Bad Hub Assembly Again!

superyota · July 18, 2011

I have a 03 silverado 1500 2wd pickup. It has 35 inch tires on and has had 35's on it since 2005. I never had any problems with the front hubs going bad until about a year ago. now it seems like it is going through hubs about every 15-20k. luckily the hubs i got from kragen's are under a 1 year warrenty and they just keep replacing them. I know the larger tires put extra strain on them, but how come the factory ones lasted so long? Should i just break down and fork out $500 to the dealer, or is it time to look into an upgrade like a solid axle? Also, does anyone know if the HD(8Lug) hubs are interchangeable with the 6 lug and if they are, are they any stronger? Thanks in advance for the responses.

edwin

exracer · July 18, 2011

what kind of offset on the rims?....are they aftermarket?.....deep dish rims put a lot of strain on the hubs

superyota · July 18, 2011

what kind of offset on the rims?....are they aftermarket?.....deep dish rims put a lot of strain on the hubs

they are after market rims with 4.75 offset. they don't stick out far. it's almost stock width.

ChevyTech77 · July 18, 2011

Key words, you got the new bearings from Kragen's. Search out Timken bearings. They are what was installed from the factory.

Also, I wouldn't suppose that the current tires you have installed on the vehicle are out of balance or severely chopped, are they?

superyota · July 18, 2011

Key words, you got the new bearings from Kragen's. Search out Timken bearings. They are what was installed from the factory.

Also, I wouldn't suppose that the current tires you have installed on the vehicle are out of balance or severely chopped, are they?

Kragen's didn't have the Timken's, only auto zone carried it. they are Precision Auto brand hubs. not sure if they are junk brand or not. They cost around $170 a piece.

My tires are all balanced and not chopped up. I take them in and have them rotated and balanced about once every three months or so. And I don't do any offroading with it. It is stricktly my daily driver and pulls my trailer to the trail head.

superyota · July 18, 2011

You think if I go with the Timken hub it will last considerably longer?

ChevyTech77 · July 18, 2011

If you're saying that the factory bearings lasted the longest, but don't want to pay GM dealer prices, buy the Timkens. That is the closest you are going to get to what was installed on the vehicle from the factory, without paying the GM dealership price.

superyota · July 18, 2011

The hubs I have in it now are still under warrenty, so I'm going to stick with them for the time being. I wish I could have gone with the timken's earlier. Any idea if the hd(8 lug) hubs are bolt up or not? I'm thinking if I can get more strenth from the 8 lug hub, I have a 14bolt rear to match. then I just need to get new wheels. just an idea

superyota · July 18, 2011

or, I have a 10 bolt front I could put in it and do away with the whole hub assembly. but then I would have to worry about the abs and getting a transfercase into it to match.

I was hoping to use this as an excuse to either put my 14 bolt 8 lug rear in it or straight axle it. but being i'm pinched for time and its my dail driver, I might have to stick with whats there.

Mckenzie · July 18, 2011

hubs are ALOT cheaper than a sas swap!!!!

blacksierra01 · July 18, 2011

hubs are ALOT cheaper than a sas swap!!!!

+1, also, buy a quality hub and it will last significantly longer. We install hubs from NAPA at work, and i dont think we have seen a failure in 3 or 4 years. I know that your hubs are warrantied, but it does suck changing them once a year

superyota · July 18, 2011

hubs are ALOT cheaper than a sas swap!!!!

yea, but i figured in the long run it might pay off. Plus I think I could sell my lift kit with all the front suspension and steering to cover most of the cost. I already have more than half the parts I need to do it. I'll see if I can get kragen to special order the timken's and see how they do. we'll see.