Wheel Hub Assembly for the 2005 Chevrolet 1500

The 2005 Chevy Silverado 1500 base model came with a 4.3-liter v-6 and a two-wheel drive, five-speed manual transmission. The front wheel hub assembly contains the wheel bearing and wheel speed sensor. Because the bearing and wheel speed sensor are sealed within the assembly, the entire hub assembly has to be replaced anytime either component fails. Replacing the front hub assembly is a straightforward task, but will require the removal of the brakes.

Instructions

Park the truck on a level surface, shut off the engine and set the parking brake. Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel to be serviced with a lug wrench. Lift the front of the truck into the air with a floor jack and place jack stands under the front frame rails. Lower the floor jack until the front of the truck rests securely on the jack stands.

Remove the lug nuts and wheel from the truck. Remove the two bolts securing the caliper bracket to the back side of the steering knuckle with a socket and ratchet. Remove the bolt securing the wheel speed sensor harness and the rubber brake hose to the steering knuckle with a socket and ratchet.

Slide the brake caliper and caliper bracket away from the steering knuckle and brake rotor as an assembly. Hang the caliper and bracket from the coil spring with mechanics wire. Slide the brake rotor off of the hub and set it aside. Squeeze the plastic tab securing the wheel speed sensor pig tail to the vehicle wiring harness and disconnect the pigtail from the harness.

Remove the three bolts securing the hub assembly to the steering knuckle with a socket and ratchet. Remove the hub assembly by hand. Alternatively, thread the retaining bolts back into the hub assembly three full turns each; tap the bolt heads with a hammer to push the assembly out of the steering knuckle, if it cannot be removed by hand.

Clean the steering knuckle mating surface and bore with a wire brush. Apply a thin amount of automotive quality grease to the steering knuckle bore. Clean the caliper bracket bolt threads with a wire brush and coat the threads with threadlocker compound.

Set the wheel hub splash shield into place and push the wheel hub into the steering knuckle bore. Install new hub mounting bolts and tighten to 133 foot-pounds with a torque wrench. Slide the rotor over the new hub assembly; be careful not to drag the rotor across the wheel studs. Support the caliper by hand and remove the mechanics wire. Slide the caliper over the rotor and steering knuckle. Install the steering knuckle mounting bolts and tighten to 133 foot-pounds.

Hold the rubber brake hose and wheel speed sensor pigtail in place and install the bracket mounting bolt to the steering knuckle. Tighten the bracket bolt to 13 foot-pounds. Connect the wheel speed sensor pigtail to the vehicle wiring harness. Set the wheel and tire onto the wheel hub and install the lug nuts hand tight.

Lift the front of the truck off the jack stands and remove the jack stands. Lower the truck to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts to 140 foot-pounds in a criss-cross pattern.