'03 front wheel bearings

**Dwayne J** · 03-12-2010, 10:10 AM

I am sure this is not hard just looking for pointers.

Wife's car has an annoying howl that I am sure is front wheel bearings. Might as well do both.

Prefered parts store is Advance because they are local with great hours and ability to get parts.

I will take another look but I am pretty sure the car in non-ABS, I don't work on it much, oil changes are done at the dealer quicklube and the car has been amazingly reliable so I am not very familiar.

So I gather I need a 36mm socket for the nut.

Looks like they carry National or NTP, good/bad?

If anyone knows a better place to get these speak up I am open to suggestions. I have Carquest, NAPA, Autozone, Bumper to Bumper and I am sure some others if I just drive 30 minutes.

I know I give some of you FWD guys a hard time but this car is approaching 150K miles, we bought i new in 03. One set of tires, brakes, intake gasket last summer, and now wheel bearings. I call that a very good car. Struts, belts, hoses all original.

**wanderson75** · 03-12-2010, 10:23 AM

I have Masterpros on mine. But that's what Oreilly sells. They're ok I guess. The left side is going after only a couple of months but I wonder about Kev's "torque it with an impact hammer" method.

Big thing is warranty. If they're willing to stand by their product for one or two years, go for it.

I want to say the wheel hub socket is actually a 33mm, but I'm not 100% on that.

Oh, and get a new axle nut, so you can use the original one to hammer the axle out of the hub.

Edit: Also, make sure you have a u-joint socket, a shorty (1-inch) extension, and a 3-inch extension. Don't use the 6-inch, you won't have clearance on the top bolt.

**Dwayne J** · 03-12-2010, 10:46 AM

Now that you say that there is a new O-Reilly's in Appleton, another option.

Anyone else have input on the socket size???

**04DetroitLS** · 03-12-2010, 11:39 AM

32-35mm... depends on a few things, OEM or replacement axle? OEM or replacement nut? yr of car/trim also see to play a factor, dont ask me what size goes where, all i can tell you is that mine was a 32/33mm and when Will got his new axle, my socket wouldnt fit... its no harder than a brake job, well... depending on how badly your axle is seized in the hub LOL
I used Timkens....

AND DAMMIT IT, MY TQ W/ IMPACT WORKED ON MY CAR YOUR CAR JUST HATES YOU!

**Dwayne J** · 03-12-2010, 01:47 PM

Original axles. I listed above all I can remember ever being done to the car. Maybe I just need to rent a large socket set from the store.

**04DetroitLS** · 03-12-2010, 01:56 PM

pull the wheel off and measure it, better yet buy an extra,
you'll want to keep the old nut on the axle while you pound the ever loving hell out of it w/ a mini sledge to remove it from the hub LOL

**Dwayne J** · 03-12-2010, 04:58 PM

why are the non-abs ones more expensive???

Any chance I can throw an ABS one on?

**04DetroitLS** · 03-13-2010, 06:41 PM

They look to be the same design. You should be able to get away with it.

**Dwayne J** · 03-15-2010, 03:58 PM

Well I waited a couple days to start and all of a sudden locally I could only get one Raybestos hub. Put it on and it seems to be an improvement in the frontend growl.

I am having a heck of a time getting the other rotor off. Since I can't get another hub till tomorrow the penetrating oil has 24 hours to work it's magic. Not optomistic though I already tried propane with a penetrant quenching.

The nuts ended up being between 32 and 34mm there was no 33 in the set I rented. The 34 did the job though.

**04DetroitLS** · 03-15-2010, 05:28 PM

really the rotor is giving you issues? that sux :P
I usually hit the hubs w/ antisieze when i do brakes just to prevent this, also coat the piss out of the axles where they sit in the hubs ;)

**Dwayne J** · 03-15-2010, 06:37 PM

One came off with a few taps. The other is being a major PITA.

It is afterall a 150K mile wisconsin car, and all the salt that goes with that.

kingnutin · 03-16-2010, 10:18 AM

I've done the torque with impact on a few cars here, all have piled on at least 10k since then with no problems. And ditto on the anti-seize, rust is not your friend...

