Hub Bearing Replace?

KCAMPBELL1

MEMBER
CHEVROLET CAVALIER

I have a '98 Chevy Cavalier and I'm told that the hub bearing is cracked. My repair person also told me that if I didn't fix it immediately, I could risk damage to the tire, and being stranded on the side of the road. How dire is it to get a bearing replaced? Am I really risking a tire flying off in traffic as my repair person would have me believe? Any idea on a cost estimate?

Thanks!

6 Replies

BOOTDOG

MECHANIC
665 POSTS

GM hub bearings are pretty easy to fix. Is it the front or rear? I know that they are a bolt in design. Let me know if it is the front or rear so I can give you instructions on replacement.

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Friday, February 2nd, 2007 AT 7:40 PM

CLEAVAGE4U

MEMBER
69 POSTS

Sweethart? Is the bearing making a noise?
How all did you discover it?

Daddy says those NEVER crack, He thinks y'all are getting fleeced. The Bearings gonna get pretty darn bad a fore it comes apart. I bet if you stick with Mr. Bootdog, he'll teach y'all a new trick.

I think I'd get a second opinion on that or maybe Mr. Houndfoot can tell ya how ta check it first.

Maybe you'll even give him a reputation for it

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Friday, February 2nd, 2007 AT 7:58 PM

KCAMPBELL1

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2 POSTS

You guys are all too funny. I appreciate all the feedback and advice - unfortunately I'm used to service repair techs assuming that I won't be smart enough to ask questions and get second opinions before getting work done.

This would be the driver's side front bearing that's making the noise. I noticed it about a month ago, when if I'm on the freeway, I'll hear a grinding sound when I turn left, but it goes away when I turn right. About the same time, my ABS brake light would start coming on when I turned left as well. My brother suggested it was a bearing issue, and then my service repair person said the same thing.

Thanks for the help!

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Monday, February 5th, 2007 AT 11:29 AM

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

Sounds like the the bearing to me by your description. A couple ways to nail it down.

First have the codes pulled from the computer, good chance it will point to the problem child or children if both are a problem.

Second, it too raise the front end so the wheels are off the ground, run the motor until the speedometer hit 30 mph and hold it. You may be able to hear which wheel is the noisy one. May need a stethoscope and may need to prevent one wheel at a time from spinning while checking this.

My preference is a Timken brand wheel bearing/hub assembly.

Here is a video for the style of repair

https://youtu.be/ZgiPRG6jffc

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Monday, February 5th, 2007 AT 5:16 PM

BOOTDOG

MECHANIC
665 POSTS

Also one other way, while the wheels are of the ground, place your hand on the strut spring and spin the tire. If you feel vibration through the spring, then that is the side that is bad. Hope this helps :D