"2006 Lexus RX330: Replacing The Rear Wheel Bearing"

White 2006 Lexus RX330 Front View

How can I replace the rear wheel hub assembly on my 2006 Lexus RX330, 3.3L V6?

Answer: This what I found for 99-03 but don’t think yours is much different. It is a big job and will require tools and knowledge:
There are two different setups for the Lexus RX300 rear wheel bearings – front wheel drive and all wheel drive and the parts are different for both. I will talk about what it takes to replace the rear bearing on a 99 – 03 RX 300 all-wheel-drive. Please note that this is not an easy repair and you will need help and some tools including a press, impact wrench, torque wrench and assorted metric sockets/wrenches. The bearing is pressed onto the hub and the hub and bearing is then pressed into the spindle.

1. Remove the rear tire – please use a jack stand to secure your work area.

2. Remove the disc break and set aside

3. Remove the router – remove cotter pin bolt keeper and bolt from drive shaft then router (you may need to use penetrating spray)

4. Remove the parking break pads, springs, clips and cable

5. Remove the ABS speed sensor on the inside of the spindle – there is one bolt off to the side of the sensor that is predominately mounted to a metal plate – careful – set aside.

6. You are removing the spindle at this point – remove the lower control arm bolt and sway bar bolts from the lower end of the spindle and then remove the two larger bolts that connect the top part of the spindle to the strut – Please note that your jack or jack stand should NOT BE ON ANY PART OF THE REAR SUSPENSION – it should be hanging freely. At this point you should be able to pull the spindle with the pressed in hub off of the half shaft. You may need to use a hub puller to free the assembly from the half shaft.

7. Using a hydraulic press – press out the hub from the back side and set aside.

8. Remove both inner and outer seals – they are the same and will need to be replace with new ones.

9. On the front side of the spindle, on the inside and holding the bearing in is a snap wring that will need to be remove before the old bearing is pressed out.

10. From the back side of the spindle press out bearing but note that the spindle has a lip that is built in to stop the bearing when it is pressed in – do not push against this outer edge.

11. Now that the old bearing is out – work backwards to re-assemble. It goes back together much quicker than it came apart.

Do not over-tighten the center bolt on the half shaft – it will cause the new bearing to fail. I “think” that the speck was 125 pounds but that may not be correct.