Wheel bearing maintenance; repack or replace?

SuperTramp · Apr 7, 2020

I’ve read that somewhere that GM suggests repacking wheel bearings every 36k miles. I’d imagine that depends on the type of driving. I haven’t noticed any problems or noise due to questionable bearings. I have 170k on truck. If my plans are to check and repack bearings and the mileage since bearing service is unknown (used truck) should I plan on replacing bearings? Or, is it necessary to replace the racings, too? My motivation in considering this is in about a year, my plans are to travel for about a year with a 2k lbs. truck bed camper (wet and packed) Thanks in advance.

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Supercharged111 · Apr 7, 2020

When you remove the bearings, you just inspect and determine if they need replaced. If they show pitting, they're junk. I'm guessing you're 2wd?

alpinecrick · Apr 7, 2020

Is this a Kenworth, Studebaker, Izuzu, or GMT400 truck? Is it a C or K? 1500, 2500, 3500?

95C1500 · Apr 7, 2020

Because of how easy and cheap they are, anytime I pull the rotor off, I toss new bearings and wheel seals on the front (2wd). The rears are not as easy so those I'll get to eventually.

Doughnuts · Apr 8, 2020

Probably a good idea just for the piece of mind. just don't get the cheapest ones you can find, I learned that the hard way.

Erik the Awful · Apr 8, 2020

I, too, have learned to buy better bearings.

For the most part, I don't bother checking bearings unless: it's on a trailer (annually), I have the bearings out for other maintenance, they're making noise, or the wheel has play. If the bearings look like new - they usually do, just repack and reinstall. If there's brinelling (wear lines perpendicular to rotation) they're supposed to get replaced, but I've reused them in a pinch with no ill effects.

SuperTramp · Apr 8, 2020

Thanks Erick. Alpine: 1998 k2500 4x4.

Supercharged111 · Apr 8, 2020

You can't pack a 4x4 bearing. You can pre-emptively replace it or wait for it to die and then replace it.

jaywestfall · Apr 8, 2020

I had 250K on my originals, and told my shop ahead of time to replace them with Timken bearings and seals on my 2wd. Shop called me and said they had never been replaced...good call.

454cid · Apr 8, 2020

Supercharged111 said:
You can't pack a 4x4 bearing. You can pre-emptively replace it or wait for it to die and then replace it.

You can add a little grease through the ABS sensor holes. I did that to the Timken I re-used when I had my truck apart. It probably had 100K miles on it, at the time. I was doing brakes, including rotors, so my hubs had to come off (8-lug).

I say "a little" since you don't want too much grease in a bearing, as it will over heat.

I'm curious to see which hub will go out first, the old Timken or the newer Advance Auto Driveworks.

Wheel bearing maintenance; repack or replace?

SuperTramp

Preparing truck & camper for N. American trek

Supercharged111

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alpinecrick

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95C1500

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Doughnuts

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Erik the Awful

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SuperTramp

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Supercharged111

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jaywestfall

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454cid

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