GM 457052 Front Wheel Bearing

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In most instances, the front wheel bearings will not require servicing until the brake pads are altered. However, these bearings ought to be inspected whenever the front wheels are elevated for any reason. When the vehicle is securely supported on jack stands, the wheel should be spun to check for noise, rolling resistance or free play. The top of the tire should be grabbed with one hand and the bottom of the tire with the other, moving the tire in and out on the spindle. If it moves more than 0.005 in, the bearings should be inspected, and replaced if necessary.

Remove the axleshaft and the oil seal. A bearing puller which grips the bearing from behind will be required for this job. Attach a slide hammer to the puller and extract the bearing from the axle housing. Clean out the bearing recess and drive in the new bearing with a bearing installer or a piece of pipe positioned against the outer bearing race. Use a special bearing installer, large socket or piece of pipe to tap the bearing into the axle housing. Make sure the bearing is tapped into the full depth of the recess and the numbers on the bearing are visible from the outer end of the axle housing. Install a new oil seal, then install the axle shaft.

This procedure applies to 2002 and earlier models only. In most cases, the front wheel bearings will not need servicing until the brake pads are changed, but they should be checked whenever the front of the vehicle is raised for any reason. Several items, including a torque wrench and special grease, are required. With the vehicle securely supported on jackstands, spin each wheel to check for noise, rolling resistance, and free play. Grasp the top and bottom of each tire and move the wheel in-and-out on the spindle; noticeable movement indicates the bearings should be checked and possibly repacked with grease or replaced. Remove the wheel and the brake caliper, ensuring not to depress the brake pedal while the caliper is removed. Pry the dust cap out of the hub, straighten and remove the cotter pin, and discard it, using a new one during reassembly. Remove the spindle nut and washer, then pull the hub/disc assembly out slightly and push it back to force the outer bearing off the spindle. Pull the hub/disc assembly off the spindle and use a screwdriver to pry the seal out of the rear of the hub, noting its installation. Remove the inner wheel bearing and use solvent to clean all traces of old grease from the bearings, hub, and spindle, allowing the parts to air dry. Inspect the bearings for cracks, heat discoloration, and wear, checking the bearing races for damage; defective races require professional removal and replacement. Pack the bearings with high-temperature front wheel bearing grease, ensuring it is forced between the rollers, cone, and cage. Apply a thin coat of grease to the spindle and place a small quantity inboard of each bearing race inside the hub. Insert the grease-packed inner bearing into the rear of the hub, adding more grease outboard, then place a new seal over the inner bearing and tap it into place until flush with the hub. Carefully place the hub assembly onto the spindle, pushing the grease-packed outer bearing into position, then install the washer and spindle nut, tightening it slightly to no more than 12 ft-lbs of torque. Spin the hub in a forward direction to seat the bearings and remove any grease or burrs that could cause excessive bearing play. Check the tightness of the spindle nut, then loosen it until just loose. Using your hand, tighten the nut until snug, install a new cotter pin, and adjust the nut if necessary to align the slots. Bend the ends of the cotter pin flat against the nut and cut off any excess length. Install the dust cap, tapping it into place, then place the brake caliper near the rotor, remove the wood spacer, and install the caliper. Finally, install the tire/wheel assembly on the hub, tighten the lug nuts, check the bearings again, and lower the vehicle.

To replace your car wheel bearings, start by hoisting or jacking up the car and securing it with jackstands. Take off the wheel and tire before you suspend the brake caliper on wire hung from up arm. After that, remove the hub dust cap, cotter pin, spindle nut and washer. Be cautious because removing it from spindles while the bearing is in a hub may have it out of its position. Pry out the grease seal to take out an outer bearing then discard old seal, pry out the inner bearing and again throw away the old seal. Repeat these steps for another wheel. Wash all parts thoroughly with solvent, check old races for any galling or scoring; if any are found drive them out of the hub using a brass drift. Lubricate new race and seat squarely into hub with suitable tool. Examine bearings for cracked cage or pitting (replace race if necessary). Clean hub and spindle, lubricate wheel bearings with high-temperature front wheel bearing grease, apply a light film of grease to spindle at bearing seats. Inboard of each bearing race in hub add grease, pack bent thorough with grease adding more inboard after placing inner bearing in hub. Install new grease seal flush with hub lubricating seal lip with thin layer of grease. Carefully install the hub and rotor assembly; place outer bearing, washer and nut then tighten spindle nut to specified torque turning wheel forward slightly by hand as you do this. Turn back nut to "just loose" position; hand tighten it then install new cotter pin for example 1/8 th inch left sticking through hole beyond other end of castle nut (not too tight). Finally install dust cap, brake caliper, wheel/tire as well as lower vehicle to ground.

