1999 Blazer Wheel Bearing Replacement

fairlaniac · 06-28-2005, 09:57 AM

I got a call from my brother last night, he needs help changing a front 4x4 wheel bearing in is '99 Blazer. I've never worked on these model Blazers, any help, tips or diagrams to ease the pain? I'm one of those "First On Race Day" guys so I'm not too familiar with his vehicle but I want to help my brother fix it right. Without seeing the front rotor area yet, I think I'll need a 36MM deep socket according to some other posts to remove a spindle nut? What kind of time is this job per side?

Thanks,
Doug

SteveI · 06-28-2005, 04:06 PM

I had never done one before and I changed both of them on my Jimmy, working alone, in about 4-5 hours.

Here's pictures when finished.

Passenger side:

http://images9.fotki.com/v184/photos...M003438-vi.jpg
http://images9.fotki.com/v183/photos...M003439-vi.jpg

Driver's side:

http://images9.fotki.com/v185/photos...M003440-vi.jpg
http://images9.fotki.com/v179/photos...M003441-vi.jpg

Steve

fairlaniac · 06-29-2005, 12:20 PM

Is there a step by step procedure on the internet for this? Are there any special tools required other than the 36mm socket?

SteveI · 06-29-2005, 12:32 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by fairlaniac

Is there a step by step procedure on the internet for this? Are there any special tools required other than the 36mm socket?

The 36MM socket was the only special tool I remember. I almost went and bought a 35MM because the 36 was loose.

Here's a good write-up on ZR2.com

http://forum.zr2.com/ubb/noncgi/ulti...c;f=3;t=002320

jmwxtreme43 · 07-22-2005, 11:59 AM

how can you determine a bad wheel bearing. My wheels make a "rapping" noise when it drives, gets louder as you go faster and also louder when you make turns

Blazee · 07-22-2005, 08:56 PM

A bad wheel bearing will make a growl sound, acompanied by a vibration. It will become worse as speeds increase. The most obvious characteristic of a failing wheel bearing is that the sound and vibration become worse while turning in one direction and seem to disappear while turning in the other direction. (Unless both sides are bad, but usually the passenger side goes out long before the drivers side.) If the symptoms get worse while turning left and get better while turning right, that would indicate that passenger side is bad. Obversely, if the symptoms get worse while turning right and get better while turning left, that would indicate that the driver side is bad.

Blazee · 07-22-2005, 09:04 PM

If you guys don't want to spend the $20 for the 36mm socket, AutoZone has them in their Loan-a-Tool program. You will probably want to get a puller as well, it can be quite difficult to get the axle out of the hub.

BTW The Haynes manual lists the wrong torque spec, the 36mm drive axle nut needs to be torqued to 180 ft/lbs.

jmwxtreme43 · 07-23-2005, 02:10 AM

nice, thanks dude, thats what mine sounds like, worse at higher speeds and worse when turning, how much are they to replace and if i brought it to a shop w\hat do you think it'd cost?

Blazee · 07-23-2005, 02:10 PM

It isn't that hard of a job. It would be a lot cheaper to do it yourself. The hub assemblies will cost about $140 each at a local parts store, up to about $300 each at the dealer. If you have a shop do it you need to add 10% - 20% to the price of parts and figure about 5 -6 hours at their labor rate. (If you do it yourself, it will probably take 2 - 2 1/2 hours to do the first one and about an hour to do the second one.)

Almost forgot: You will also need an 18mm wrench for the hub bolts.

SteveI · 07-24-2005, 12:16 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Blazee

BTW The Haynes manual lists the wrong torque spec, the 36mm drive axle nut needs to be torqued to 180 ft/lbs.

Where did you get the 180 from? The GM service manual says 103.

Blazee · 07-24-2005, 12:07 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by stevel

Where did you get the 180 from? The GM service manual says 103.

