How to Replace the Front Wheel Bearings in Chevrolet Cars

A failing wheel bearing will cause noise and vibration in the front corner of your car. The bearing in the Chevrolet car is built into the wheel hub and designed to be replaced as a single unit. This reduces the number of special tools you will need, because there is no need to pull or press the bearing. Expect to spend about half an hour replacing the wheel hub and bearing assembly.

Under The Hood:

• How to Replace the Front Wheel Bearings in a 2000 Chevy Silverado
• How to Replace a Front Wheel Bearing on a 2003 4WD Trailblazer
• How to Replace the Front Wheel Bearing in a Chevy Avalanche
• How to Replace the Front Wheel Bearing on a 2004 Impala

 How to Replace the Front Wheel Bearings in a 2000 Chevy Silverado

Lift up the front of the Silverado using a jack and put the frame on a pair of jack stands. Take off the front wheels with a tire iron and move them out of the way.

Unbolt the front brake caliper from the steering knuckle using a 3/8-inch ratchet and socket, then pull off the caliper and suspend it from the frame or upper control arm using a bungee cord. Pull the rotor off of the hub with both hands and set it aside. Locate the wire running from the wheel hub up to the frame. Unbolt the wire from the upper control arm using the 3/8-inch ratchet and socket and unplug it from the harness on the frame manually.

Unbolt the wheel hub/bearing assembly from the steering knuckle using the 3/8-inch ratchet and socket. Apply a small amount of the red thread-locking sealant to the threads on the bolts of the wheel hub/bearing assembly. Install the replacement wheel hub/bearing assembly onto the steering knuckle with the stock bolts, using the 3/8-inch ratchet and socket. Run the wire up to the upper control arm, bolt it in place, then plug in the wire to the stock harness on the frame.

Slide the rotor onto the hub then bolt the caliper onto the steering knuckle using the 3/8-inch ratchet and socket. Reinstall the front wheels with the tire iron then lower the truck off the jack stands with the jack.

 How to Replace a Front Wheel Bearing on a 2003 4WD Trailblazer

Removal

Park the Trailblazer on a level, paved surface and set the parking brake. Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels. Loosen the lug nuts on the front wheels. Remove the center cap on the wheel hub. Loosen the hub nut two turns with a ratchet and socket. Raise the front of the Trailblazer with a jack and support with jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and wheels.

Unbolt the brake caliper bracket from the steering knuckle. Remove the caliper and bracket. Tie the caliper to the coil spring with a piece of wire. Remove the rotor. Remove the hub nut with a ratchet and socket.

Place a brass drift against the center of the axle shaft and strike it with a hammer to disengage the axle from the hub.

Disconnect the ABS sensor wire from the harness by squeezing the sides of the connector and pulling the two ends apart. Unclip the ABS wire from the lower control arm. Remove the three hub mounting bolts from the back of the steering knuckle with a ratchet and socket.

Remove the hub and splash shield from the knuckle. The hub should slide off of the axle. Take note of where the ABS sensor and wire are on the hub in relation to the knuckle so you install the new hub the same way.

Installation

Mount the splash shield and a new hub on the knuckle while sliding the axle shaft through the hub. Guide the ABS sensor wire through the knuckle. Install new mounting bolts and use a torque wrench and socket to torque the bolts to 77 foot-pounds. Install a new hub nut and snug it down with a ratchet and socket.

Press the plastic clip on the ABS wire into the lower control arm and push the connectors together. Install the rotor. Slide the caliper onto the rotor and install the bracket bolts. Torque the bolts to 118 foot-pounds.

Mount the wheel and install the lug nuts. Raise the Trailblazer, remove the jack stands and lower it to the ground. Torque the lug nuts to 100 foot-pounds. Torque the axle nut to 103 foot-pounds. Install the center cap. Remove the wheel chocks.

 How to Replace the Front Wheel Bearing in a Chevy Avalanche

Set the head of the jack underneath the front cross member of the frame. Lift up the jack and put the jack stands underneath the frame. Remove the wheels using a tire iron.

Use the ratchet to unbolt the brake caliper from the steering knuckle and then lift it off the rotor. Support the caliper by the mechanic's wire on the frame, so that the caliper is not hanging by the brake line. Slide the rotor off the hub, using both hands.

Unplug the wire leading into the hub assembly using your hands. Then unbolt the hub from the back side of the steering knuckle, using the 3/8-inch ratchet and socket. Pull the hub off the knuckle and set it aside.

Place a drop of the red thread-locking sealant onto the threads of the hub bolts. Bolt the replacement hub onto the steering knuckle using the ratchet. Then torque the bolts down to 133 ft-lbs. using the torque wrench. Slide the rotor onto the hub and reinstall the brake caliper with the ratchet. Reconnect the wiring to the hub.

Reinstall the wheels and lower the car off the jack stands with the jack.

 How to Replace the Front Wheel Bearing on a 2004 Impala

Loosen the lug nuts with a lug wrench. Lift the corner of the vehicle and place it securely on a jack stand. Remove the lug nuts and wheel. The lift point is directly behind the front tire. See your Impala's owner's manual for a diagram illustrating where to place your jack.

Unplug the ABS speed sensor. The electrical connection is behind the brake rotor.

Unbolt the brake caliper and slide it off the rotor. Hang it out of the way with a piece of wire to prevent wear on the brake line.

Remove the bracket that retains the caliper and slide the rotor off the studs.

Unscrew the nut in the center of the hub. Discard it--the nut should be replaced with the hub and bearing assembly.

Push the drive shaft out of the hub and bearing assembly by attaching front hub spindle removal tool J 28733-B or equivalent to the studs and tightening the center to push on the shaft.

Unbolt the hub and bearing assembly from the steering knuckle. Holes in the hub provide access to the bolts. The bolts should be replaced with the hub and bearing.

Bolt in the replacement hub and bearing assembly using new bolts torqued to 96 ft-lbs. Push the drive shaft into place and install the hub nut, tightened to 96 ft-lbs.

Attach the caliper bracket, torquing to 133 ft-lbs. Replace the rotor and caliper. The caliper bolts should be tightened to 70 ft-lbs. of torque. Plug in the ABS sensor, slide on the wheel and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Lower the car and finish tightening the lug nuts.