Front wheel bearing replacement, how tuff?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Logansport, IN
Front wheel bearing replacement, how tuff?
I'm getting a serious vibration in the front drivers side, thinking I've got a dead spot in the wheel bearing, or simply dried out? Car just turned 130k, how tuff of a install is it?
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
There are numerous wear out items that would cause a vibration in the front of the car. The bearing is not one of them. With today’s hardening and precision, bearings last almost forever. Check your tires and balance, tie rods, and bushings first.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,481
Likes: 267
From: So-Cal California
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
It may or maynot be the bearing. The C5's use a hub assembly which means the bearing and the hub are 1 unit. Easiest way to check is to remove front wheel, caliper, rotor, and grab the wheel studs. Move them back and forth and spin the hub to see if it wobbles at all or is hard to spin. If it is then time for a new hub assembly which is very easy from that point. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,276
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
they wear out somewhat often at that mileage
Autozone/Timken $160 for fronts
T55 Torx for the bearing bolts
6mm internal wrenching 3/8" bit and 21mm wrench to remove the nut on lower ball joint
Easy job, about an hour, here's a pic of the lower/upper/knuckle rem'd from vehicle
if you have any questions, post or pm
Autozone/Timken $160 for fronts
T55 Torx for the bearing bolts
6mm internal wrenching 3/8" bit and 21mm wrench to remove the nut on lower ball joint
Easy job, about an hour, here's a pic of the lower/upper/knuckle rem'd from vehicle
if you have any questions, post or pm
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 36,453
Likes: 2
From: Overwhelmed as one would be, placed in my position.... DFW, TX
St. Jude Donor '05
Check the brakes first. Make sure you're not dragging the inner pad, for example.
Assuming it's the bearing (I've replaced all four of mine), it's an easy job, it just requires some brute force to separate the ball joint and pull the entire hub assy.
I would not pull the whole upper/lower control arm assy because it'll probably ruin your alignment.
Assuming it's the bearing (I've replaced all four of mine), it's an easy job, it just requires some brute force to separate the ball joint and pull the entire hub assy.
I would not pull the whole upper/lower control arm assy because it'll probably ruin your alignment.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,276
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Lift the car and see if you can pull the wheel towards you. If you can move it in and out then chances are it is the hub.
I just replaced mine. We wanted to see how long it took to do it in the common garage versus the shop so 2 friends came over and we followed the repair manual. The manual was a great aide and it took us 2.5 hours which included hunting for the right tools.
Things you might not have, but need; a ball joint seperator, a good torque wrench and torx 50 or 55 I forget
Here are some pics
I just replaced mine. We wanted to see how long it took to do it in the common garage versus the shop so 2 friends came over and we followed the repair manual. The manual was a great aide and it took us 2.5 hours which included hunting for the right tools.
Things you might not have, but need; a ball joint seperator, a good torque wrench and torx 50 or 55 I forget
Here are some pics
Just Passin' Thru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 236
Likes: 1
From: Diboll TX
And just to add to the posts above, Jake Latham has a couple of write-ups with pics on the full replacement of front or rear hubs. Check it out:
http://www.jakelatham.com/C5/misc/
HTH!!
Tex_Vette
http://www.jakelatham.com/C5/misc/
HTH!!
Tex_Vette
