GM 12479031 Rear Wheel Bearing

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To remove and install a rear hub assembly, first remove the axleshaft and rear wheels, then remove the brake disc and retaining ring/key from the end of the axle housing. Use a special socket to remove the adjusting nut and pull the hub assembly straight off the axle tube. Discard the oil seal and clean and inspect all components for wear or damage. Disassemble the hub further if necessary, then clean and reassemble using new bearing cups and lubricating with wheel bearing grease. To install, place the hub assembly on the axle tube and adjust the bearings by tightening the adjusting nut to 50 ft-lbs, then backing it off and tightening it hand-tight. Install the key and retaining ring, and ensure there is no play in the hub assembly before reinstalling the axleshaft and lowering the vehicle.

To remove and replace a bearing in an axle housing, first remove the axleshaft and oil seal. Use a bearing puller and slide hammer to extract the old bearing from the housing. Clean out the recess and install the new bearing using a bearing installer or a piece of pipe against the outer race. Ensure the bearing is tapped in fully. Finally, install a new oil seal and re-install the axleshaft.

To remove and install components in the front differential of selectable 4WD systems, first, loosen the wheel lug nuts and raise the vehicle securely on jackstands. Remove the right front wheel and the differential carrier splash shield if equipped. Drain the lubricant from the front differential. For 4WD systems, unbolt the right driveaxle from the axleshaft flange and support it out of the way. Remove the front axle shift motor and, if applicable, disconnect the front stabilizer link or remove the front shock absorber/coil spring assembly. On 2500/3500 models, remove the front axle bracket bolts and slide the bracket forward for additional clearance. Support the differential carrier with a floor jack and block of wood. Remove the bolts securing the axle tube to the differential carrier and the nuts attaching the tube to its support bracket. Carefully remove the output shaft tube, ensuring no components fall out. Mount the tube in a vise and remove the internal components. Measure and remove the axleshaft bearing using a slide hammer and bearing remover attachment. For installation, install the bearing to the original depth using a bearing driver or socket, then install a new seal and deflector, lubricating the seal lips with grease. Carefully drive in the axleshaft, followed by the internal components. Apply RTV sealant to the tube-to-differential housing mating surface, and install the tube assembly, tightening bolts and nuts to specified torques. Reinstall the driveaxle, front axle shift motor, and fill the differential with lubricant. For AWD systems, remove the stabilizer bar link and, if applicable, the front shock absorber. Unbolt the right driveaxle from the axleshaft flange, supporting it properly. Support the differential carrier with a floor jack and a block of wood. Remove nuts attaching the axle shaft to its support bracket and the bolts securing the axle shaft flange to the differential carrier. Use a brass punch and hammer to separate the axle shaft from the differential case side gear. Remove the inner axle shaft assembly and axle shaft. Replace the inner seal and bearing with a special tool, then apply RTV sealant to the differential sealing surface and install the inner axle shaft housing assembly. Install the axle shaft to the support bracket and align the splines with the differential side gear. Tap the axle shaft with a mallet until the ring (clip) aligns with the groove in the differential case side gear. Install the axle shaft to the inner flange and tighten the bolts. Reinstall the stabilizer link, fill the differential with lubricant, install the differential carrier splash shield, and finally, install the wheel and lug nuts. Lower the vehicle, tighten the lug nuts, and check for proper operation.

1. Install the bearing with the square shoulder facing in, using a bearing driver or a socket with an outside diameter slightly smaller than that of the bearing. 2. Install a new seal and deflector, lubricating the lips of the seal with multi-purpose grease. 3. Carefully drive in the axle shaft with a soft-face hammer. 4. Fill the differential with the proper lubricant. 5. Install the driveaxle and differential carrier splash shield. 6. Install the wheel and lug nuts. 7. Lower the vehicle. 8. Tighten the lug nuts to the proper torque specifications. 9. Check for proper operation.

