Chevy owners, check the front axles!!!!

[jackhartjr]

Hi folks, we have have a 2007 Chevy Silverado Duramax. Developed a slight vibration at 45MPH to 55MPH this past week. Went to my shop. It was both front hub assemblies. $185.00 each for the parts, another $60.00 each to put them on...and that is from a shop that is honest.
The mechanic, who used to work for Chevy said they nomally start going out at about 100,000 miles, we are at just over 150,000 miles, but mostly highway driving.
Just a heads up folks.
Jack

[rockwood06]

Thanks for the info.

[DageonYar]

You lucked out. Stealership wanted over 700$ to do one hub on my 2004 3500. I ended up ordering the part from the states for 250$ and doing the job myself. The good thing is these are sealed bearings, so at least there's no chance that the wheel will just pop off. It was the passenger side on mine. After some forum searching, it turns out this is a common issue on the heavier GMs.

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by DageonYar

You lucked out. Stealership wanted over 700$ to do one hub on my 2004 3500. I ended up ordering the part from the states for 250$ and doing the job myself. The good thing is these are sealed bearings, so at least there's no chance that the wheel will just pop off. It was the passenger side on mine. After some forum searching, it turns out this is a common issue on the heavier GMs.

Just a curious "on looker" here.....

You guys are talking about the front hubs in rear wheel
drive trucks right??? Not 4wd.

Not sure about this statement--
"there's no chance that the wheel will just pop off"

I've never seen any bearing assembly that couldn't
fail catastrophically if it's given enough time.
In other words I think the wheel could fall all the way
off eventually but it would be making a lot of vibration
and noise first.

Also- Pierre, about how many miles/kilometers did
you have when yours went out?

Inquiring minds want to know!!

[DageonYar]

Hi Dan. Not sure what type the OP was mentioning, but mine is a 4x4. The hub assembly is sealed such that catastrophic failure would result in a wheel seizure rather than the wheel actually coming off from the assembly. Just my understanding of the reading I have done though. I had 155k kms on the truck when I did mine. Bought the truck used at 68k, so not sure if it was done before that. It looked original. You could definitely tell it was going by the noise. It would howl pretty good at highway speeds

[jackhartjr]

This is the front hub assembly on a 4-Wheel drive Chevy.
I am told most of the heavier Chevys, GMC's and Fords have this problem at about 100,000 miles.
I would guess that is any of the Heavy-Duty trucks specifically.
Not trying to be argumentive here...my guy said it could fall off under the right circumstances. I don't think so, however just reporting what he said. It was not a scare tactic...he was in the middle of replacing them when he told me this.
Jack

[SaskCampers]

The Ford's and Dodges both use them, they are unit bearings. Do not for one minute believe they are sealed, submerge your front axle a few times (like a lot of offroaders do) and you will not be a happy camper within the next few thousand miles as in all likelyhood you will have a bearing failure. They have aftermarket kits out that change the front hub assy's on the Dodge's and Fords anyway and they use good old tapered roller bearings that you can repack, it also gives you honest to god manual locking hubs as well on the Dodge.

[The_Stuff]

ever since chev started that oil cooling line bs around the 2004 year mark its just been downhill for them. sadly nobodys perfect but the superduty does it for me.

[jackhartjr]

Hey Stuff, what oil cooling line BS are you talking about?
Thanks
Jack

[The_Stuff]

from 2004 model and newer there is these "oil cooling lines" that go from the block to the radiator. Well the block part is okay because it is metal. But to flex and go to the rad they go to a rubber hose. At this connection they begin to leak even as new as 1 year old. I worked at a quick lube and i saw all kinds of things under the trucks. Even had one guy that made his own "delete" kit for it because he had replaced the lines 5 times and said enough was enough. Another guy had the line burst on him on the highway and bye bye engine.

Also noted the chevy single rear wheel trucks were horrible for getting rocks in the "rock guard" of the rear brakes and grooving the discs bad.

[revrnd]

My '04 K2500HD had 204,000 klicks on it, no oil line issue.

I don't think using a steel line from the motor to the rad would be a good idea as you need some flex to counteract engine vibration & chassis twisting.