It was discussed on another forum. When I did mine (98 blazer) I saw that the torque specs in the haynes manual showed:

180 ft/lbs for 95 - 98
103 ft/lbs for 99+

This seemed odd because 98 has the exact same front end parts as the 99+, so I thought that it should have the same torque specs. rlith said that he bought a hub for a 01 and it had a tag on it that said 180ft/lbs. To clear it up rlith went to his local Chevy dealer and had them look it up. Here's a quote from his post

"According to the manuals (up to 97) and the pc read outs (98 to current) the torque is indeed 180 ft pounds through all years. He and another tech went on about how a lot of times the torque specs (and some info) is wrong in the haynes/chilton's manuals for that type of thing. They also said, 160 is acceptable and they are actually capable of handling up to 200 without issue. They usually impact wrench them on instead of using a torque wrench... But they said 103 ft pounds is way to low though it won't necessarily hurt the bearing in the short term but it should be tightened up..."

jmwxtreme43 · 07-24-2005, 01:40 PM

my friend got his wheel bearings done on his truck, $240 for both sides, total

Blazee · 07-24-2005, 02:24 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jmwxtreme43

my friend got his wheel bearings done on his truck, $240 for both sides, total

What kind of truck? The reason that the ones on the new Blazers, Jimmys and Bravadas are so expensive, is because they are a sealed unit and you have to replace the whole hub. The regular style for most vehicles only costs about $20, because you only have to replace the bearings inside.

SteveI · 07-25-2005, 05:54 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Blazee

It was discussed on another forum. When I did mine (98 blazer) I saw that the torque specs in the haynes manual showed:

180 ft/lbs for 95 - 98
103 ft/lbs for 99+

This seemed odd because 98 has the exact same front end parts as the 99+, so I thought that it should have the same torque specs. rlith said that he bought a hub for a 01 and it had a tag on it that said 180ft/lbs. To clear it up rlith went to his local Chevy dealer and had them look it up. Here's a quote from his post

"According to the manuals (up to 97) and the pc read outs (98 to current) the torque is indeed 180 ft pounds through all years. He and another tech went on about how a lot of times the torque specs (and some info) is wrong in the haynes/chilton's manuals for that type of thing. They also said, 160 is acceptable and they are actually capable of handling up to 200 without issue. They usually impact wrench them on instead of using a torque wrench... But they said 103 ft pounds is way to low though it won't necessarily hurt the bearing in the short term but it should be tightened up..."

Interesting. My 2001 GM service manual states 103. This is the GM manual, not Chilton, Haynes etc.

Blazee · 07-25-2005, 06:37 PM

It was probably a mistake when the GM manuals were first printed. That would explain why the Haynes manuals are wrong, too. The PC read outs that the dealer showed rlith will be more up to date.

I ran into the same problem with the lower ball joints on my Impala. The original manuals said that they should be torqued to 125 ft/lbs and were later revised to the proper 83 ft/lbs.

Holeshot · 08-08-2005, 02:03 AM

I did mine on my truck about six months ago.....

I didn't care for the new prices on the hub so I found a donor 02 Jimmy hub for 70 bucks.

