Front Wheel Bearing/Hub Failures

[movemyrv]

62K miles, gentle use, mostly on road, and I wiped out a driver's side hub unit. $500 bucks later (not happy!), all set.

As soon as I mentioned it around, right away everyone I know with a 2500 from 2003-2005, gas or diesel has been down the same road from 40k to 90k miles.

Is this a frequent problem as far as anyone knows? GM customer service, of course played dumb about the whole thing.

Myabe if there are enough of us in this boat, it will be the next thing GM sends a letter out about?
Mike

[Mark Rinker]

Hmmm...I have only one example for you to ponder: Our 2002 K2500HD, at about ~250K miles - was first to have front hubs replaced that I've owned.

We've operated eight GM 2500/3500 series trucks from 1998 to 2006 model years in last eight years, diesels and gassers, all have been equipped as plow trucks that get banged around into curbs. I've been amazed at how durable they have been, considering the use and abuse.

Maybe the difference is our trucks in MN and plow duty get used in 4WD alot...not just when snowplowing, we run in 4HI if snow on road is more than 1/4" at any speed, and even in heavy rains when towing.

Could your truck have been submerged and gotten water into the bearing?

[movemyrv]

Mark,
Two of the other trucks I mentioned are 2005s that do commercial construction and plowing. They got both sides replaced at around 40-50k on both trucks.

My only use that is stressful is trailer towing, which i do a fair amount of.

I don't have any reason to believe its ever been even close to being under water. I have put nearly every mile on it.

Maybe New England is just tough on these parts?!?!?!

I sure wouldn't complain at 250k!
Thanks,
Mike

[Mark Rinker]

Come to think of it, I didn't own the '02 until 130K...could have had a set before then...maybe I have just been lucky!!!

[Turbo Al]

Lucky too I guess BUT only got about 60,000 miles on it. A large portion is off road in four wheel drive, lots of towing (@ 6,000lbs) mud, water, snow and major bumps and hits most of the time with 1,000 lbs in the box, meduim size winch mounted (since new) on front.
The skid plates plastic and metal ones have been hit hard and at one point I ripped the rear shock and mount completely off. I have NOT had this one in the Pine river YET too much electic bs for that.
I am guessing I qualify for HD use LOL

AL

[carco]

Not just GM. Ford, Dodge and Toyota also! Usually big $$$. Our shop has replace several in all models.

[Hook_'em_Horns!]

Yep, got me too, at less than 80k. 2wd and heavy towing,

I had the dealer do a complete brake job, replacing the parking brake and flushing the system.

A month later the ABS light started up with intermittent skidding detected on dry level pavement. Diagnosed as a failed Driver’s side hub bearing (Sealed, not serviceable).

Since it’s over $600 to replace and at such a low mileage, you can see why I questioned the validity of the problem. The top guy confirmed it, anywhere between 40k-100k will get you a failed bearing, and it’s usually the driver’s side.

One of the Drawbacks of ABS, it keeps you from wrecking but it comes back to haunt you later.

[Gapper_ca]

Replaced front passenger side @ 160 000 kms. damn sealed bearing setup. picked up a used one from a wrecker for $200.... so far so good had a strange vibration, thought that it was a u-joint going, checked them all good then happened to grab whell and had a little play, took of wheel then spun the hub, damn if the chatter did not show up then. find it hard to beleive that you con not press out the old bearing and put in a new one... another example of brillant engineering so that the dealer gets the repair work....

[DmaxMaverick]

The bearings can be replaced in the hub. Problem is, it probably isn't worth the attempt for the shade tree mechanic. They can be pressed out with an arbor press (not a small one) and the correct die. If you have a mill/lathe, you could fab a die. The bearings are about $20 ea. We (a friend and I) tried this a couple years ago. There was a degree of uncertainty remaining after, so we abandoned the idea. The tolerances are very close, for what it is, and a catastrophic failure would be, uh... catastrophic. Still, I don't understand why we don't have reman hubs available. This isn't a new part concept. They've been used by GM for over 20 years, with little change. There must be a reason for no reman's. Reliability/dependability, perhaps?