**Dwayne J** · 03-16-2010, 06:27 PM

Well today when I picked up the hub I went ahead and got a rotor too since it was only $22.

Tried to beat on the old rotor some more, said the hell with it and unbolted the hub. About three hits on the rotor to remove it and the hub together and the rotor comes off. Murphy strikes again.

I had really pounded on the rotor so I just used the new one. All fixxed, no more growl.

roundthirteen · 03-21-2010, 07:31 AM

I learned when working on my old car that not getting the hub nuts tight will kill bearings so I found a good 4' long piece of pipe and used it on my breaker arm (I don't air tools). I set the parking break and kept tightening until the car wanted to pull on the brakes or my back gave out. I used whatever it was ZZ sells, way cheaper than Rock Auto.

roundthirteen · 03-21-2010, 07:35 AM

On my old car I thought I had the hub nuts on tight enough after changing axels, wrong! This time on the Impala seeing I don't own an Impact gun I used a 4' piece of pipe on my breaker arm, set the parking brake and whenched on it until the car wanted to pull the parking brakes and my back started to hurt. The bearings I used were whatever ZZp sells they were cheaper than Rock Auto.

03-12-2010, 10:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dwayne J Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 748	'03 front wheel bearings Remove this ad! I am sure this is not hard just looking for pointers. Wife's car has an annoying howl that I am sure is front wheel bearings. Might as well do both. Prefered parts store is Advance because they are local with great hours and ability to get parts. I will take another look but I am pretty sure the car in non-ABS, I don't work on it much, oil changes are done at the dealer quicklube and the car has been amazingly reliable so I am not very familiar. So I gather I need a 36mm socket for the nut. Looks like they carry National or NTP, good/bad? If anyone knows a better place to get these speak up I am open to suggestions. I have Carquest, NAPA, Autozone, Bumper to Bumper and I am sure some others if I just drive 30 minutes. I know I give some of you FWD guys a hard time but this car is approaching 150K miles, we bought i new in 03. One set of tires, brakes, intake gasket last summer, and now wheel bearings. I call that a very good car. Struts, belts, hoses all original. __________________ Dwayne 96 Caprice with AI 200cc package Best et 11.5 Best MPH 116 Just another taxi

03-12-2010, 10:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
Dwayne J Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 748	Now that you say that there is a new O-Reilly's in Appleton, another option. Anyone else have input on the socket size??? __________________ Dwayne 96 Caprice with AI 200cc package Best et 11.5 Best MPH 116 Just another taxi

03-12-2010, 11:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
04DetroitLS Super Moderator Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,899 View My Garage 04DetroitLS	32-35mm... depends on a few things, OEM or replacement axle? OEM or replacement nut? yr of car/trim also see to play a factor, dont ask me what size goes where, all i can tell you is that mine was a 32/33mm and when Will got his new axle, my socket wouldnt fit... its no harder than a brake job, well... depending on how badly your axle is seized in the hub LOL I used Timkens.... AND DAMMIT IT, MY TQ W/ IMPACT WORKED ON MY CAR YOUR CAR JUST HATES YOU! __________________ any asshole can make a v8 fast It takes a special breed oof stupid/crazy asshole to make a v6 fast http:www.hellfiremotorsports.com/garage Last edited by 04DetroitLS; 03-12-2010 at 11:48 AM..

03-12-2010, 01:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dwayne J Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 748	Original axles. I listed above all I can remember ever being done to the car. Maybe I just need to rent a large socket set from the store. __________________ Dwayne 96 Caprice with AI 200cc package Best et 11.5 Best MPH 116 Just another taxi

03-12-2010, 01:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
04DetroitLS Super Moderator Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,899 View My Garage 04DetroitLS	pull the wheel off and measure it, better yet buy an extra, you'll want to keep the old nut on the axle while you pound the ever loving hell out of it w/ a mini sledge to remove it from the hub LOL __________________ any asshole can make a v8 fast It takes a special breed oof stupid/crazy asshole to make a v6 fast http:www.hellfiremotorsports.com/garage

03-12-2010, 04:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dwayne J Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 748	why are the non-abs ones more expensive??? Any chance I can throw an ABS one on? __________________ Dwayne 96 Caprice with AI 200cc package Best et 11.5 Best MPH 116 Just another taxi

