How do you replace a wheel bearing assembly on the front left hand side of a 1998 Chevy Venture van?

Answer 1

The front wheel bearings are replaced by first loosing the center nut on the half-shaft. This nut is a 34mm and is easiest to loosen while the wheel is on the ground. This shaft doesn�t hold the vehicle load. After the nut is loose jack vehicle and remove the wheel. After the wheel is off remove the rotor. The front rotors on a Venture van are removed by removing the brake caliper (two bolts on backside), don�t forget to support caliper. Don�t let caliper hang by the brake hose. I use a piece of clothes hanger. After the caliper is remove take the caliper bracket off by removing the two bolts for it on the backside. After the bracket is removed the rotor will come off. If the rotor has never been removed there may be one or two spring clips on the lugs. Remove them with a pair of diagonal cutters and discard. After the rotor is off you will have to remove the hub assembly. The center nut can be removed that was loosened earlier. Disconnect the Anti-Skid wiring on the backside. Then remove the three 13mm bolts from the backside of the hub. These are tight and can be hard to remove. The top one requires the use of at least a 4� extension to get to. When the three bolts are removed you can remove the hub being careful with the Anti-Skid wiring. Installation is a reverse of the removal. The center nut can be torqued after the vehicle is placed on the ground. The spring clips on the rotor do not need to be replaced. A lug nut can be use until the assembly is complete to hold the rotor in place. Remove lug nut and reinstall wheel. Don�t forget to torque all bolts properly and reconnect the Anti-Skid wiring. The above directions are excellent and I used them yesterday to replace the hub assembly. The only thing I would add is that the assy. may need a little "persuassion" with a large screwdriver and hammer to come off. Mine was rusted on very tight - also, ensure that the splined shaft is moved out the way to thread the electrial wire through the hole.