Dodge Ram trucks use wheel bearings inside rotor housing to allow the wheels to spin freely. These wheel bearings can fail because of a loss of lubricant or heat damage, and will require complete rotor replacement. The average backyard mechanic can replace the wheel bearings in a Dodge Ram in about three hours.
Instructions
1. Raise the truck with the floor jack by placing the jack head onto a frame rail and pumping the lever until the wheel is in the air. Position a jack stand next to the jack head on the frame rail for support.
2. Remove the wheel by turning the lug nuts counterclockwise, then pulling the wheel from the hub. Place the wheel aside, away from the work area.
3. Remove the caliper and pads by turning the twin rear mount bolts on the caliper body counterclockwise, then sliding the caliper from the rotor. Unplug the calipers with ABS from the wiring harness by pulling the adapter plug from the socket. A small screwdriver can release the catch on the plug.
4. Turn the spindle nut (hub nut) counterclockwise and remove it. The wheel bearings on most Ram models are sealed inside the rotor housing, and this housing must be removed. Behind the wheel lug bolt assembly, there are four 14mm bolts that can be turned counterclockwise. Slide the rotor off the hub.
5. Replace the rotor with a new unit and slide it over the hub spindle. Turn the four mount bolts clockwise until they are tight. Replace the spindle nut and turn it clockwise.
6. Replace the caliper and pads (new pads are recommended) by sliding the loaded caliper onto the rotor and turning the two mount bolts clockwise. Reattach the wiring harness connection by pressing the plug into the ABS socket on the caliper.
7. Replace the wheel by sliding it onto the lug bolts and turning all of the lug nuts clockwise, in an alternating pattern.
8. Remove the jack stand and lower the truck from the floor jack by turning the jack's pressure screw counterclockwise slowly.
9. Repeat this procedure on the opposite wheel.
Tags: wheel bearings, mount bolts, bolts clockwise, caliper pads, counterclockwise then