In most cases, the front wheel bearings should be checked whenever the front of the vehicle is raised, typically coinciding with brake pad replacement. The vehicle must be supported safely on jackstands and each wheel assessed by spinning it while checking for noise, rolling resistance and freeplay. You should grab the top and bottom of each tire to check for excessive play as you move the wheel in and out on the spindle; if there is any noticeable movement, bearing inspection, repacking with grease or replacement is required. After removing the wheel, remove the brake caliper and hang it out of your way possibly using a wood block between the brake pads for separation. Thereafter pry out dust cap, straighten and remove cotter pin then take off nut lock, nut, and washer from spindle. Slightly pull hub/disc assembly outwardly then push it back to facilitate removal of outer bearing. Then separate hub/disc assembly from spindle using screwdriver skimming seal out of rear side of hub keeping in mind how it was oriented during its installation. Proceed further to remove inner wheel bearing, clean all components thoroughly with solvent before carefully inspecting them for damage on races or bearings themselves. Replace any defective bearing races at a machine shop if necessary making sure that old bearings are not installed on new races. Thereafter pack bearings with high-temperature front wheel bearing grease and apply thin coat to designated spindle areas. Finger dam grease inboard of each bearing race inside the hub to contain excess grease. After this insert grease-packed inner bearing, a new seal then put outer bearing on top. Place washer on spindle followed by spindle nut which should be tightened gently; spin hub while tightening to approximately 20 ft-lbs then loosen 1/4-turn and finally secure snugly by hand using new cotter pin plus nut lock. Next install dust cap; replace brake caliper; re-attach the wheel then check condition of bearings by grabbing top & bottom of the tire. Finally, lower the vehicle.

In most instances, the front wheel bearings will not require servicing until the brake pads are altered. However, these bearings ought to be inspected whenever the front wheels are elevated for any reason. When the vehicle is securely supported on jack stands, the wheel should be spun to check for noise, rolling resistance or free play. The top of the tire should be grabbed with one hand and the bottom of the tire with the other, moving the tire in and out on the spindle. If it moves more than 0.005 in, the bearings should be inspected, and replaced if necessary.

In most instances, the front wheel bearings will not require servicing until the brake pads are altered. However, these bearings ought to be inspected whenever the front wheels are elevated for any reason. When the vehicle is securely supported on jack stands, the wheel should be spun to check for noise, rolling resistance or free play. The top of the tire should be grabbed with one hand and the bottom of the tire with the other, moving the tire in and out on the spindle. If it moves more than 0.005 in, the bearings should be inspected, and replaced if necessary.

Remove the wheel and brake caliper, then pry the dust cap out of the hub.

Torque the lug nuts and axle nuts to specification and recheck for looseness. If the wheel bearing is worn or damaged, it should be replaced. If the wheel bearing is out of adjustment, adjust it to specification; if it remains loose, replacement is necessary.

Discard the old oil seal and install a new one.

Use solvent to thoroughly clean the bearings, hub, and spindle, ensuring no brush bristles embed in the bearing rollers.

A bearing puller that grips the bearing from behind is required, typically using a slide hammer and axleshaft bearing remover attachment.

The next step is to take out the retaining ring and key from the end of the axle housing, followed by the adjusting nut using a special socket.

Front wheel bearings should be checked whenever the front of the vehicle is raised, typically coinciding with brake pad replacement. During inspection, assess each wheel by spinning it and examining for noise, rolling resistance, and freeplay.

A bearing puller is needed.

To determine if your vehicle has a Borg-Warner rear axle, match the axle number stamped on the right side axle housing with the axle codes.

The bearing puller can be attached to the slide hammer.

After installing the front wheel bearings, you should lower the model and tighten the lug nuts.