Hub Bearings hard to find good replacements.
 

I don't know why or if it is horrible luck this time around or what. I took my car to have it looked at to find out if there were any problems that need replaced. The mechanics gave me a print out of things that were wrong. I went through and replaced all the parts including the front passenger side hub bearing assembly. First bearing I went to purchase was Timken front hub assembly. Having replaced both hubs on the rear with that brand I thought I was safe. Got it on my car torque the bolts to specs. Got the tire on it and started putting lug nuts on. As soon as I did they kept turning and turning and there was hardly any tightness i could feel. And then Snap the bolts on the bearing where the lug nuts attached to must not have been hardened steel. I was shocked!!! So i took it back to AutoZone where I got the part. I showed them they were questioning me about it and I told them the whole run down. They didn't hesitate to refund me. So I sought out to try a different brand perhaps Timken wasn't the best. This time I went to Advanced Auto parts to buy the bearing with my refunded money. I bought Moog brand this time. Now at least i was able to get this one on my car and the tire on too no problem there at least the bolts on the bearing were actually hardened steel this time. But just like not even two months after I have installed the Moog brand you can definitely hear grinding noise it's not loud but its there. And my ABS kicks off at times so put my car on jack stands and did the standard test spin the tire around while pushing in and while pulling out and i hear squeak or more like creeeck. Dang am I going crazy or do they make any quality hub bearings in the world. Maybe just bad luck. Never had a problem with the rear bearings. I'm putting them on by the book. Anyone have any suggestions on what part I should buy or ways I can prevent buying crap parts. These are the best options at the local Auto stores.

Timkens....get them at rockauto.com. They are the best bearing.

And those wheel studs, you can find them to replace too. I've had to before. They just punch out/press in. The bearing is a separate part.

I love the timkens that I purchased.

You are also supposed to replace the nuts that you remove from the back of the hub per my GM manuals.

Hello, any ever try the Raybestos? Also, what's the Timkin part number you use? Seems like there are a few to chose from, do you replace them in pairs, or can you just replace the bad side ? Thanks...mjc...

This is the one that I bought for my car.
I think 02+ has to use a different part number

All i use is timkin, great product

I have used Timken hub assemblies for years. I've put them on Grand Ams, Impalas, Grand Prixs and even my Monte. ZERO issues. They are made in the U.S.A. (which is becoming harder to find). I've put many miles on these hubs and not an issue.
As for your issue, first, I would not let one issue ruin your opinion about the brand. Any company makes hundreds and thousands of a product, there is bound to be ONE that has a defect. Plus in this case, Timken comes with a great approval/support of members on MCF (people that share the same car and same common issues).

If I remember correctly the wheel bearings on our military 5 ton wreckers were Timken's. Good stuff, weird your broke one of their bolts. Wonder if someone bought Timken, then bought a cheaper brand, put the Timken on their vehicle and turned in the cheap ones in a Timken box for a high $$ refund. Who knows.....

I even wondered that. It's a bit of a long shot, but it crossed my mind too.

@chibiblacksheep I did read that you do need to replace the bolts on the back side that hold tighten the hub assembly to the knuckle. I've searched GMdirect's catalog for the bolts but I'm not able to find them there. I'm waiting to hear back from customer service but they take could be up to a week. Anyone know what part numbers those would be, just the bolts? Also thank you for your suggestions given the possibility that the bearing was replaced by a cheaper version I will now purchase the Timken bearings online 1A auto is the usual supplier i purchase from because they are so close they are in KC USA and I'm in Omaha shipping happens rather quickly.

I don't have a part number, but I ordered them from member ZSpot on NAIOA.com

Usually I'm a fan of GM direct's web site but today I've discovered GM Giant. They actually have live chat when you go to their contact page. However, the guy on the chat site wasn't the part specialist. But you can submit a request to a parts specialist. Their customer service is lightning fast compared to GM Direct. So good! I found out the part number for the bolts if anyone needs is #11570580 I'm going to purchase them and see if they are in fact the correct set of bolts and I'll let everyone know if this is the correct part number.

Guys If it helps the Timken Part Number is #513121 for the front and for the rear #512237 I have too do mine as well. Should I do the bad one or do both fronts at once??

He was asking for a part number of the bolts, not the hub :)

Hey guys, do you suggest replaceing both sides at the same time, or just the bad one ? Thanks a ton...

Some will claim you should do both because they wear pretty evenly. Me personally, I do the one that's bad. Sometimes I win and sometimes I loose (it's about 50/50). I've replaced one and had the opposite one last 50,000+ more miles and I've replaced one to find the other was making noise, but was over powered by the first (or it fails less then a couple months later).

Personally, I say inspect them as best you can and only replace what's bad.

I feel like if the left one is bad, replace both. if the right one is bad, replace the right one only.

Since the right wheel is the one that seems to take the most abuse (being the only drive wheel) I would rather see that one always have a new one when needed. But that might be a little over kill :)

I believe that bearings are NOT meant to last forever. How can they? They take a beating more than any other part on the car. Every bump, every chuckhole, everything you run over, the bearings take a beating. I think if you've got over 100,000 miles on your car and one goes bad, replace them both. To me, it's like replacing shocks or struts. You don't usually replace just one, you replace a pair. I've got over 167,000 on my Intimidator SS and I just replaced the front hubs. I still have a howl, so the rears are next. They FEEL good, but it's way past time to replace them. One of the fronts was loose. Easy to tell it's time for that one.

Do them as a pair. For the extra $100, it's worth the peace of mind to me.

So true... I guess I'll be doing both... Like you said, only $100 why not just do them both for the peace of mind.... Thanks again guys...mjclemm...

I just ordered the rears TIMKEN Part # 512237 from Rock Auto (2) for $170.14 delivered.
GREAT price!

If you need the replacement bolts #11570580 on GM's website will work they are the correct set of bolts I replaced both hub bearing assemblies this time with known good ones. Well even from ordering online you might end up with a bad part but do yourself a favor don't buy them from the auto parts stores. Those places are being abused good parts getting replaced by bad ones and such. They need to have a better way of tracking their merchandise bar codes or something that will notify them its not the part that was originally in the package. Anyway, consider this post complete.

so has anyone tried the Raybestos wheel hub bearings?

Hope the Timkens I ordered from Rock Auto are good, they just arrived today.
i went by the dealership and got a quote on the bolts.
$4.57 for the font ones part # 11570580 (same as the one mentioned in an earlier post) and the rear bolts are $6.63 part #18025909
Two different part numbers if thats correct it's on my quote sheet anyways.
Does anyone know if the dealer is the only place to get these bolts?
I need 13 of them and they are going to cost almost $90 from the dealer.
Thats more than the hubs!

Just wondering, are you talking about the lug studs ? If so, you can use the old ones if you take them off correctly. To remove them, put the lug not on until the top of the stud is even with the lug nut and get a hammer and pound them out, or you can use a air hammer. .... If that's what you are talking about, if they are stripped, then, yes replace them, but if not they can be reused.

The Timken hub assembly comes with the lug nut bolts already installed.
the ones I'm talking about hold the hub to the steering knuckle.

Dealer is the only place that I know to get the bolts.

I in a parts store and we recomend timken or national bearings have them on my 2001 nevr had a problem .I am just starting to get falures with the oem ones i have 75,000 on the car now .have done the front now a rear one has failed getting that one fixed .