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Anyone Have To Replace Their Wheel Bearings Yet?

Matts_U.A.V.

Charter Member
Full Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2002
Messages
192
Hello,

I was just wondering if any other lifted AV owners (any really) have had to replace their wheel bearings yet?
 
Thanks for checking "irontrain". I replaced my driver side today, i was jsut surprised that it is like a enclosed wheel bearing with housing(Bad description) I havent replaced any for years and was thinking a ring with bearings. oh well. alls well thats end wells
 
ATTN: Irontrain and KPC:

Irontrain, I think KPC may be onto something here. I have these funny noises coming from my front end also, I have 32,000 on my AV. The reason I say he is onto something here, is my truck is not lifted, so maybe we could continue this under the thread KPC started?

Every monring when I first put my truck into drive and start moving, I hear this snap sound from all 4 wheels. I t sounds like somebdy is throwing a rock at my truck. Now I have never been 4x4'ing with my AV, and I drive mainly highway miles.
My dealer tells me there is nothing wrong, but I beg to differ with them.

If anybody else has anything to add here, please do so. I am interested to see who has high miles such as myself at 32,000 and if anybody else has some funny noise coming from the drive train.

I also think my U-Joint are bad, but my dealer tells me that when I put the truck into f-r or rev-to-for, that clanking noise is normal, and the hard kolt and jump of the truck is normal. Sometimes I think these dealers are really full of %^$*
 
My right front was replaced at 18k miles. It didn't "fail" but was just starting to make noise. When it was removed and I checked it I could see it had started to leak past the seal. Not a cheap part so I was very glad it was under warranty. So now I wonder.......is this going to be a regular 20k job?????????? I also have a similar sound again from the front end.....could it be the drivers side bearing going south??? This is really a great truck I hope it doesn't turn out to be made of paper mache down the road!
 
Mine just got towed in Friday. The passenger side flat came apart. The driver's side is squeaking so I only hope I can get them to replace both sides. It does worry me that they only lasted 19k miles. My 87 Suburban had 548k miles on it when it was traded in for the Avalanche. It still had it original bearings they were serviced regularly and never went out. I also have an 81 Vette with 465k miles and never any trouble like this. I hope the design change was not just for the sake of change. New designs should be improvements not set backs.

:D:
 
I think we have a serious trend going here. Seems that the bearings want to go on vacation after 20,000 miles??? This is not good...
 
Did a search and found this thread. May just be
starting to have this problem. My North Face has
16K and I just noticed a pop sound coming from the
front when have to merge into traffic from a stop and
turning (at a corner).

Sounds like the dealers will be an A.H. like on the PVC
value. Wondering if should just drive till comes apart
and let them tow rather than argue something is
starting to go out.

This a 4X4 so it could be another problem. 4X4 has
never been used.
 
Alot of vehicles these days have sealed bearings made into hub assemblys. Actually it is better this way bearings need no lubrication and are completely sealed. Now I know what your saying maybe this a bad thing but being in the business I can say that while there are a few that go bad overall they hold up very well - as far as it being a trend I have seen nothing in any of the information I have at work ( I am an auto repair tech) to add weight to a statement like that. Sealed hub bearings have been around since front wheel drive cars and they are not a new idea! Further the clicking sound is probably not bearings as bearings roar when driving and will the sound change pitch or stop when changing lanes. If this popping is only heard on 4wd it may be in the axle (cv joint).
Hope this info is of some help! ;)
 
Replaced my left front hub bearing at 42,000 miles.  I had been hearing a faint grinding noise for months.  The dealer says it was normal. 

Then all of a sudden there was a very loud screatching noise when turned to the right only.  Took it to a backyard mechanic who replaced the wheel bearing for $570.00.    He said it was not a safety issue and I could have driven it that way for a long time.   

Cost was higher because all the bolts were rusted bad.    (I do not have a lift kit, but I use 4WD alot.)

The week before I had both front and rear U-joints replaced because they were squeaking.
 
Maybe this is whats wrong with my AV now...

have a clicking noise when moving.... reving up the engine does not produce it, just as long as the wheels are turning...

