Replacing a 1994 - 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 (2nd Generation) Wheel Bearing

Summary

• Your 2nd gen Dodge Ram 1500’s wheel bearings absorb many of the forces caused by driving your truck—which is why they need to be replaced every 100,000 miles or so to ensure reliable handling and performance.
• To replace the wheel bearing in your Ram, you’ll need a jack and stands, a lug wrench or impact gun, a socket set, a torque wrench, a bungee cord, a hammer, cloth, threadlocker, and an aftermarket wheel hub compatible with your Ram 1500.
• Follow these steps to complete the replacement: jack up your truck, take off the brakes, remove the old hub, slide on and secure the new one, reattach the brakes, and replace the wheel. Read below for more details (including torque specs).

Guide: Replacing a 1994 - 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 (2nd Generation) Wheel Bearing

2nd generation Dodge Ram 1500 trucks are known for their longevity, with many owners reporting that they’ve driven theirs for hundreds of thousands of miles! But if you want to keep your truck steering, braking, and accelerating properly throughout its lifetime, you’ll need to replace the wheel hub and bearings at some point—and we’re here to help you do it properly.

Replacing Your 1994 - 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 (2nd Generation) Wheel Bearing? This is the part you need!

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After purchasing a reliable replacement wheel hub for your 2nd gen Ram 1500 above, use the steps outlined below to put it in with just a few simple tools. Read on to discover what you’ll need and what to do to ensure a job well done.

Why & When to Replace Your Wheel Hub & Bearings

Your wheel bearings absorb a lot of force as you drive your truck, so they’ll wear out eventually. Wait too long to replace them and you could experience handling problems and performance issues that compromise your truck’s capabilities—and even its safety!

To ensure a smooth and stable driving experience in your Ram, replace the wheel bearings every 100,000 miles or so—or if you notice any of the issues listed here:

See also: 8 Signs You Have a Wheel Bearing Problem

Required Tools:

You don’t need much to change out the wheel bearings in your Ram. In fact, it’s easy enough to do the job with only:

• A jack and stands
• Lug wrench or impact gun
• Socket set and ratchet
• Torque wrench
• Brake caliper hanger or bungee cord
• Hammer
• Cloth
• Threadlocker
• New wheel bearing and hub assembly

Via Wicked Fabz on YouTube.

Step 1: Jack Up Your Truck & Remove the Wheel

The very first thing you should do is loosen the lug nuts on your truck to stop the wheel from spinning during removal. After that, jack up your truck and secure it on stands before using a 22mm socket or impact gun to get the lug nuts off completely. Then remove the wheel and place it aside.

Via Wicked Fabz on YouTube.

Step 2: Remove the Brakes

Push back the caliper piston to give yourself room to work. Then use a 10mm Allen head to get the sliders off the caliper bolts. After they’re off, you may want to use a pry bar to remove the caliper and hang it to the side. Then slide the rotor off as well.

Via Wicked Fabz on YouTube.

Step 3: Remove the Hub Assembly

Take out the cotter pin from the axle nut and then use an 1 3/4 inch socket or impact gun to remove it. Once you’ve done that, you may need to loosen the axle by tapping it with a hammer a few times. Otherwise, remove the cotter pin and castle nut from the wheel knuckle until the axle drops down. This will let you rotate the wheel knuckle freely so that you can access the bolts at the rear of the hub and remove them with a 12-point 9/16 socket. Once the bolts are off, the hub should come loose with just a little pressure or a tap from behind with your hammer.

Via Wicked Fabz on YouTube.

Step 4: Install the New Hub

After getting the hub off, clear away any lingering debris or dirt in the area with a damp rag. Then use a little threadlocker to help secure the new bolts once you put the hub on. Slide the new hub on, then start each of the bolts and torque them to 125 lb-ft each (consult your owner’s manual to make sure this spec is not different for your specific model year). You’ll also need to torque the castle nut holding the wheel knuckle to the axle to 65 lb-ft. After you’ve done that, replace the cotter pin (or use a new one if you clipped the old one to get it off) and make sure it can’t come loose. Finally, replace the axle nut and torque it to 175 lb-ft. Use another cotter pin to secure it.

Via Wicked Fabz on YouTube.

Step 5: Put the Brakes Back On

Replace the brake rotor and then the caliper, making sure the cable attached to it isn’t kinked or coiled. Use a 10mm Allen head to replace each of the bolts holding the caliper in place, and then torque them down to 38 lb-ft.

Step 6: Replace the Wheel

The last step before you’re through is to replace the wheel and tire. Slide it on, start your lug nuts, and then use a 19mm socket to snug them in a star pattern. This helps make sure your wheel is balanced and level before torquing the lug nuts down. Once you’ve done that, you can torque them to 125 lb-ft each. Finish up by lowering your truck back onto the ground and pumping the brakes a few times to make sure they’re working correctly before driving.

Video Walkthrough

We found a useful video showing how to replace the wheel bearing on your 2nd gen Dodge Ram 1500 below—check it out if you need a visual aide for the trickier steps above:

Keep Your 2nd Generation Ram 1500 Reliable

The steps above make it easy to replace the wheel hub on your 1994-2001 Dodge Ram 2500 without professional help or advanced tools. Learn more about getting wheel bearings you can trust for your truck by contacting our team and having one of our experts answer your questions.