Front Hub / Wheel Bearing

[Ryan from Ohio]

This is the start of the end all/be all thread on the front wheel bearing/hubs. If you have anything to contribute, please contribute below and I will add it into this first post.

Removal & Installation

Front

To Remove:
Raise and safely support the vehicle.
NOTE:The front wheel bearings are not serviced separately. If the front wheel bearings are defective, the hub and bearing assembly must be replaced.

Lubricate the threads on the halfshaft with clean engine oil.
Remove or disconnect the following:
Front wheels
Halfshaft hub nut
Caliper from the steering knuckle
Brake rotor
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) sensor from the backing plate
Hub and bearing assembly from the backing plate
Hub and bearing assembly from the halfshaft
Hub and bearing assembly

To Install:
Install or connect the following:
Hub and bearing assembly onto the halfshaft
Hub and bearing assembly to the backing plate. Tighten the 3 bolts alternately and evenly to 70 ft lbs (95 Nm).
ABS sensor
Brake rotor
Caliper on the steering knuckle.
**Halfshaft nut. Tighten it to 284 ft lbs (385 Nm) if the nut is black or 173 ft lbs (235 Nm) if the nut is gray.**
Front wheel. Tighten the nuts to 100 ft lbs (140 Nm).
Lower the vehicle.

** please note

- "Grey nut" is referring to a nut that has a "shield" of sorts on the outside of it.The "black nut" is a whole flanged nut. 284 ft lbs is a ridiculous amount for these bearings period. This time around I only did 140 ft lbs. Take this under advisement, but I would NOT tighten these past 150 PERIOD...


Thread Sizes

• Axle Spindle- 15/16"-14 thread- currently looking into this odd size?
• FHHCS (Flange Hex Head Cap Screw) the three that hold the hub on, M12 X 1.75 pitch X 50mm Lg. Fastenal Part No 0161846 - note 10Pcs.

*Measured with digital calipers- hey Im a Machinist by trade so numbers are good!

[spinalator]

Thanks for posting this, I have a 99 Gm service manual, and have read about the torque issues on the hub nut before, and I was wondering how they arrived at the massive figures early on.

I heard there are new nuts and they altered the torque values (?) but I am not sure if out new to swap out the nuts when servicing.

[[ion] C2]

that is a lot of torque

[meadus101]

So my Car is totally F'ed. I have the Wheel bearing Whine. but When I turn there's no change. I know it's pretty unlikly that they will be both gone at the same time, but I know I'm going to have to replace both of them. Plus the hubs I would assume.


Anyone wanna give me a ballpark figure on what I'm looking at for the job? I lack the Tools requiredto do it myself.

[Jaymz88]

I believe i have the same problem with mine.

[[ion] C2]

wheel bearing and hub are all one piece/together

[cherrington17]

Originally Posted by meadus101

So my Car is totally F'ed. I have the Wheel bearing Whine. but When I turn there's no change. I know it's pretty unlikly that they will be both gone at the same time, but I know I'm going to have to replace both of them. Plus the hubs I would assume.


Anyone wanna give me a ballpark figure on what I'm looking at for the job? I lack the Tools requiredto do it myself.

i paid 550 for both of mine.... like a 'tard. I didn't know they were so easy to do, until recently. You could probably rent the tools from a local parts store for less then $100, and they give you that back when you return them.

[Ryan from Ohio]

Before you replace the bearings loosen the nut and re torque them to see if it changes.

[zzyzzx]

It might be helpful if people posted the mileage at which they changed their front wheel bearing/hubs. At 21,400 miles, I still have my original ones on my 1999 Alero and figure I have quite some time before I have to do this.

[Ryan from Ohio]

As far as I know mine were original. 125K I believe on my 99.

[01silveralero]

im at 172k i have to replace mine (unknown history prior) im getting tired of the "christmas tree" lightshow year round

[misslindseysue]

Parts are ~$100/ea at Murray's or Autozone (Murray's are cheaper, get the $100 if you're keeping it, the $80 if you're selling it).
I paid a local shop $75-ish to put one on for me.
First one went out around 40k, maybe, then every so often after that. I replaced 4 or 5 total in the 120k I owned it.

[surreal_awakening]

I can't say for sure the mileage when I replaced mine. I'm thinking in the 100k-125k mile range. I replaced them with a junkyard set, and they have lasted up til now (245k), but I bought new ones anyway since I'm completely overhauling.

[meadus101]

Yea, I'm buying the better bearings up, and Having a Shop do it. It's on Daddy's Dime.

I lack the tools and time, or a decent environment to do it in, besides, I'd want ryan there with me with a live feed to tell me what to do as I'm doing it.

I'm really not confident. hahaha.

[spinalator]

How about using 140 ft pounds and a drop of medium threadlocker on the bigassnut? I assume there is a reason GM hates threadlocker since they hardly ever recommend it in the service manual.

[Cliff8928]

usually those spindle lock nuts are locking (slightly oval shaped at the end).

[Ryan from Ohio]

The spindle nuts on mine are like 4-6 small plates with a steel case around them... They are self locking.

Loctite is not necessary at all.

I havent found time to tear into my extra bearing yet, but 140 ft lbs has to be to much... Thats enough to crush bearings...

[CactusWill]

bumping so I can find this thread later this week.

[CactusWill]

Thanks for this tutorial. Got one hub for $89 at advance, and busted it out this afternoon, took me about an hour using a complete garage with lift and air tools. One thing I'd like to add if it hasn't been said already, is that you should unbolt the tie rod so you can get better access to the 3 hub bolts on the backside.

[Beholder88]

Just paid $127 for a hub assy from AutoZone. My car has just over 77,650 miles on it, both original bearings on the front. My front Driver's side is the one that went. I figure by all the different torque specs that everyone has thrown around on this forum that I should be good somewhere between 130ft-lb and 150ft-lb for the axle nut.