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A local shop mentioned that my front wheel bearings are worn. First How do I measure this? Also, I know you can replace the entire wheel hub but can the hubs be rebuilt, replacing the bearings and such?
The hub unit is different than on other cars I have worked on that had a spindle with the bearings that were very accessable.
You have to replace the whole thing, hub and bearing.
You can jack the car up and put your hands at 12-6 and try to move it in/out towards or away from the engine (not as in turning the wheel), it should not move at all.
When the car's off the ground, trying to rock the wheel at 12 and 6 gives you a combination of looseness. You get the bearing wear plus the wear on the upper control arm ball joint. Shop manual says to set a travel indicator and limits the travel to less than .125".
The front bearing replacement is pretty much dead easy. A good set of wrenches is all it takes once the front of the car's off the ground. Rears, now...rears a re a bit more of a project.
Well it sounds as if the entire hub will need to be replaced, no rebuilding option. Any ideas where to pick these up? I understand they can get expensive. I'd like to save a few dollars, but don't want crap parts, any ideas?
I think fronts are about $150 apiece, that's not the OEM Delco part, though. Ecklers, Mid America, NAPA, everyone should be able to come up with them. Try getting an OEM set from Jeff Kopp at superchevyperformance.com.
Well it sounds as if the entire hub will need to be replaced, no rebuilding option. Any ideas where to pick these up? I understand they can get expensive. I'd like to save a few dollars, but don't want crap parts, any ideas?
Go to Pep Boys/Autozone and get a front wheel bearing for
a 94 Firebird Formula. It is the same as the Vette part. The only
change is the bearing has treads for the mounting bolts. I use these
( made by SFK ) on my autocross car. These bearings are $105 each :)
The ABS setup is different on the pre 91 cars. The F body won't work on them. Just get the ones at a Pep girls and slap it in there. I have yet to hear of anyone that has not gotten an OE hub. (In a number of different brand name boxes) They used to give them a "lifetime" warranty. Dunno if they still do. About a buck thirty.