2000 Honda Civic - The rear wheel bearings seem fairly easy by replacing the entire hub assembly. The front however do not. Is there a reliable way to replace the front wheel bearing without removing the knuckle and using a press?

How much does a shop usually charge to replace a front wheel bearing (parts and labor)

Thanks

 

You need remove the knuckle to press out the front bearing and hub, no way around it that I am aware of (I seriously doubt there could be another way).

Prices for this work vary widely. I had mine done for nothing (friend), the nearest shop from me charges $60 per hour, min $30.

 

20-60 bucks for the bearing, depending on who you get it from, and for the shop I work at, it is 1.7 hours at 96.53 per hour.

You can remove them in your driveway. Having a large hammer and some larger sockets to push the hub and bearing out. You will also need snap ring pliers to remove the retaining ring. I use punch and hammer to unseat it, and pry it up with a screw driver.

The inner race will stick 99/100 times. A chisel and a propane torch will free most of them. Chill the hub in a freezer for a bit, remove it, and heat the race, and tap the chisel between the hub and race to pry it forward, after that its all gravy.

Use emery paper or a fine sandpaper to scuff the inner knuckle, the hub surface, and lightly on the inner/outer bearing races. This eases reassembly.

 

I know Snap-On makes a tool to replace the wheel bearing and hub on the car. But the down side to that is that the tool is around $400. And that was about 4-5 years ago when I priced one last. Just take it to a professional and have them press it out and in for you. You have to remember that the car is riding on the bearings and if you don't get the right back spacing between the hub and bearing, it will cause a lot of pre-mature wear. That's just my 2 cents

 

it would be kinda hard to do it with the knuckle still attached..
the hub has to go out (away from the vehicle) and the bearing has to go in..
you gotta remove the axle either way.. why not remove the three other nuts to remove the ball joints and tie rod?

if i were you.. id remove both front knuckles, and find another car and bring them to the shop removed.. this will save you money on labor.
if you wanted to save more.. go buy some snap ring pliers and remove the snap ring and hammer out the hub.. bring it to a machine shop and they'll charge you like $20 to remove the rest and press the new stuff in