Need help with front wheel bearing/hub assembly

[dondiesel444]

Today I found that the front wheel bearing in my Wife's X has way to much play in it and should be replaced I think. It is a 1996 5.0L AWD with 96,000 miles. I went to NAPA and they said I have to buy the whole wheel bearing/hub assembly as 1 unit and it costs like $275. Has anyone else had to replace this on their X, can I buy just the wheel bearings themselves anywhere else?? I need some advice here, I don't want my Wife driving around with anything un-safe.

 

[Jason_25]

TIMKEN SP450200 [BEARING & HUB ASSEMBLY] Front; Hub Assembly; 4WD; ABS brakes; 5-lug wheels 144.20

From http://www.autopartsgiant.com/

Make sure to buy a new spindle nut for each side too. And yes, it has to be replaced as a whole unit.

 

[dondiesel444]

Thanks a lot!! I don't mind replacing the whole assembly, but boy $275 is a lot of money, I'm glad to see I can get it cheaper, thanks a lot, now how hard is the job to replace, do I need an alignment afterwards??

 

[Jason_25]

It's actually pretty easy. Just remove the brakes and put a big socket on the spindle hut. The hub itself should pull away from the half shaft and the spindle with a little convincing

I would do an alignment afterwards.