Front Wheel Bearing Maintenace - '04 Yukon

lejejame · January 7, 2011

Has anyone had maintenance performed on the front wheel bearings on a GMC truck, particularly Yukon? In the past I had the front wheel bearings on my GM vehicles removed, cleaned and relubricated every 30,000 miles. I was unable to find any recommendation in the 2004 Yukon Owners Manual; however, the GM shop manual clearly describes the procedure.

I contacted the local GM dealer and he indicated the bearings are sealed and do not require maintenance. However the shop manual clearly describes the removal, cleaning and lubrication of the bearing outer race. No special lubrication or sealing procedure is described.

Bish · January 7, 2011

As far as I know, all 1500 have sealed bearings integrated into the hub and no bearing only replacement. I believe the 2500 and 3500 may have serviceable bearings but not on a 1500 in the past 10 years afaik.

Forkster · January 7, 2011

As far as I know, all 1500 have sealed bearings integrated into the hub and no bearing only replacement. I believe the 2500 and 3500 may have serviceable bearings but not on a 1500 in the past 10 years afaik.

Bish is correct - its a sealed unit - no cleaning/lubing anymore and they're #@$#$I expensive as well. However, expect to get over 130,000 miles before replacement as long as you're not on dirt roads every day.

GasHog369 · January 8, 2011

My front passenger just had to be replaced @ 42k miles...

my abs light was on and the sensor was throwing the code becasue the bearing fell out as the wheel came off...

only reasoning i can think of is thats the side i had a big caliper problem sticking / heating up / and brake dust galore!... plus the salt from buffalo winters..

Ape0r · January 8, 2011

As others have said, they cannot be lubricated.

In contrast to what others have said, they are not terribly expensive to change. I lost one recently (my first) at about 120k. I used a Timkin unit when I did mine, which is very likely where GM is getting them anyway. The part was about $130 shipped from rockauto, and included an ABS sensor and ABS sensor wire. Took about three hours to put on. I found it to be a 100% match and it seemed very high quality to me.

Taking it to the dealer and paying dealer rates and GM list on a wheel bearing though, **** you're looking at like $900!!! Use an independent shop if you can't be bothered, or do it yourself. It is not hard, just takes a big breaker bar and a little elbow grease.

xPosTech · January 8, 2011

My front passenger just had to be replaced @ 42k miles...

Ted

GasHog369 · January 8, 2011

My front passenger just had to be replaced @ 42k miles...

Ted

I didnt find it that funny

txab · January 8, 2011

My front passenger just had to be replaced @ 42k miles...

Ted

I didnt find it that funny

You missed his point.

xPosTech · January 8, 2011

My front passenger just had to be replaced @ 42k miles...

Ted

I didnt find it that funny

Sorry. I wasn't laughing at your hub failure but the replacement of your passenger. I've had to replace three passengers over the years.

Now I just ride alone.

Ted

jwhjr · January 8, 2011

LOL

Forkster · January 8, 2011

Sorry. I wasn't laughing at your hub failure but the replacement of your passenger. I've had to replace three passengers over the years.

Now I just ride alone.

Ted

I replaced my front left wheel bearing and two inner tie rod ends for $750 - including an alignment. To be honest, our trucks are easy to work on and cheap to fix. My wife's Volvo XC70 needed a wheel bearing - one at the $tealership cost more than all four on my truck. Just to put that into perspective.

Mckenzie · January 8, 2011

had my front bearing replaced and it cost me like 250 with labor

GasHog369 · January 9, 2011

had my front bearing replaced and it cost me like 250 with labor

Do you know what kind of bearing they put in? My shop recommended and put in a Timken... They said they are much better... Everything with labor cost me $370. The shop is a friend of our family that use to also own a local dealership which was recently closed by gm... But the shop part is still open and luckily i was able to get them to scan my abs sensor for free, but i think he rolled that into the overall price... I know those tech 2 scanners are not cheap, nor the shop guys time that took to scan it... So i accepted the price..

Bugmasta · January 19, 2011

I'm actually replacing my front wheel bearing right now (literally...I have it apart in the garage for the night). I can not for the life of me get the hub assembly out of the knuckle. I beat on it for a couple hours with a sledge hammer and it will not budge. Now I have destroyed the hub assembly so the plate with the wheel studs is now off the truck and I no longer have anything to beat on. Any suggestions for "tricks" to get the hub assembly out? I did the same job on the driver's side about 6 months ago and it came out after about 3 hours of beating on it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

MikeNH · January 19, 2011

I'm actually replacing my front wheel bearing right now (literally...I have it apart in the garage for the night). I can not for the life of me get the hub assembly out of the knuckle. I beat on it for a couple hours with a sledge hammer and it will not budge. Now I have destroyed the hub assembly so the plate with the wheel studs is now off the truck and I no longer have anything to beat on. Any suggestions for "tricks" to get the hub assembly out? I did the same job on the driver's side about 6 months ago and it came out after about 3 hours of beating on it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Soak the hell out of the area that mates to the knuckle with PB Blaster or something similar. And for what it's worth it took an air hammer to convince the one in my Jimmy to come off.