
4. 4

   Disconnect ABS sensor
   The 1992 Viper RT/10 was not equipped with ABS; there is no wheel speed sensor to disconnect on the front hub. Skip this step and proceed to hub removal.
   Torque spec

   ABS Sensor Bolt11 Nm (8 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Remove hub assembly from spindle
   After removing the spindle nut and washer, slide the hub/rotor assembly off the spindle. The outer bearing cone will typically come free as the hub is drawn off; catch it to avoid dropping it. Confirm the front hub retention method against the factory service manual for the 1992 Viper, as this bearing is retained by the spindle nut, not by hub-to-spindle bolts.int pen before removal for proper reinstallation.
   Torque spec

   Hub Bolts102 Nm (75 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Clean hub assembly exterior
   With the hub removed, thoroughly clean the exterior surfaces of the hub assembly using brake cleaner and a wire brush. Remove all old grease, dirt, and corrosion from the hub face and the area around the bearing races. Inspect the hub for cracks, scoring, or unusual wear patterns that would indicate replacement is necessary.
7. 7

   Remove bearing cones and seals
   Remove the inner and outer bearing cones from the hub assembly. The outer bearing cone will typically slide out from the front of the hub. The inner bearing cone is accessed from the back after removing the grease seal. Use a seal puller or pry bar to carefully remove the grease seal, then extract the inner bearing cone. Clean all old grease from the bearing cones and inspect the rollers for pitting, scoring, or discoloration indicating heat damage.
8. 8

   Press out old bearing races
   Using a hydraulic press and appropriate bearing race driver or punch, press the old bearing races out of the hub. The races are interference-fit and will require substantial force. Support the hub securely on press blocks or a suitable fixture, ensuring the hub is level and the race can exit freely. Drive the race from the opposite side, applying force only to the race itself, never to the hub bore. Press out both inner and outer races completely and inspect the hub bore for damage, scoring, or wear.
9. 9

   Prepare hub bore for new races
   Thoroughly clean the hub bearing bores using brake cleaner and a clean cloth. Inspect the bore surfaces for any burrs, nicks, or damage. Use emery cloth to remove minor imperfections if necessary. Measure the bore diameter with calipers if available to confirm it is within specification. The bore must be clean, smooth, and free of any contamination before installing new races.
10. 10

    Press in new bearing races
    Place the new bearing races into the hub bores, ensuring they are properly oriented (the chamfered edge typically faces outward toward the bearing cone installation direction). Using a hydraulic press and a bearing race driver that matches the race diameter exactly, press each race into the hub bore. The driver must contact only the outer edge of the race, never the inner diameter. Press the race until it is fully seated against the shoulder in the hub bore. Confirm proper seating by checking that the race is flush and cannot be moved by hand. Repeat for both inner and outer races.
    ⚠Ensure the bearing race driver contacts only the race outer diameter. Pressing on the wrong surface will damage the race and require replacement.
11. 11

    Pack bearings with grease
    Pack both the inner and outer bearing cones with high-temperature wheel bearing grease. Work the grease into the bearing by pressing it through the rollers from the large end of the cone, ensuring grease fills all spaces between rollers. Continue until grease extrudes from the small end of the cone. Alternatively, use a bearing packer tool for more efficient greasing. Wipe excess grease from the exterior but leave the bearing well-packed.
12. 12

    Install bearings and seals
    Install the inner bearing cone into the inner race in the hub. Install a new inner grease seal by carefully driving it into place using a seal driver or large socket that contacts the seal outer edge only. The seal should sit flush with or slightly below the hub face. Apply a thin coat of grease to the seal lip. Install the outer bearing cone into the outer race but do not install the outer seal yet (if applicable to this design).
13. 13

    Reinstall hub assembly to spindle
    Slide the hub/rotor assembly onto the spindle. Install the outer bearing cone, washer, and spindle nut, then set bearing preload per the factory procedure (typically tighten while rotating the hub to seat the bearings, then back off and re-tighten to the specified preload). Confirm the preload and torque sequence against the factory service manual for the 1992 Viper.
    Torque spec

    Hub Bolts102 Nm (75 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Reinstall brake rotor
    Clean the hub face and rotor mounting surface with brake cleaner. Install the brake rotor onto the hub, ensuring it sits flat against the hub face. If the rotor has an indexing feature or was marked during removal, align it to the original position.
15. 15

    Reinstall brake caliper and ABS sensor
    Remove the caliper from its suspended position and carefully install it over the rotor. Install and torque the caliper mounting bolts to specification. If equipped with ABS, reinstall the wheel speed sensor into its bore, install the mounting bolt, and torque to specification. Reconnect the ABS sensor electrical connector.
    Torque spec

    ABS Sensor Bolt11 Nm (8 lb-ft)
16. 16

    Install and torque axle nut
    Install the spindle nut and set bearing preload per the factory procedure: tighten the nut while rotating the hub to seat the bearings, then back off and re-tighten to the specified light preload. Install a new cotter pin through the nearest aligning hole in the spindle; if holes do not align, adjust the nut minimally (loosening is acceptable to reach the nearest hole in a preload setup) to the nearest position within spec. Bend the cotter pin ends to secure it. Note: Set bearing preload per the factory procedure, then align the cotter pin hole by minimal adjustment to the nearest slot; do not over-tighten beyond specified preload to reach a hole.
    ⚠Never loosen the axle nut to align cotter pin holes. Only tighten further if needed for alignment.
    Torque spec

    Axle Nut250 Nm (184 lb-ft)
17. 17

    Reinstall wheel and lower vehicle
    Install the wheel onto the hub and hand-tighten all lug nuts. Lower the vehicle until the tire just contacts the ground but the suspension is not fully loaded. Torque the lug nuts in a star pattern to specification. Fully lower the vehicle and remove jack stands.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts140 Nm (103 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Torque all fasteners to specification in the order presented in the removal steps, working in reverse.
2. Use a new cotter pin for the axle nut; never reuse old cotter pins.
3. Ensure the ABS sensor is properly seated and the connector is fully engaged.
4. Pump the brake pedal several times before moving the vehicle to ensure proper caliper piston position.

Verification

• Start the vehicle and verify the ABS warning light extinguishes after a brief self-check (if equipped with ABS).
• Test drive the vehicle at low speed in a safe area and verify there are no unusual noises, vibrations, or pulling to one side.
• After the first 50-100 miles, re-torque the wheel lug nuts to specification to account for any settling.
• Check for any grease leaks around the hub assembly seals after initial driving.
• If a dial indicator is available, check hub end play before final assembly; typical specification is 0.001-0.005 inches with the axle nut properly torqued.

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