The initial steps to remove and install components in the front differential of selectable 4WD systems are as follows: Loosen the wheel lug nuts. Raise the vehicle securely on jackstands. Remove the right front wheel. Remove the differential carrier splash shield if equipped. Drain the lubricant from the front differential. For 4WD systems, unbolt the right driveaxle from the axleshaft flange and support it out of the way. Remove the front axle shift motor and, if applicable, disconnect the front stabilizer link or remove the front shock absorber/coil spring assembly. On 2500/3500 models, remove the front axle bracket bolts and slide the bracket forward for additional clearance. Support the differential carrier with a floor jack and a block of wood.

If there is damage to the bearing races, replace any defective bearing races at a machine shop if necessary, ensuring that old bearings are not installed on new races.

The new bearing can be installed using a bearing installer or a piece of pipe against the outer bearing race.

A slide hammer should be attached to the puller to extract the bearing from the axle housing.

Reinstall the brake caliper, wheel/tire assembly, and lower the vehicle to complete the inspection process.

A new oil seal should be installed.

The bearing should be tapped into the full depth of the recess and the numbers on the bearing should be visible from the outer end of the axle housing.

During the initial inspection, you should check for noise, rolling resistance, and freeplay by spinning each wheel and looking for noticeable movement when grasping the top and bottom of the tire.

It should be ensured that the new bearing is tapped in fully.

The new bearing can be installed using a bearing installer or a piece of pipe against the outer bearing race.

The axleshaft and the oil seal.

To remove and install components in the front differential for 4WD systems, follow these steps: Remove the bolts securing the axle tube to the differential carrier and the nuts attaching the tube to its support bracket. Carefully remove the output shaft tube, ensuring no components fall out. Mount the tube in a vise and remove the internal components. Measure and remove the axleshaft bearing using a slide hammer and bearing remover attachment. For installation, install the bearing to the original depth using a bearing driver or socket, then install a new seal and deflector, lubricating the seal lips with grease. Carefully drive in the axleshaft, followed by the internal components. Apply RTV sealant to the tube-to-differential housing mating surface, and install the tube assembly, tightening bolts and nuts to specified torques. Reinstall the driveaxle, front axle shift motor, and fill the differential with lubricant.

1. Loosen the wheel lug nuts. 2. Raise the vehicle. 3. Place it securely on jackstands. 4. Remove the left front wheel. 5. Remove the differential carrier splash shield from under the front axle. 6. Remove the left driveaxle.

To remove and install components in the front differential for AWD systems, follow these steps: Remove the stabilizer bar link and, if applicable, the front shock absorber. Unbolt the right driveaxle from the axleshaft flange, supporting it properly. Support the differential carrier with a floor jack and a block of wood. Remove nuts attaching the axle shaft to its support bracket and the bolts securing the axle shaft flange to the differential carrier. Use a brass punch and hammer to separate the axle shaft from the differential case side gear. Remove the inner axle shaft assembly and axle shaft. Replace the inner seal and bearing with a special tool, then apply RTV sealant to the differential sealing surface and install the inner axle shaft housing assembly. Install the axle shaft to the support bracket and align the splines with the differential side gear. Tap the axle shaft with a mallet until the ring (clip) aligns with the groove in the differential case side gear. Install the axle shaft to the inner flange and tighten the bolts. Reinstall the stabilizer link, fill the differential with lubricant, install the differential carrier splash shield, and finally, install the wheel and lug nuts. Lower the vehicle, tighten the lug nuts, and check for proper operation.

The initial steps to remove and install components in the front differential of selectable 4WD systems are as follows:Loosen the wheel lug nuts.

A bearing puller is needed.

If there is damage to the bearing races, replace any defective bearing races at a machine shop if necessary, ensuring that old bearings are not installed on new races.

The old bearing can be extracted from the housing using a bearing puller and slide hammer.

The bearings should be adjusted by tightening the adjusting nut to 50 ft-lbs, then backing it off and tightening it hand-tight.

