advice to Xk8 and Xkr Owners - Replacing Worn Front Wheel Bearings

Changing front wheel bearing parts on many cars can be a fairly right forward job but changing the bearing parts on an Xk8 and Xkr can be attractive and a extra tool will be required to do the job. There is nothing complicated about the Xk8 wheel bearing as such as they are a accepted one piece bearing together with 2 circlips that withhold the bearing in the housing.

The Xk8 and Xkr bearings are not noted for their longevity with car mileages between 30000 and 40000 miles typically requiring front wheel bearing parts changes. Indicative signs of worn wheel bearings are the constant drone of the bearings which get worse if you turn the steering wheel and commonly the rough feel when driving the car. At the first signs of a worn wheel bearing, they should be changed as soon as possible to avoid supplementary work (and costs) in the future.

Hydraulic Press Brakes

One of the first problems to be encountered is the extraction of the bottom ball joint which will be tight and often has to be cut off. extraction of the calliper and disc is usually straightforward. However, extraction of the Abs rotor nut is required and this requires a extra tool (rotor nut socket) to undo it without causing high-priced damage. The rotor nut has a series of castellations on it for the wheel speed sensor to pick up. The sensor has to be removed which is also high-priced if damaged.

With the hub off the car and suitably retained in a vice, the next challenge is to take off the rotor nut which requires primary force requiring a very large torsion bar lever to move it. Once the nut is undone, two extra circlips need to be removed and then the bearing has to be pressed out of it's housing. A hydraulic press is best for this and ideally a cradle to gather it. Best use you local auto engineer / garage for help here.

Refitting is the reverse of the above, but hopefully now you will have a much quieter Xk8 / Xkr and extensive improved driving feel.

advice to Xk8 and Xkr Owners - Replacing Worn Front Wheel Bearings

Hydraulic Press Brakes