Wheel Bearing Replacement

Jansen · April 17, 2008

Hello,

I have a squeak coming from the front driver side wheel. I jacked the truck up yesterday and can wobble the tire by hand. Passenger side which is quiet doesn't do this. I believe it is time for new wheel bearings. Truck has 55,500 miles on it. Any TSB's on this?

If not, how hard is it to replace these?

Thanks,

Jansen

Nice rig · April 17, 2008

If it's the same as mine, it's a breeze. But do some shopping around online, a new hub assy can cost up to about $400...I got mine for $160. You'll need some locktite and a good size breaker bar and I believe a 32mm socket.

Jansen · April 17, 2008

thanks for the tips, I'll post how it goes with in the next week. How many miles did you have on yours before replacement?

Nice rig · April 17, 2008

My driver side went out at about 110,000. Make sure when shopping around you get an assembly with the ABS wire. I think it took me about 1 1/2 hours and 4 beers.

2000DV4.8 · April 17, 2008

If it's the same as mine, it's a breeze. But do some shopping around online, a new hub assy can cost up to about $400...I got mine for $160. You'll need some locktite and a good size breaker bar and I believe a 32mm socket.

It's a 36mm socket, not 32mm.

All you have to do is take off the wheel, take off the little cap that covers the end of the CV axle, remove the brake caliper, remove the rotor, remove the 3 bolts holding the hub assembly to the knuckle, remove the 36mm nut from the end of the CV axle, and disconnect the speed sensor. The only trouble I ran into was the hub assembly was rusted into the knuckle, so I had to beat the hell out of it with a 3 lb. sledge.

Get a haynes manual, it goes through it step by step.

EDIT: My drivers side went out at 166,000, and the passenger side is still going strong, knock on wood.

bassadict69 · April 17, 2008

Looks like I may be doing this before long also...I have been hearing a rubbing/grinding sound & thought it was my brakes on the passenger side since I could see a groove developing in the pad. Changed the brakes last weekend but am still getting the sound. Is jacking it up & moving the wheel a surefire way to check the bearings?

Anyone got any pics of this process of removing & replacing the hub? Or just a pic showing what is what with the bolts, knuckle, etc? I am totally clueless on all this!

Jansen...sorry about the hijack!

2000DV4.8 · April 17, 2008

Looks like I may be doing this before long also...I have been hearing a rubbing/grinding sound & thought it was my brakes on the passenger side since I could see a groove developing in the pad. Changed the brakes last weekend but am still getting the sound. Is jacking it up & moving the wheel a surefire way to check the bearings?

Anyone got any pics of this process of removing & replacing the hub? Or just a pic showing what is what with the bolts, knuckle, etc? I am totally clueless on all this!

Jansen...sorry about the hijack!

Get a Haynes book, it has a step by step with some pictures.

Nice rig · April 17, 2008

Looks like I may be doing this before long also...I have been hearing a rubbing/grinding sound & thought it was my brakes on the passenger side since I could see a groove developing in the pad. Changed the brakes last weekend but am still getting the sound. Is jacking it up & moving the wheel a surefire way to check the bearings?

Anyone got any pics of this process of removing & replacing the hub? Or just a pic showing what is what with the bolts, knuckle, etc? I am totally clueless on all this!

Jansen...sorry about the hijack!

Jack up the front end, push/pull the top of the affected wheel and see if there is movement. When mine s*** the bed I had about 3/4 inch movement.

Jansen · April 18, 2008

Based on the thread, I don't think I need to replace both if only one is defective. Think this is ok? I'm getting slight movement, 1/4-1/2 inch.

Napa = $230

Auto Zone = $150

Dealer = $300.

Anyone have any recommendations on brand? I think Napa was timken which seems good. Also, the ones I saw had the speed sensor packaged with it (per photo) this seem normal?

Jansen

bronyaur · April 18, 2008

I've purchased them at Napa for about $225 and they came with the ABS sensor. Both mine were shot at 65,000. The main thing I noticed was that the ABS would activate at slow speed just before I stopped.

Nice rig · April 18, 2008

Based on the thread, I don't think I need to replace both if only one is defective. Think this is ok? I'm getting slight movement, 1/4-1/2 inch.

Napa = $230

Auto Zone = $150

Dealer = $300.

Anyone have any recommendations on brand? I think Napa was timken which seems good. Also, the ones I saw had the speed sensor packaged with it (per photo) this seem normal?

Jansen

Just replace the affected one and you'll be alright...of course if you feel froggy go ahead and knock them both out. That's a good amount of movement, and it will only get worse. I milked mine for almost a year and it got to the point where it felt like the wheel was going to fall off at speeds above 45mph. I didn't have any issues with my ABS after replacement.

Nice rig · April 18, 2008

Based on the thread, I don't think I need to replace both if only one is defective. Think this is ok? I'm getting slight movement, 1/4-1/2 inch.

Napa = $230

Auto Zone = $150

Dealer = $300.

Anyone have any recommendations on brand? I think Napa was timken which seems good. Also, the ones I saw had the speed sensor packaged with it (per photo) this seem normal?

Jansen

Just replace the affected one and you'll be alright...of course if you feel froggy go ahead and knock them both out. That's a good amount of movement, and it will only get worse. I milked mine for almost a year and it got to the point where it felt like the wheel was going to fall off at speeds above 45mph. I didn't have any issues with my ABS after replacement.

Jansen · April 22, 2008

It wasn't that bad. I went with the Timken bearing set for $150.00. The hard part was getting the bolts out of the hub itself but everything went back together pretty easily. I had to use a 36mm socket for the axle nut.

Thanks for the advice!

Jansen