1. Loosen the wheel lug nuts. 2. Raise the vehicle. 3. Place it securely on jackstands. 4. Remove the left front wheel. 5. Remove the differential carrier splash shield from under the front axle. 6. Remove the left driveaxle. 7. Drain the lubricant from the front differential. 8. Pull the left axle shaft out with a slide hammer and adapter. 9. Remove the deflector and seal from the differential. 10. Remove the bearing using a slide hammer and bearing remover attachment.

If further disassembly of the hub is necessary, it should be done.

1. Loosen the wheel lug nuts. 2. Raise the vehicle. 3. Place it securely on jackstands. 4. Remove the left front wheel. 5. Remove the differential carrier splash shield from under the front axle. 6. Remove the left driveaxle. 7. Drain the lubricant from the front differential. 8. Pull the left axle shaft out with a slide hammer and adapter. 9. Remove the deflector and seal from the differential. 10. Remove the bearing using a slide hammer and bearing remover attachment.

After raising the vehicle and securing it on jackstands, displace the brake caliper, hang it out of the way, possibly using a wood block between the brake pads for separation.

It should be ensured that the new bearing is tapped in fully.

The hub assembly should be placed on the axle tube during installation.

The initial steps to remove and install components in the front differential of selectable 4WD systems are as follows: Loosen the wheel lug nuts. Raise the vehicle securely on jackstands. Remove the right front wheel. Remove the differential carrier splash shield if equipped. Drain the lubricant from the front differential. For 4WD systems, unbolt the right driveaxle from the axleshaft flange and support it out of the way. Remove the front axle shift motor and, if applicable, disconnect the front stabilizer link or remove the front shock absorber/coil spring assembly. On 2500/3500 models, remove the front axle bracket bolts and slide the bracket forward for additional clearance. Support the differential carrier with a floor jack and a block of wood.

After reinstalling the front wheel bearings, install the dust cap, replace the brake caliper, reattach the wheel, and check the bearings' condition by grasping the top and bottom of the tire.

The new bearing can be installed using a bearing installer or a piece of pipe against the outer race.

1. Install the bearing with the square shoulder facing in, using a bearing driver or a socket with an outside diameter slightly smaller than that of the bearing. 2. Install a new seal and deflector, lubricating the lips of the seal with multi-purpose grease. 3. Carefully drive in the axle shaft with a soft-face hammer. 4. Fill the differential with the proper lubricant. 5. Install the driveaxle and differential carrier splash shield. 6. Install the wheel and lug nuts. 7. Lower the vehicle. 8. Tighten the lug nuts to the proper torque specifications. 9. Check for proper operation.

1. Install the bearing with the square shoulder facing in, using a bearing driver or a socket with an outside diameter slightly smaller than that of the bearing. 2. Install a new seal and deflector, lubricating the lips of the seal with multi-purpose grease. 3. Carefully drive in the axle shaft with a soft-face hammer. 4. Fill the differential with the proper lubricant. 5. Install the driveaxle and differential carrier splash shield. 6. Install the wheel and lug nuts. 7. Lower the vehicle. 8. Tighten the lug nuts to the proper torque specifications. 9. Check for proper operation.

After removing the hub assembly, the oil seal should be discarded.

To remove and install components in the front differential for 4WD systems, follow these steps: Remove the bolts securing the axle tube to the differential carrier and the nuts attaching the tube to its support bracket. Carefully remove the output shaft tube, ensuring no components fall out. Mount the tube in a vise and remove the internal components. Measure and remove the axleshaft bearing using a slide hammer and bearing remover attachment. For installation, install the bearing to the original depth using a bearing driver or socket, then install a new seal and deflector, lubricating the seal lips with grease. Carefully drive in the axleshaft, followed by the internal components. Apply RTV sealant to the tube-to-differential housing mating surface, and install the tube assembly, tightening bolts and nuts to specified torques. Reinstall the driveaxle, front axle shift motor, and fill the differential with lubricant.

The bearing puller can be found at tool stores and auto parts stores.