1. Welcome Hearth.com Guests and Visitors - Please enjoy our forums!
    Hearth.com GOLD Sponsors who help bring the site content to you:
    Jotul Cast Iron Stoves
    Woodstock Soapstone Stoves
    Hearth and Home (QuadraFire and Harman Stoves)
  1. Ratherbfishin Member

    joined: Sep 2, 2009
    156 posts
    Southern tier NY
    Trying to change the wheel bearing on my '05 Silverado 4x4. Would be a pretty simple job except I can't get the darn wheel hub off. I have soaked it with PB blaster, Been pounding on it all week, broke 2 chisles, 3 screwdrivers, I am going to Harbor Freight to get an air hammer to go at it with that. Just don't want to damage the knuckle too much that's an extra 160 bucks. I can't believe how stuck on it is. And yes I took the 36MM axle nut off LOL.
    #1

    Helpful Sponsor Ads!



  2. blades Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 23, 2008
    870 posts
    WI, Milw
    Make sure there isn't some type of e-clip( Spring steel clip) in there a lot of them have that, and with all the crud almost impossible to see .
  3. Ratherbfishin Member

    joined: Sep 2, 2009
    156 posts
    Southern tier NY
    Air hammer with flat chisel worked like a charm...all that pounding...damn. No clip just stuck on there. Boy is it fighting to the end...the heat shield got a bit mangled so I had to rearrange it a bit. I'm ready to install the new bearing after I finish this cold beer. I fear I might be taking it all apart again soon though because I noticed a small tear in the CV boot with a small amount of grease coming out. Might need to replace it.

    Steve
  4. flyingcow Minister of Fire

    joined: Jun 4, 2008
    1,684 posts
    northern-half of maine
    I just bought an '06 chevy. not soon after i got it home the bearing went. Bought the pickup in Va. kinda freaky just to put a wrench on it and everything came apart. Not used to that.
  5. woodsman23 Minister of Fire

    cover boot with silicone
  6. Ratherbfishin Member

    joined: Sep 2, 2009
    156 posts
    Southern tier NY
    Will do...thanks for the tip.

    Steve
  7. MasterMech Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 2, 2011
    4,789 posts
    Hudson Valley NY
    I'm assuming your replacing the hub assemblies, not just the bearings? They can be rusted in there good. My service manual for my Canyon says to just pull 'em out of the knuckle. Yeah, ok. :mad:
  8. heat seeker Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 25, 2011
    1,670 posts
    Northern CT
    Silicone may not stick for long. They make replacement boots that are in halves, so you don't have to pull everything apart.
  9. mikefrommaine Minister of Fire

    joined: May 28, 2010
    1,328 posts
    mid coast maine
    This is what I did for my Ford (not my pic) But it worked like a charm.
    [IMG]
  10. MasterMech Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 2, 2011
    4,789 posts
    Hudson Valley NY
    That's the way. Betcha that damn puller costs more than the parts to do the job. You Ford guys are no strangers to hub bearing replacements either. ;)
  11. mikefrommaine Minister of Fire

    joined: May 28, 2010
    1,328 posts
    mid coast maine
    I only had to replace the needle bearing for the stub axle - only 8 bucks. Sure beat having to replace the whole hub $$$$

    A cheap $25 two jaw puller worked for me.
  12. ironpony Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 22, 2010
    1,396 posts
    mid-ohio
    had to replace them on the Dodge...fun job
  13. TMonter Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 8, 2007
    1,240 posts
    Hayden, ID
    Check into replacing the axle if you need a new CV boot. Sometimes the whole axle assembly is cheaper and less time consuming than rebooting an axle. For example my car I spent $120 a side for new axles and avoided the whole rebooting thing since all the boots were almost 20 years old and starting to split.
  14. Ratherbfishin Member

    joined: Sep 2, 2009
    156 posts
    Southern tier NY
    True I think the cv axle is like 60 bucks and 25 for the boot replacement. Might as well do the whole thing for piece of mind.

    BTW they say not to use a wheel puller on my vehicle. And that picture looks like a cake walk from what mine looked like. I have to also replace the blower motor resistor..looks easy enough...lol
  15. heat seeker Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 25, 2011
    1,670 posts
    Northern CT
    Be prepared for sticker shock on the resistor. The one for my Cherokee was $45.00!
  16. smoke show Minister of Fire

    joined: Apr 17, 2008
    4,612 posts
    Pittsfield, Wi
    Thats cheap. Not too many car parts can be had for $45 or less.

    just sayin.
  17. heat seeker Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 25, 2011
    1,670 posts
    Northern CT
    True, but I'm still stuck in the 60's, where a part like that would be around $5! And it really is only a couple of pieces of resistor wire and some terminals.

    Tomorrow I find out how much an alternator is - after 196,000 miles this one gave out. Bearings are okay, probably the brushes are shot. Guess I can't complain, the car has been great all these years, and still runs strong.

    Back on topic, I sort of doubt if cars made today will last that long. Too much fancy electronics, for one thing. Wanna bet cars will become obsolete after a few years, since the electronic replacement parts won't be available?
  18. smoke show Minister of Fire

    joined: Apr 17, 2008
    4,612 posts
    Pittsfield, Wi
    Fancy electronics have been around for quite some time. They're usually available for a premium. Depends on demand.

    I've already run across a seat belt retractor not being available for a car thats less then 10 years old.

    Imo seat belts and safety equipment should be available for at least 15 years.
  19. MasterMech Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 2, 2011
    4,789 posts
    Hudson Valley NY
    Look for digital instrument clusters for 80's Caddies and particularly early 90's S-10 Trucks and Blazers. That market is alive and well. FWIW I was able to buy a brand-new cluster for my 1991 GMC Sonoma right from a GM dealer but that was over 10 years ago.
  20. heat seeker Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 25, 2011
    1,670 posts
    Northern CT
    Got the alternator. Rebuilt, $118, not too bad. The core charge is $66, though! They must really want the core back. Guy at the store said certain Chevy calipers cost about $10, but the core charge is $50 because of the demand and supply. Looks like I have to remove the battery to get the alternator out, and assuming all the bolts come free, it doesn't look like a bad job at all. I'm waiting until it cools down this evening to do the job. Right now it's 83 degrees and climbing.
  21. Ratherbfishin Member

    joined: Sep 2, 2009
    156 posts
    Southern tier NY
    The resistor was 26 bucks at autozone.

    Hey anyone put a DIY lift kit on their truck? Been a dream of mine for a while
  22. smoke show Minister of Fire

    joined: Apr 17, 2008
    4,612 posts
    Pittsfield, Wi
    I put a 3" body lift and a 2" suspesion lift with oversized tires on this old Burb. I do turn a wrench for a living.

    The body lift was installed at home on a Sat. afternoon with a floor jack and air tools.

    IMAG0329.jpg
    Eatonpcat likes this.

Share This Page