Wheel Bearing Replacement in a 2001 Chevy 1500

The 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 was available in 28 different trim packages and produced in both two-wheel and four-wheel drive formats. The four-wheel drive bearing is a typical GM hub bearing assembly. The two-wheel drive wheel bearing is a two-bearing assembly, with bearing sleeves and seals. Replacing the wheel bearings on the 2001 Silverado will add stability to the drive, steering and suspension of the truck; the wheel bearing is an essential part of all three systems.

Instructions

Four-Wheel Drive Wheel Bearing Hub Assembly Replacement

1

Remove the center caps from both front wheels. Use a tire iron if the caps are mounted to the lug nuts. Loosen the axle nut using a 1/2-inch-drive breaker bar and a spindle nut socket. Loosen the front wheel lug nuts with a tire iron. Raise the front of the Silverado with a jack. Place jack stands beneath the front sub-frame rails. Lower the truck onto the stands. Remove the front wheel nuts and wheels completely from the truck.

2

Lie beneath the front of the Silverado, and slide yourself into position to access the front drive shaft at the differential end. Remove the front U-clips from the differential, using a ratchet and socket. Remove the front driveshaft from the differential, and set the drive shaft onto a jack stand. Do not let the drive shaft hang freely.

3

Remove the front caliper bolts with a ratchet and socket. Remove the caliper from the brake assembly, using a small pry bar if needed. Hang the caliper on the front coil spring, using a metal clothes hanger or small metal hook. Do not let the caliper hang freely. Remove the caliper bracket bolts with a ratchet and socket. Remove the caliper bracket and the rotor from the vehicle completely, by hand.

4

Spin the axle nut until the outer lip of the nut lines up with the outer end of the axle. Tap the end of the axle inward with a large rubber mallet, to loosen the axle from inside hub bearing assembly. Attach a large-claw puller around the hub assembly, placing the screw splined center shaft onto the end of the axle. Tighten the puller until the axle pushes inward about 1 inch.

5

Disconnect the electronic speed sensor from the rear of the wheel hub assembly by hand. Hang the sensor over the front coil spring so it is out of your way. Remove the claw puller from the hub. Remove the four bolts on the rear of the hub bearing, with a ratchet and socket. Pull the hub assembly off of the front of the steering knuckle. If the hub assembly is stuck, tap the hub assembly outward with a hammer to loosen it from the steering knuckle.

6

Clean the hub mounting hole on the steering knuckle with a wire brush, or 80-grit metal grade sandpaper. Apply a thin coating of grease to the face of the steering knuckle, and the inner lip of the hub mounting hole. Install the new wheel bearing onto the steering knuckle, pulling the electronic wheel speed sensor wires through the knuckle first. Install the four mounting bolts onto the rear of the new hub by hand to ensure proper threading. Tighten the hub mounting bolts to 133 foot-pounds, and the wheel speed sensor to 106 inch-pounds.

7

Install the brake rotor back onto the hub assembly, and spin a single lug nut onto a stud to hold the rotor in place. Install the caliper mounting bracket and tighten the bolts to 74 foot-pounds with a 1/2-inch-drive torque wrench and socket. Install the brake pads and caliper back onto the caliper bracket. Tighten the caliper bolts to 30 foot-pounds. Remove the single lug nut from the wheel stud.

8

Repeat Steps 3 through 7 to complete the hub bearing replacement on the other side of the truck.

9

Install the front wheels onto the Silverado, and tighten the lug nuts snug with a tire iron. Raise the truck off of the jack stands, then remove the stands from beneath the truck. Lower the truck to the ground slowly. Tighten the front wheel lug nuts to 140 foot-pounds of torque with your torque wrench and a wheel nut socket. Tighten the axle nut to 75 foot-pounds with a spindle nut socket and the torque wrench.

Two-Wheel Drive Wheel Bearing Replacement

10

Remove the center caps from both front wheels. Use a tire iron if the caps are mounted to the lug nuts. Remove the dust cover from the face of the rotor hub, with a flat-head screwdriver. Loosen the axle nut using a 1/2-inch-drive breaker bar and a spindle nut socket. Loosen the front wheel lug nuts with a tire iron. Raise the front of the Silverado with a jack. Place jack stands beneath the front sub-frame rails. Lower the truck onto the stands. Remove the front wheel nuts and wheels completely from the truck.

11

Remove the front caliper bolts with a ratchet and socket. Remove the caliper from the brake assembly, using a small pry bar if needed. Hang the caliper on the front coil spring, using a metal clothes hanger or small metal hook; do not let the caliper hang freely. Remove the caliper bracket bolts with a ratchet and socket. Remove the caliper bracket by hand. Remove the cotter pin from the center of the stub axle with pliers, then remove the axle nut.

12

Insert a pick tool into the center hub of the rotor and remove the outer washer and wheel bearing from the center of the hub area. Remove the rotor by hand once the bearing parts have been removed. Remove the inner bearing, washer and O-ring from the hub assembly by hand. Remove the inboard and outboard bearing sleeves from inside the rotor hub area with the pick tool.

13

Clean the hub mount thoroughly with a wire brush or 80-grit metal grade sandpaper. Do not sand or file the actual stub axle as this is a precision machined part. Spray the stub axle hub assembly clean with brake parts cleaner, and allow the cleaner to evaporate before installing any parts.

14

Lay the brake rotor with the outboard face downward on a towel. Thoroughly grease the inner hub area of the rotor. Insert the inboard bearing sleeve into the hub area -- the inboard sleeve is the wider of the two bearing sleeves. Press the inboard wheel bearing in behind the sleeve. Pack the inside of the wheel hub assembly and bearing with grease. Insert the grease seal behind the new inboard bearing, followed by the O-ring. Press the O-ring into the assembly, with a flat-head screwdriver gently if needed. Install the rotor onto the stub axle assembly by hand.

15

Install the outboard bearing sleeve into the front of the rotor hub area. Install the outer bearing, then pack the entire hub assembly full of grease. Install the metal washer over the bearing then spin the axle nut snug onto the face of the washer. Spin a single lug nut onto the face of the rotor to hold it in place for the remainder of the installation process.

16

Install the caliper mounting bracket and tighten the bolts to 74 foot-pounds with a 1/2-inch-drive torque wrench and socket. Install the brake pads and caliper back onto the caliper bracket. Tighten the caliper bolts to 30-foot-pounds. Remove the single lug nut from the wheel stud.

17

Repeat Steps 2 through 7 to complete the bearing replacement on the second side of the truck. Install the front wheels onto the truck and tighten the lug nuts snug with a tire iron. Raise the truck off of the jack stands, then remove the stands from beneath the Silverado. Lower the truck to the ground slowly. Tighten the axle nut to 12 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and spindle nut socket. Install the cotter pin onto the end of the stub axle with pliers, and bend the pin to lock it in place.

18

Pack the dust cap full of bearing grease and install the cap onto the end of the hub are of the rotor. Tap the cap gently with a rubber mallet if needed. Tighten the front wheel lug nuts to 140 foot-pounds with your torque wrench and a wheel nut socket.