Silverado Wheel Bearing

[WingDing2]

I have had a slight vibration in the front end of my 03 silverado for some time so i decided to investigate. I jacked the truck up and almost instantly found the problem. Bad wheel bearing. so $300.00 bucks later I have a new wheel bearing installed. My question is, Is this unusual for 115,00 miles and can I find them a little cheaper than 3 bills?

[primetime49]

very common -put one in my 4wd 05 Silverado at 96,000 and my 2003 awd Express van at 116,000.with bearing in rotor and abs sensor was between $265 and $315.

Garage said this keeps them busy.

Also tie rods were bad on Express already and maybe caused this on that one.

[Dozer]

I put on in my 00 silverado a month ago. $115 from Napa.

[jwhjr]

I'd say they seem to be pretty common as well. I've got a little over 100K on my 04 right now and haven't had to replace either side so far (knock on wood), but I know a few people who have had to replace them at much lower mileage than that. One of them has had to replace one twice already.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I'd be lying if I told you I didn't make any money replacing GM wheel bearings!

The other day I had an explorer with both rears so loose/bad that the owner couldn't drive the vehicle over 20 mph. I test drove it after replacing the rears and found the left front was also making noise. 3 wheel bearings on the same vehicle in one day, a new shop record!!

[WingDing2]

Thanks Guys, the more people I talk to about this the more common I find it happens around 100,000 to GM trucks. The high cost I understand is more related to the ABS stuff that comes with the assembly. I bought the replacment part from NAPA, they offer 2 versions one from China & the other made in USA well I think you know which one I bought.

[Jeremy airjer W]

The lesser brand will fail in less than a year. I can almost guarantee it!

[muddpuppy]

I have had a slight vibration in the front end of my 03 silverado for some time so i decided to investigate. I jacked the truck up and almost instantly found the problem. Bad wheel bearing. so $300.00 bucks later I have a new wheel bearing installed. My question is, Is this unusual for 115,00 miles and can I find them a little cheaper than 3 bills?

I have the same issue with my 07 Impala I think. There is no Vibration but you can hear a differance in sound when I turn right kinda like a sutle helicotpter whop whop whop..... etc How do you know if the wheel berring is bad or getting bad. Is there a way to check it?

[Jeremy airjer W]

Thats the sound they make. If it gets louder when you turn right then it is most likely the left wheel bearing. More often than not you can jack up the front wheels and with the car in neutral rotate the wheels by hand while holding the spring with the other. You should be able to feel the noise you heard. It makes more sense when you actually feel it.

[verg]

heck I just replaced one in my 06 silverado with 37k on it!! What a joke...have not been impressed with my last two chevys. Might have to go back to ford. Garage told me same thing...bearings on chevys keep them busy.

[muddpuppy]

Verg maybe those wheels need to spin more often .... a 2006 with 37k...... My father-in-law seems to have the same issues with his truck 2000 with 75k. Things always seem to be breaking on him.

[Macgyver55]

Problem is, if you are going to base your decision on wheel bearings, your options are basically none or few at best. I do wheel bearings on virtually every brand. In the old days, bearings were removed, cleaned and packed at some point. (usually when you had a brake job) Now many vehicles have bearings that last two, three, and often more times than that in mileage. Granted yours is premature, but that is more the exception than the rule. Subtract the labor cost for what a wheel bearing pack goes for a few times and the replacement cost doesnt seem so much.

[Jeremy airjer W]

if you are going to base your decision on wheel bearings, your options are basically none or few at best.

There might be a couple of options!

[Macgyver55]

There might be a couple of options!

Is there a pickup brand you have not put a bearing on?

[Jeremy airjer W]

I can say there are two that I have not had to replace any.

[Macgyver55]

Maybe I work too hard! I cant say the same.....

Well, I guess I could say Nissan, but I've never opened the hood on one or known anyone who owned one.

[Jeremy airjer W]

You know we had a camry the other day get its second one. I thought that was pretty odd. I've done a fair amount of corrolas. I did one set of bearings and races on an old pre 95 toyota truck but nothing on any of the newer ones. We don't see a lot of Nissan trucks as well.

So I guess what I am saying is when I'm going 140mph in the Tundra at least it will be a quiet ride!

[Jaspernuts]

I work for a fleet service company and process work orders all day for fleet vehicles. Very common on GM products. Happens at all mileages. They covered them under the powertrain warranty for a few years but were taking such a bath on them GM dropped hubs from the warranty!

[verg]

Verg maybe those wheels need to spin more often .... a 2006 with 37k...... My father-in-law seems to have the same issues with his truck 2000 with 75k. Things always seem to be breaking on him.

Lol, yeah you're probably right.

airjer, how hard are they to put in yourself or to order?? I got a brother that can do about anything..if happens again, I'm assuming I could order one and have him do it right?

[Jeremy airjer W]

There readily available just about anywhere that sells parts. Don't skimp on quality on the aftermarket stuff. There bolted to the knuckle with three bolts. The most crucial part of the job is torquing the axle nut to the proper spec. Failure to do so will cuase the bearing to prematurely fail. The take me about 15 to 20 minutes to do so the average do-it-yourselfer could reasonably do it in about an hour or so.

[jeffreyd]

my magnum is an 05 with 29k on it, wife drives it about 12 miles rt to work. too bad my truck did not have that low of miles

[buddha]

My 2006 Silverado went out with about 75k on it. Only one front tire but it happens.

[WingDing2]

Guys, Should I have Torqued the crush nut on the spline and if so, what would the torque spec be? Can anyone answer that? We just tightened back up with a impact.

[Macgyver55]

Its 155lbs torque, and it would be a good idea to check it. Also. in the future dont use an impact, it can damage the splines.

[WingDing2]

Mac, Thanks I knew I could count on one of you guys to know this!