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General Site Info => General Discussion => Topic started by: heavychevy91 on December 10, 2009, 12:13:31 pm

Title: '03 Suburban 4x4 front wheel bearings
Post by: heavychevy91 on December 10, 2009, 12:13:31 pm

Im about to replace the front wheel bearings on my moms '03 Suburban tomorrow afternoon. Ive done them on an older truck, are these never vehicles much different? Are there any specialty tools i will need?

Thanks,
Tim

Title: Re: '03 Suburban 4x4 front wheel bearings
Post by: beastie_3 on December 10, 2009, 02:10:50 pm

I would spend 15 bucks on a haynes or chilton book at your local auto parts store. They arent as good as a factory repair manual, but it will work.

Title: Re: '03 Suburban 4x4 front wheel bearings
Post by: eventhorizon66 on December 10, 2009, 02:57:34 pm

Before I started doing any major work on a late model vehicle I'd invest in a factory service manual.  In lieu of a manual, wait for VileZambonie's response.

Title: Re: '03 Suburban 4x4 front wheel bearings
Post by: Captkaos on December 10, 2009, 03:17:13 pm

They are non-serviceable, you have to buy a new Hub.
http://gmfullsize.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83510

Title: Re: '03 Suburban 4x4 front wheel bearings
Post by: VileZambonie on December 10, 2009, 04:34:58 pm

Yep it's pretty easy to do. Just have a torque wrench handy. Don't goodntite it.

(http://repairguide.autozone.com/znetrgs/repair_guide_content/en_us/images/0900c152/80/24/7d/b5/medium/0900c15280247db5.gif)

If you don't have a repair manual go to autozone's website. They have free online repair guides.

Title: Re: '03 Suburban 4x4 front wheel bearings
Post by: choptop on December 10, 2009, 07:54:39 pm

Be ready to get a bank loan. When I had them done on the wifes truck (01) they were $500 each. Luckily warranty bought them.

Title: Re: '03 Suburban 4x4 front wheel bearings
Post by: eventhorizon66 on December 10, 2009, 09:07:20 pm

Quote from: choptop on December 10, 2009, 07:54:39 pm

Be ready to get a bank loan. When I had them done on the wifes truck (01) they were $500 each. Luckily warranty bought them.

Looks like about $135 for Timken brand and $238 for ACDelco on rockauto.com

Title: Re: '03 Suburban 4x4 front wheel bearings
Post by: choptop on December 11, 2009, 06:53:24 am

Quote from: eventhorizon66 on December 10, 2009, 09:07:20 pm

Quote from: choptop on December 10, 2009, 07:54:39 pm

Be ready to get a bank loan. When I had them done on the wifes truck (01) they were $500 each. Luckily warranty bought them.

Looks like about $135 for Timken brand and $238 for ACDelco on rockauto.com
[/quote/]
Wow, thats great. We had them replaced about 7 years ago, and the cheapest I found was $450, (NAPA) No one else had them. I havent checked since, but glad someone else started making them. Ive got 3 trucks with this style bearing. I prefer something rebuildable tho.

Title: Re: '03 Suburban 4x4 front wheel bearings
Post by: heavychevy91 on December 12, 2009, 06:27:16 pm

Thanks all for the replies. I got the job done friday afternoon and it went pretty smooth, except for one bolt on the top part of the bearing on the inside if the knuckle, its were the ball joint comes down so you cant get a socket on the thing. but theyre all donr now and it drives great. But those bearings sure are pricey. I went to a PaPa auto by my house and they were $149 a piece. But oh well one of those things you gotta do.

Thanks again for the help

Title: Re: '03 Suburban 4x4 front wheel bearings
Post by: VileZambonie on December 12, 2009, 07:36:09 pm

All you need to do is remove the axle nut and push the axle in. Then you can easily fit a socket on there. I just did another one today on an 04

Title: Re: '03 Suburban 4x4 front wheel bearings
Post by: heavychevy91 on December 13, 2009, 01:00:54 am

yeah we did that. but the kicker was the bolt on the top. maybe it was just our truck idk. but the ball joint that was installed, the threads from it protruded down so far that the kept us from getting a socket on the bolt

Title: Re: '03 Suburban 4x4 front wheel bearings
Post by: VileZambonie on December 13, 2009, 11:20:13 am

Did you have it jacked by the frame or under the control arm? Under the control arm allows for better access

Title: Re: '03 Suburban 4x4 front wheel bearings
Post by: heavychevy91 on December 13, 2009, 01:14:15 pm

ah well there was my downfall, i placed the jackstands on the frame rails because i thought it would give me more room but didnt think about the movement of the arms...