06-28-2005, 09:57 AM	#1
fairlaniac Registered User Age: 49 Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2 Location: User is: OffLine	1999 Blazer Wheel Bearing Replacement I got a call from my brother last night, he needs help changing a front 4x4 wheel bearing in is '99 Blazer. I've never worked on these model Blazers, any help, tips or diagrams to ease the pain? I'm one of those "First On Race Day" guys so I'm not too familiar with his vehicle but I want to help my brother fix it right. Without seeing the front rotor area yet, I think I'll need a 36MM deep socket according to some other posts to remove a spindle nut? What kind of time is this job per side? Thanks, Doug
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-28-2005, 04:06 PM	#2
SteveI Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,184 Location: Omaha, NE User is: OffLine	Re: 1999 Blazer Wheel Bearing Replacement I had never done one before and I changed both of them on my Jimmy, working alone, in about 4-5 hours. Here's pictures when finished. Passenger side: http://images9.fotki.com/v184/photos...M003438-vi.jpg http://images9.fotki.com/v183/photos...M003439-vi.jpg Driver's side: http://images9.fotki.com/v185/photos...M003440-vi.jpg http://images9.fotki.com/v179/photos...M003441-vi.jpg Steve
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-29-2005, 12:20 PM	#3
fairlaniac Registered User Age: 49 Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 1999 Blazer Wheel Bearing Replacement Is there a step by step procedure on the internet for this? Are there any special tools required other than the 36mm socket?
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-29-2005, 12:32 PM	#4
SteveI Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,184 Location: Omaha, NE User is: OffLine	Re: 1999 Blazer Wheel Bearing Replacement Quote: Originally Posted by fairlaniac Is there a step by step procedure on the internet for this? Are there any special tools required other than the 36mm socket? The 36MM socket was the only special tool I remember. I almost went and bought a 35MM because the 36 was loose. Here's a good write-up on ZR2.com http://forum.zr2.com/ubb/noncgi/ulti...c;f=3;t=002320
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-22-2005, 11:59 AM	#5
jmwxtreme43 www.myspace.com/MINTSICK Age: 24 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 4,531 Location: Kingston, NH User is: OffLine	Re: 1999 Blazer Wheel Bearing Replacement how can you determine a bad wheel bearing. My wheels make a "rapping" noise when it drives, gets louder as you go faster and also louder when you make turns
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-22-2005, 08:56 PM	#6
Blazee Registered User Age: 37 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 218 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 1999 Blazer Wheel Bearing Replacement A bad wheel bearing will make a growl sound, acompanied by a vibration. It will become worse as speeds increase. The most obvious characteristic of a failing wheel bearing is that the sound and vibration become worse while turning in one direction and seem to disappear while turning in the other direction. (Unless both sides are bad, but usually the passenger side goes out long before the drivers side.) If the symptoms get worse while turning left and get better while turning right, that would indicate that passenger side is bad. Obversely, if the symptoms get worse while turning right and get better while turning left, that would indicate that the driver side is bad.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-22-2005, 09:04 PM	#7
Blazee Registered User Age: 37 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 218 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 1999 Blazer Wheel Bearing Replacement If you guys don't want to spend the $20 for the 36mm socket, AutoZone has them in their Loan-a-Tool program. You will probably want to get a puller as well, it can be quite difficult to get the axle out of the hub. BTW The Haynes manual lists the wrong torque spec, the 36mm drive axle nut needs to be torqued to 180 ft/lbs.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-23-2005, 02:10 AM	#8
jmwxtreme43 www.myspace.com/MINTSICK Age: 24 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 4,531 Location: Kingston, NH User is: OffLine	Re: 1999 Blazer Wheel Bearing Replacement nice, thanks dude, thats what mine sounds like, worse at higher speeds and worse when turning, how much are they to replace and if i brought it to a shop w\hat do you think it'd cost?
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-23-2005, 02:10 PM	#9
Blazee Registered User Age: 37 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 218 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 1999 Blazer Wheel Bearing Replacement It isn't that hard of a job. It would be a lot cheaper to do it yourself. The hub assemblies will cost about $140 each at a local parts store, up to about $300 each at the dealer. If you have a shop do it you need to add 10% - 20% to the price of parts and figure about 5 -6 hours at their labor rate. (If you do it yourself, it will probably take 2 - 2 1/2 hours to do the first one and about an hour to do the second one.) Almost forgot: You will also need an 18mm wrench for the hub bolts.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-24-2005, 12:16 AM	#10
