Replacing the rear wheel bearing on a first generation Mazda Protege is a very easy job. No pressing–no special tools of any kind, really–are required. Unlike the front wheel bearings, which require a press or a lot of hammering to replace, the rear wheel bearing comes as part of a bearing/hub assembly (Beck-Arnley # 051-6018).

To replace the hub/bearing assembly, remove the wheel, brake caliper, and brake rotor. The caliper is held in place with 2 14mm bolts.

• With the caliper and rotor out of the way, access the retaining nut by removing the retaining nut cover. Use a screwdriver or (better) a small chisel and gently hammer at the lip of the cap, as shown here.
• Remove the cap.
• Using a 36mm socket, remove the retaining nut.
• Grasp the hub/bearing assembly and pull it off. It is not a press fit and should slide off the post very easily.

It’s a simple as that. Slide the new hub/bearing assembly onto the post. Reinstall the nut, then reinstall the rotor and caliper. All told, you should be able to do the job in about 30 minutes.