Sounds like a rock stuck in the tires type clicking, but tires have no rocks, and clicking gets faster as I increase speed... around 85mph the clicking goes away.. but it is there as low as 2 mph....

It is load enough to hear over the radio with the windows up....

Grey

AV is 4wd, but it has not been in 4wd for a couple months....
 
GREY BULLDOG- Yep, time to replace your wheel bearings. That was the same issue I had with mine. I actually thought my brakes were shot and rubbing metal on metal or like you said, a rock was stuck in there. Once you get to the point it is making this sort of noise, you need to replace asap as this could potentially be a safety issue. There is a lot of heat generation and the bearing raceways could crack and or come apart. At the time, the only place I could find one in stock was the dealer and it set me back $227 each. It wasn't too bad to replace on your own but you need to have the right tools ( spindle nut socket - I think is like 36 or 38mm)

TexAvFan; These bearings used on the Ave are called GEN3 design. These are same basic design as old cartridge style bearings (  douvble row, Balls, cage, inner and outer races) but also integrates the hub spindle ring to decrease costs and increase total rigidity and reduce overall runout.
 
GSP2 said:
GREY BULLDOG- Yep, time to replace your wheel bearings. That was the same issue I had with mine. I actually thought my brakes were shot and rubbing metal on metal or like you said, a rock was stuck in there. Once you get to the point it is making this sort of noise, you need to replace asap as this could potentially be a safety issue. There is a lot of heat generation and the bearing raceways could crack and or come apart. At the time, the only place I could find one in stock was the dealer and it set me back $227 each. It wasn't too bad to replace on your own but you need to have the right tools ( spindle nut socket - I think is like 36 or 38mm)

is your AV a 4wd or 2wd?

I am about to go tear apart the front driver side of my AV to try to determine if the hub is shot or something else... the noise has gotten worse and worse..... I have a feeling it is me against the clock now until the part fails....

Grey
 
:8:
I had to replace the left front hub at 50000 Miles. On a down hill right turn it sounded like a few chunks of metal grinding and clicking. The first noises sounded like the wheel well was packed with snow.

willmood
 
ok... took apart the drivers side front end, and there is a grinding noise from the hub.... napaonline shows it prices at $179.... but napa locally closed 25 min ago, and will not be open until monday.....

Now to call pep-boys (who I do not care to buy from) and autozone to see if they have one in stock.... dealer parts dept closed an hour and a half ago.... and like napa will not be open until monday....

I love this truck  :D:
 
pep boys wants 169, but they have to order the part in....

autozone shows part not yet available...

found 2 napa's open still open.... one has 1 in stock one has 2 in stock.... looks like I will have the part within an hour to replace on my truck...... will cost me $192 at napa for the part.... but better to spend alittle more and fix it now, then have it fall apart while I am going to work at 75mph one day waiting for the pep-boys one.....

Grey
 
well problem was not the front hub, although it was leaking and would probably go here shortly.... so only thing I can see that is causeing it is the front left CV shaft....

any idea's before I go buy one and change it out???

Edit: ordered rebuilt front axle for $112 + core.... new one is 139.... but for 30 bucks they can have my old one...
 
Yep, had my driver side hub replaced at around 50K after complete failure.  When I would turn, either way, I had no brakes, that is, I could not move the brake peddle.

Now I have around 81K on the passenger side hub, and from time to time, when turning, my brake locks in the up position (no brakes), and when I try to press the pedal harder, I get a pulse feel in the peddle.  I guess the hub is beginning to go, and the pulse comes from ABS.

Is replacing the hub a do-it-yourself project.  The dealer does it for around $350.
 
Has anybody done a hub themselves? Is the J 45859 Axle Remover needed?
 
I had mine done when I got my replacment tire.
Felt like crap that day so I did not notice what tools they used.
It was only like a 30 min job to do both fronts at the tire shop.
 
Good deal :D Thanks. I will be attempting on Thursday :love:
 
no puller needed.  My bearing went out at 74k miles.  I was an hour from home.    The wheel had about an inch of play.    I changed mine myself in 2.5 hours.
 
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