How to: Front Wheel Bearings on a 2003 Silverado 1500 2WD

In 1999, Chevrolet released an all-new lineup of pickups, the Silverado, as the replacement for the aging C- and K-series pickups. The switch was not immediate; the C- and K-series remained in Chevys lineup through the 1999 model year. The 2000-and-later Silverado 1500 with two-wheel drive has a bearing system in the front built to minimize friction from the rotation of the wheels. The front wheel hub houses the front wheel bearings, which means to replace the bearings you must replace the entire wheel hub.

Instructions

1

Loosen the front lug nuts with a ratchet and socket. Lift the front of the Silverado with a floor jack and slide jack stands under the trucks frame rails. Lower the pickup onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and pull the front wheels from the truck.

2

Slide a drain pan under the caliper and position an 8-inch C-clamp over the caliper, so its screw side contacts the outer brake pad and its fixed side contacts the rear of the caliper. Open the calipers bleeder valve with a combination wrench and immediately tighten the C-clamp until it stops moving. Close the bleeder valve and remove the C-clamp.

3

Remove the caliper bracket bolts with a ratchet and socket, and pull the caliper and bracket off the front steering knuckle as one assembly. Hang the caliper and its bracket from the front coil spring using a bungee strap.

4

Pull the rotor-retaining push washers from the wheel studs, if applicable, using needle-nose pliers. Discard these washers; they are not required for reassembly. Pull the rotor from the front hub. If needed, lightly strike the rear of the rotor with a rubber mallet to free it. Set the rotor aside.

5

Unfasten the bolt securing the brake hose and antilock brake system sensor wiring bracket to the steering knuckle using a ratchet and socket. Pull the brake line bracket and ABS sensor wiring bracket from the steering knuckle.

6

Remove the three bolts securing the wheel hub to the steering knuckle you can access these bolts from the rear of the steering knuckle. Pull the wheel hub from the steering knuckle and remove the splash shield from the steering knuckle.

7

Disconnect the ABS sensor from the wheel hub by removing its retaining bolt with a ratchet and socket and pulling it from the hub.

8

Clean the mating surface on the steering knuckle with a wire brush. Apply a generous coat of wheel bearing grease to the bore in the steering knuckle that the wheel hub mounts into.

9

Connect the ABS sensor to the new wheel hub and hand-thread its retaining bolt. Tighten the speed sensor bolt to 13 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

10

Position the splash shield onto the steering knuckle, aligning its bolt holes with those on the steering knuckle. Slide the wheel hub into its bore in the steering knuckle and hand-thread the hub-retaining bolts. Tighten the hub-retaining bolts to 133 foot-pounds.

11

Reinstall the brake hose and ABS speed sensor bracket onto the steering knuckle and hand-tighten its bolt. Torque the bolt to 106 inch-pounds using an inch-pound torque wrench and socket.

12

Slide the rotor onto the new hub. Apply a thread-locking chemical to the threads of the caliper bracket bolts. Reposition the caliper and its bracket back into place on the steering knuckle and hand-thread its bolts. Torque the caliper bracket bolts to 148 foot-pounds.

13

Repeat Steps 2 through 12 to replace the wheel hub on the other side of the Silverado.

14

Reinstall the front wheels onto the front hubs and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Raise the truck off the jack stands using a floor jack, and lower the vehicle to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to 140 foot-pounds.

15

Press the brake pedal slowly through about two-thirds of the pedal's total traveling distance and slowly release. Wait 15 seconds and repeat this step, with a 15-second wait between repetitions, until the brake pedal feels firm. Check the brake fluid in the master cylinder and add more DOT 3 brake fluid to the master cylinder as needed.

16

Take any old brake fluid to a used automotive fluid recycling center. Some auto parts stores take old fluid free of charge.