The 2002 Chevy Silverado, in both two- and four-wheel-drive configurations, came equipped with sealed hub bearing assemblies. Unlike earlier models that housed serviceable tapered roller bearings and races in a hub that was part of the brake rotor, this hub and bearing assembly is a non-serviceable roller bearing unit mounted in the steering knuckle. Replacement of the hub and bearing assembly by the home mechanic will require only basic auto repair tools.
Instructions
- 1
Apply the parking brake firmly. Secure the rear wheels, using wheel chocks. Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel 1/2 turn, using a lug wrench, before lifting the wheel off the ground. Slide the floor jack under the front lower control arm. Lift the wheel and support the weight of the truck with a jack stand positioned under the frame. Remove the wheel.
2Remove the brake caliper by using an 18 mm socket and ratchet to remove the two bolts that attach the caliper and support bracket assembly to the steering knuckle and rotors. Hang the caliper and bracket assembly from the upper control arm, using a piece of stiff wire, to prevent damage to the rubber brake hose attached to it. Slide the brake rotor off the hub assembly.
3Remove the dust cap from the center of the hub assembly, if the Silverado is equipped with four-wheel-drive, using a screwdriver and hammer to pry it from the hub. Remove the axle nut from the center of the hub assembly, using a 35 mm socket and breaker bar. Skip this step on two-wheel-drive models. Two-wheel-drive models do not have the axle and nut passing through the center of the hub.
4Unplug the ABS wheel speed sensor wiring from the truck's wiring harness and unclip the wiring from the upper control arm. Remove the three hub assembly mounting bolts from the back side of the steering knuckle, using a 15 mm socket and ratchet.
5Slide the hub assembly out of the steering knuckle. Use a hammer to loosen and remove the hub assembly from the steering knuckle if it is stuck and you can't remove it by hand. Avoid hitting the axle with the hammer. The axle is made of a soft steel and is easily damaged by a hammer blow. Clean any accumulated dirt and debris from the hub assembly mounting surface, using a wire brush and shop towels.
6Spray a light coat of lubricant onto the splines of the axle on four-wheel-drive models. Slide the new hub assembly onto the axle, if equipped with four-wheel-drive, and into the steering knuckle. Apply thread-locking compound to the three hub assembly mounting bolts and reinstall them. Tighten the bolts securely and reconnect the ABS wiring. Torque the three hub mounting bolts to 133 foot-pounds using a torque wrench.
7Screw the axle nut onto the axle and torque the nut to 155 foot-pounds using a torque wrench. Slide the brake rotor over the wheel studs and onto the hub assembly. Secure the rotor temporarily with a lug nut. Position the caliper on the brake rotor and reinstall the caliper bolts. Torque the bolts to 129 foot-pounds.
8Reinstall the wheel. Raise the truck off the jack stand and slide the stand from under the frame. Lower the truck until the wheel touches the ground and torque the lug nuts, in a star pattern, to 140 foot-pounds. Test drive the Silverado to verify the noise is gone.