SteveI Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,184 Location: Omaha, NE User is: OffLine	Re: 1999 Blazer Wheel Bearing Replacement Quote: Originally Posted by Blazee BTW The Haynes manual lists the wrong torque spec, the 36mm drive axle nut needs to be torqued to 180 ft/lbs. Where did you get the 180 from? The GM service manual says 103.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-24-2005, 12:07 PM	#11
Blazee Registered User Age: 37 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 218 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 1999 Blazer Wheel Bearing Replacement Quote: Originally Posted by stevel Where did you get the 180 from? The GM service manual says 103. It was discussed on another forum. When I did mine (98 blazer) I saw that the torque specs in the haynes manual showed: 180 ft/lbs for 95 - 98 103 ft/lbs for 99+ This seemed odd because 98 has the exact same front end parts as the 99+, so I thought that it should have the same torque specs. rlith said that he bought a hub for a 01 and it had a tag on it that said 180ft/lbs. To clear it up rlith went to his local Chevy dealer and had them look it up. Here's a quote from his post "According to the manuals (up to 97) and the pc read outs (98 to current) the torque is indeed 180 ft pounds through all years. He and another tech went on about how a lot of times the torque specs (and some info) is wrong in the haynes/chilton's manuals for that type of thing. They also said, 160 is acceptable and they are actually capable of handling up to 200 without issue. They usually impact wrench them on instead of using a torque wrench... But they said 103 ft pounds is way to low though it won't necessarily hurt the bearing in the short term but it should be tightened up..." Last edited by Blazee : 07-24-2005 at 12:10 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-24-2005, 01:40 PM	#12
jmwxtreme43 www.myspace.com/MINTSICK Age: 24 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 4,531 Location: Kingston, NH User is: OffLine	Re: 1999 Blazer Wheel Bearing Replacement my friend got his wheel bearings done on his truck, $240 for both sides, total
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-24-2005, 02:24 PM	#13
Blazee Registered User Age: 37 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 218 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 1999 Blazer Wheel Bearing Replacement Quote: Originally Posted by jmwxtreme43 my friend got his wheel bearings done on his truck, $240 for both sides, total What kind of truck? The reason that the ones on the new Blazers, Jimmys and Bravadas are so expensive, is because they are a sealed unit and you have to replace the whole hub. The regular style for most vehicles only costs about $20, because you only have to replace the bearings inside.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-25-2005, 05:54 PM	#14
SteveI Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,184 Location: Omaha, NE User is: OffLine	Re: 1999 Blazer Wheel Bearing Replacement Quote: Originally Posted by Blazee It was discussed on another forum. When I did mine (98 blazer) I saw that the torque specs in the haynes manual showed: 180 ft/lbs for 95 - 98 103 ft/lbs for 99+ This seemed odd because 98 has the exact same front end parts as the 99+, so I thought that it should have the same torque specs. rlith said that he bought a hub for a 01 and it had a tag on it that said 180ft/lbs. To clear it up rlith went to his local Chevy dealer and had them look it up. Here's a quote from his post "According to the manuals (up to 97) and the pc read outs (98 to current) the torque is indeed 180 ft pounds through all years. He and another tech went on about how a lot of times the torque specs (and some info) is wrong in the haynes/chilton's manuals for that type of thing. They also said, 160 is acceptable and they are actually capable of handling up to 200 without issue. They usually impact wrench them on instead of using a torque wrench... But they said 103 ft pounds is way to low though it won't necessarily hurt the bearing in the short term but it should be tightened up..." Interesting. My 2001 GM service manual states 103. This is the GM manual, not Chilton, Haynes etc.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-25-2005, 06:37 PM	#15
Blazee Registered User Age: 37 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 218 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 1999 Blazer Wheel Bearing Replacement It was probably a mistake when the GM manuals were first printed. That would explain why the Haynes manuals are wrong, too. The PC read outs that the dealer showed rlith will be more up to date. I ran into the same problem with the lower ball joints on my Impala. The original manuals said that they should be torqued to 125 ft/lbs and were later revised to the proper 83 ft/lbs.
	[Reply w/Quote]

08-08-2005, 02:03 AM	#16
Holeshot Canadian Dictatorship Age: 34 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 233 Location: Chilliwack, BC, Canada User is: OffLine	Re: 1999 Blazer Wheel Bearing Replacement I did mine on my truck about six months ago..... I didn't care for the new prices on the hub so I found a donor 02 Jimmy hub for 70 bucks.
	[Reply w/Quote]