JoeBlow

Girlie friends Tahoe is growling and it looks like its time for a wheel bearing. I have done fronts on 2WD vehicles but never torn into a 4X4.

How big a pain is it?? Any special tools required?

Thanks.

cleveland63b

same sealed unit just has an axle splined in the center

jrsavoie

I would get GM or ACDelco bearings. I've seen a lot of aftermarkets replaced with not many miles put on them.

I bought from MI bearing and had to replace all 4 within 30,000 miles. I've heard a lot of horror stories

Seems more and more that most aftermarket parts are junk. Especially if it is electrical or has bearings.

I bought my AC Delco bearings off Amazon for not much more than the aftermarket parts were.

cleveland63b

I've installed tons of napa bearings without problems, I will agree theres some stuff thats lower quality but you should be expecting that if you buy it for the lower dollar. As long as everything is cleaned and torqued properly to each their own.

jrsavoie

I've installed a lot of Napa bearings and seals without problem. But not in the past several years.

A couple of bad seals and a few bad bearings and I stay away forever. I've heard the same reports from many people I've talked to after I had my issues. Some jobs aren't worth doing twice even if the part is gauranteed.

20 to 30,000 miles isn't a long enough life span. The OEM's lasted 170,000 to 270,000 miles and a few are still going, never touched yet.

If your thinking of going with Napa, check price on the AC Delco's first. You may be surprised at how little the difference really is.

It's not like you can always limp a bad bearing into a town or shop. Stuck on the road sucks. A one year warranty may get you past the warranty. Most people that had bad bearings went 20 to 40,000 miles before they crapped out.