How To Replace Front Axle Bearing

[Ape0r]

Not long ago I posted about wanting confirmation of a bad cv axle..been having a grinding sensation at times when turning the steering wheel. I got back under the truck tonight and found sure signs of a bad front axle bearing. I have significant play in the d/s output shaft, and a nice line of oil on the frame and around where it has been slung by the spinning cv axle flange.

 

So, how do I go about this one? CV shaft off, some sort of retaining clip? I understand the axle doesn't need to be pulled to swap the seal, what about the bearing?

 

Thanks!

 

Well, for anyone that stumbles on this in the future: http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f53/lea...aft-seal-62222/

[MaForrest]

They are actually very easy to change. Here is how I did mine:

* Take off wheel.

*Take off brake caliper and rotor.

*take off cv axle nut.

*unplug ABS wire (should be up by the brake line)

*Unscrew the bolts which hold the unit bearing on. (I think my 97 had 3 but could be 4....cant remember.)

*Once unbolted, may need to be pryed off.

*Stick your new one in the spindle hole and reverse the steps.

I think from start to finish, I had my first one changed out in about 15 minutes and the 2nd one took about 25 becasue I was on the side of the road in the dirt and weeds with crap scissor jack trying to do it.

[Ape0r]

They are actually very easy to change. Here is how I did mine:

* Take off wheel.

*Take off brake caliper and rotor.

*take off cv axle nut.

*unplug ABS wire (should be up by the brake line)

*Unscrew the bolts which hold the unit bearing on. (I think my 97 had 3 but could be 4....cant remember.)

*Once unbolted, may need to be pryed off.

*Stick your new one in the spindle hole and reverse the steps.

I think from start to finish, I had my first one changed out in about 15 minutes and the 2nd one took about 25 becasue I was on the side of the road in the dirt and weeds with crap scissor jack trying to do it.

 

Guess I should have been clearer, haha. Turns out the CV axles are (probably) fine, but the driver's side front axle output shaft bearing is trashed. From what I've found so far, I need to somehow pound how the output shaft after getting things out of the way, and it should be easy once that shaft is out?

[MaForrest]

Guess I should have been clearer, haha. Turns out the CV axles are (probably) fine, but the driver's side front axle output shaft bearing is trashed. From what I've found so far, I need to somehow pound how the output shaft after getting things out of the way, and it should be easy once that shaft is out?

 

 

 

If your CV shaft is ok, then you wont need to take it off at all. Your CV is one peice and these trucks only have 1 bearing for each side of the front end. Its a large unit bearing that bolts to the spindle and your CV slides right into the center of it. Maybe Im not understanding exactally what your meaning, sorry. Your CV axle bolts to your front axle houseing and has the 2 joints in it. One towards the axle housing and one at the other end where it slides into the unit bearing. So each side has one cv axle that has the two black boots on them and a big bearing that your tire actually bolts too. If your bearing is bad, then no you wont have to do anything with the axle shaft (CV). If its the outter part of the CV that broke, then you just have to take the cv bolt out from the center of your unit bearing and then unbolt it front the axle housing and finagle her out of there.