Front wheel bearing installation

1991 CHEVROLET TRUCK
210,000 MILES
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DANIEL FISHER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I have a Chevrolet P 30 step van I need to replace the front wheel bearings. I cannot find any information on torque or adjustment specs for the front wheel bearings. Can you help me out with this? Thank you very much. Daniel
Dec 12, 2019 at 11:01 PM
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STEVE W.
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 15,295 POSTS
Being tapered roller bearings these are sort of touchy to adjust.
The factory information is to tighten the nut down to 12 ft. lb. as you rotate the hub assembly. Now you back the nut off until it is just barely loose. Now tighten it using your fingers until the nut seats firmly but with no pressure. Then back off the nut only enough to line up the pin through the castle nut and spindle hole. Drive the vehicle for no more than 50 miles and recheck the bearings.
With tapered bearings you do not want any preload on them in this application. Be sure you pack the new bearings with a good bearing grease.
Dec 13, 2019 at 12:50 AM
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