03-13-2010, 06:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
04DetroitLS Super Moderator Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,899 View My Garage 04DetroitLS	They look to be the same design. You should be able to get away with it. __________________ any asshole can make a v8 fast It takes a special breed oof stupid/crazy asshole to make a v6 fast http:www.hellfiremotorsports.com/garage

03-15-2010, 03:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
Dwayne J Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 748	Well I waited a couple days to start and all of a sudden locally I could only get one Raybestos hub. Put it on and it seems to be an improvement in the frontend growl. I am having a heck of a time getting the other rotor off. Since I can't get another hub till tomorrow the penetrating oil has 24 hours to work it's magic. Not optomistic though I already tried propane with a penetrant quenching. The nuts ended up being between 32 and 34mm there was no 33 in the set I rented. The 34 did the job though. __________________ Dwayne 96 Caprice with AI 200cc package Best et 11.5 Best MPH 116 Just another taxi

03-15-2010, 05:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
04DetroitLS Super Moderator Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,899 View My Garage 04DetroitLS	really the rotor is giving you issues? that sux :P I usually hit the hubs w/ antisieze when i do brakes just to prevent this, also coat the piss out of the axles where they sit in the hubs ;) __________________ any asshole can make a v8 fast It takes a special breed oof stupid/crazy asshole to make a v6 fast http:www.hellfiremotorsports.com/garage

03-15-2010, 06:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
Dwayne J Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 748	One came off with a few taps. The other is being a major PITA. It is afterall a 150K mile wisconsin car, and all the salt that goes with that. __________________ Dwayne 96 Caprice with AI 200cc package Best et 11.5 Best MPH 116 Just another taxi

03-16-2010, 10:18 AM	#12 (permalink)
kingnutin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: washougal, WA Posts: 528 View My Garage kingnutin	I've done the torque with impact on a few cars here, all have piled on at least 10k since then with no problems. And ditto on the anti-seize, rust is not your friend... __________________ 1978 Caprice Classic Landau 350 2-bolt, stock 4bbl Stock rebuilt TH350 Edelbrock performer cam + intake Dual Flowmaster exuast with hi-flow cat (waiting to be installed) Edelbrock IAS Classic shocks 2.41 Open carrier performance! (95 9C1 3.08 waiting to be installed!) 16x8 American Racing Baja's with 225/60/16 Pirelli P5's Panasonic CD player with all Polk speakers 2-4x6, 2-6x9, 2-12" on alpine 4 channel (till I get my other amp fixed).

03-16-2010, 06:27 PM	#13 (permalink)
Dwayne J Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 748	Well today when I picked up the hub I went ahead and got a rotor too since it was only $22. Tried to beat on the old rotor some more, said the hell with it and unbolted the hub. About three hits on the rotor to remove it and the hub together and the rotor comes off. Murphy strikes again. I had really pounded on the rotor so I just used the new one. All fixxed, no more growl. __________________ Dwayne 96 Caprice with AI 200cc package Best et 11.5 Best MPH 116 Just another taxi

03-21-2010, 07:31 AM	#14 (permalink)
roundthirteen Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Near Flint, MI Posts: 69	I learned when working on my old car that not getting the hub nuts tight will kill bearings so I found a good 4' long piece of pipe and used it on my breaker arm (I don't air tools). I set the parking break and kept tightening until the car wanted to pull on the brakes or my back gave out. I used whatever it was ZZ sells, way cheaper than Rock Auto. __________________ My car's not a sleeper, it's a hibernator. No OHC + no aluminum='s no problems

03-21-2010, 07:35 AM	#15 (permalink)
roundthirteen Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Near Flint, MI Posts: 69	On my old car I thought I had the hub nuts on tight enough after changing axels, wrong! This time on the Impala seeing I don't own an Impact gun I used a 4' piece of pipe on my breaker arm, set the parking brake and whenched on it until the car wanted to pull the parking brakes and my back started to hurt. The bearings I used were whatever ZZp sells they were cheaper than Rock Auto. __________________ My car's not a sleeper, it's a hibernator. No OHC + no aluminum='s no problems

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