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98 Chevy Blazer: Wheel Bearing Assm Repair
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PeterPan
Novice
Mar 1, 2007, 4:58 PM
Post #1 of 7
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98 Chevy Blazer: Wheel Bearing Assm Repair
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I've been hearing a clunking nose, like a bad shock, coming from the passenger side wheel area, every time I hit a bump. A mechainic looked today and said it was my wheel bearing assembly, which I know on this truck really is a whole assembly, and kind of pricey. First of all, I'm skeptical that a wheel bearing could make such a sound, unless the idiot that replaced it last time just didn't bolt it on tightly. I guess I'll have to jack it up under the control arm and take off the wheel to have a good look. But my main question is whether this is something I can replace myself. Just trying to save some bucks, and I do have another vehicle to drive while I work it. I've done ordinary wheel bearings before, but if this is an "assmebly", does anyone know if it simply bolts on and off? Or is it something dangerous that would allow the control arms to fly apart when removed. 
Peter Pan -- Second Star to the right
(This post was edited by PeterPan on Mar 1, 2007, 5:44 PM)
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DanD
Veteran
/ Moderator
Mar 1, 2007, 7:04 PM
Post #2 of 7
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Re: 98 Chevy Blazer: Wheel Bearing Assm Repair
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Gee I really hope when you say the last “idiot” to replace the bearing; actually was an “idiot” you found walking down the street somewhere and not a mechanic?
Especially since you’ve come to a site where mechanics are the people you’re asking this question of; you mite be stepping on some toes.
That being said you’re right a wheel bearing usually doesn’t make a clunking noise unless it’s ready to come apart, but usually makes a humming noise up to a loud growl.
As for you being able to change it yourself; it’s not all that bad of a job; nothings going to fly apart.
Think of it this way; if the last person that did wheel bearing work on your vehicle was an idiot then you shouldn’t have any problems.
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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steve01832
Veteran
Mar 2, 2007, 4:56 AM
Post #3 of 7
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Re: 98 Chevy Blazer: Wheel Bearing Assm Repair
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I had a customer's Voyager minivan who kept eating up the RF axle bearing. After the 3rd one I found the reason why just by looking at the RF tire sidewall. It had a lot of scuffs on it. It turned out that the idiot was the driver who couldn't keep the front wheel off of the curbs.
Steve
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PeterPan
Novice
Mar 2, 2007, 7:05 PM
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Re: 98 Chevy Blazer: Wheel Bearing Assm Repair
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Thanks, and sorry for the offense if any was taken. The fact is I do not know if the previous owner's repair was done by a professional, but I have seen lots of evidence of shoddy work done on this Blazer, so perhaps I'm the bigger idiot for buying it! 
But I did bring i to a mechanic for a look, and I was very skptical of the wheel bearing/hub diagnosis because the klunking I'm hearing sounds way more like an upper control arm bushing. Still, if the hub assembly itself is bent and one or more of the 3 bolts holding it one are loose, I gues that could cause it. I'll have a look. Maybe it's something I could fix instead of replace if the bearing itself tunrs smoothly. It is a very expensive part after all.
Anyway, thanks for letting me know it's a safe job to replace.
Peter Pan -- Second Star to the right
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PeterPan
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Mar 2, 2007, 7:18 PM
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Re: 98 Chevy Blazer: Wheel Bearing Assm Repair
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Steve,
come to think of it, the only way I can imagine the hub/bearing assembly "klunking" around is if one or more bolts holding it on are loose. One mechainic already looked at it for me and said that was the case, and though I've not hit any curbs recently, the potholes and street conditions in my area are pretty mean even for an SUV. But he did tell me the part itself was "out of alignment" enough so that he didn't even want to tighten it. I assume thast means the hub plate itself must be a little bent out of shape.
My "idiot" comment though was because the evidence of poor workmanship in the hands of a previous owner was so obvious, and the hub/bearing was suposedly replaced recently. So that's the reason I suspected an idiot replaced it. After all, if you don't torque the bolts sufficiently, they could eventually loosen. ,
Then again I'm the idiot that bought it.
Well anyway, it's an expensive part. over $300 OEM at a dealer, and maybe as low as $150 on-line, but who knows the quaility, right? Maybe there's some way I'll be able to fix it rather than replace and get some more milage out of it if the bearing itself turns smoothly?
Anyway, thanks for the tip.
Peter Pan -- Second Star to the right
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
VEDO4AVE@SBCGLOBAL.NET
Mar 17, 2007, 8:34 PM
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Re: 98 Chevy Blazer: Wheel Bearing Assm Repair
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SO HOW DO YOU REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY ON A 99 BLAZER 4x4? IS IT JUST 4 BOLTS AND WHAT IS THE TORQUE? MY ABS LIGHT WONT GO OUT AND I DONT BELIEVE IT IS THE WIRE HARNESS, BUT NOT SURE.
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Mar 18, 2007, 9:13 AM
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Re: 98 Chevy Blazer: Wheel Bearing Assm Repair
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I don 't know about the 4x4, but on my 2WD S10 Blazer it was three bolts. I've had the same trouble with my ABS light thopugh, and now that I've done the repair and proved my suspicion (the mechanic's diagnosis was NOT correct) I may put the the hub/bearing on the other side and see whether it fixes the ABS.
Unfortunately, now I'm still back to my "clunking" noise on the front passenger side, and I can't find anything loose, so I'm back to square one on that.
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