[Turbo Al]

Now you guys got me looking forward to when mine fails LOL. I gota say I have pressed in somewhere around 5,000 bearings. Also converted hundreds from non greaseable to geaseable -- it is the same bearing different part number the race will have a groove in the center and a hole in the middle of the groove. So pretty simple to drill and tap a grease fitting into most machines. I will let you know how it goes when I do mine -- could be a while though I am still driving the car untill my leg gets better -- so the truck has been parked beside the 93 for six months now.
Al

[tpitt]

I also pulled the bearings out and was going to rebuild the hub. Never pursued buying the bearings as the races are part of the hub and not replaceable. Also the bearing that holds the ABS sensor ring might be hard to find.

[Mark Rinker]

You guys have me nervous, now! My 2006 does click and pop occasionally, not sure if I am hearing bearings, ujoints, or ball joints.

I was happier when I wasn't thinking about these things, 7 states away from home....

[lb7lbz]

i have replaced the drivers side hub assembly twice on my 01.first time around 80k,and again at around 180k now it has a napa lifetime in it for $270.00 much cheaper than my dealer. so far so good 223k

[CrashTestDummy]

Being a late-model GM, I was kind of afraid of that sort of setup. This is a common issue with 4th Gen Fbods. The roadracers can eat a set up a year. Same setup, sealed, non-serviceable bearing hubs. I know of a couple of people who are trying to build serviceable units, but they're still in the testing phase.

I'm wondering if it may be something to grab as a spare and hide under the back seat for that rainy day? <$300 from NAPA would sure be better than >$400 from GM, or not obtainable until Monday, should you be towing out of town.

Gene Beaird,
'02 GMC 2500HD D/A
Pearland, Texas

[BlackMaxAlly]

Just replaced one today, passenger side though, 48K on the odometer, 2500, '05, 4x4. I wished I saw this thread, I'd have a few bucks left in my pocket. Just gave the stealership $600.00 to to do it, $500.00 for the part.

[ronniejoe]

This is interesting. My 95 Suburban has over 280,000 miles on the original front hubs. It's been worked pretty hard towing and off-road around the farm here.

I know that the design is a little different because the rotors on a 2001 are much easier to change than on my older gen vehicle.

[SoTxPollock]

The thing about it is Ronniejoe, your older vehicle probably didn't have Chineese bearings in it, the one that went our at 48k probably did.
An old Engineer friend of mine once told me the story about bearing designs and how certain American machinery was used to make Submarine bearings, this while he was working research at Lawrence Livermore Labaratories for the Navy, No one in the world could equal American bearings, it gave us a distinct advantage in silent running of the Subs. I suspect the same may still be true. I just chringe when I see made in China on any bearing I purchase now days, I will go a long way to find American made when it comes to bearings.

[mikennola0515]

I was notified by my local tire shop today when I went in for my free rotation that my driver's side front hub is shot and must be replaced. I'm no mechanic, but I politely told him that I'd be shopping this $500 repair around (estimate is for $487, $306 for the part). The service manager asked me if I'd noticed any vibration (I truthfully haven't). He showed me the play in the wheel (top-to-bottom) albeit with only 2 lugnuts tightened. Is this definitive proof?

This seems a bit premature as this truck is never used for its intended purpose (very little towing and never anything to really tax it) and has less than 65K on it. Usually just me and my laptop.

Any recommendations for this problem (I'm assuming the whole assembly will need to be replaced based on this forum), especially a reputable independent shop in the Dayton, OH area.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

[Willcoc]

I had a mechanic that is north of New Paris, OH charge less for the labor than what I paid for the wheel bearing assembly at Advance Auto parts. Let me know if you want contact information. Passenger side failed on mine about 15K ago. Just waiting for the drivers side to fail.

[mikennola0515]

New Paris is a bit far, but thanks.

Mike