2wd and 4wd Hubs

[choodock]

It seems like a rather silly question.... Is there any harm in installing a new 4wd hub on a 2wd Tahoe?

 

[Donnie Yukonie]

I don't think it can be done , 4wd Hubs are splined for the half shafts 2wd hubs are not

Plus 4wd hubs are 6 lug 2wd are 5 lug

 

[choodock]

The splines wouldn't interfere with anything on a 2wd, it would just be open where the cv shaft would go instead of the dust covers the 2wd has. All NBS are 6 lug, 2wd and 4wd.

 

[01ssreda4]

Q:Are the bearings in your part #SP500300 (4wd) and SP450301 (2wd) the same or is one more heavier duty than the other.

Timken:SP500300 has a 50mm bore bearing GM ½ ton and ¾ ton trucks and SUVs 4×4 and AWD without HD Brakes

SP450301 has a 45mm bore bearing GM ½ ton and ¾ ton trucks and SUVs rear wheel drive without HD Brakes

Both Pickups come with another part for HD Breaks in the same year ranges.

The size of the bearing is more of a function of the 4×4 shaft or lack of one for 2WD.

The bearings are different and the larger bearing can carry a larger load.

Most of the dimensions are the same, except that the ABS sensor and cable are not the same.

They are not interchangeable.

Q:Thanks for the info. The reason why I ask if you could use the SP500300 4wd 6 lug hub (standard breaks) on a gm 1500 2wd 6 lug truck with standard breaks, instead of the SP450301 is that my truck is lifted with bigger tire and wheels. if I could use the sp500300 due to the fact that the bearing could carry a heavier load it would be great. due you know if the sp450301 has a hollow bore in the middle with out the spline of the sp500300. Does the hole with the spline in the sp500300 there to support the bearing when the 4wd shaft is installed or can the sp500300 function normally with out the 4wd shaft in the spline. I looked at both parts at an autoparts store and they look exactly the same except for the hole in the sp500300. Or does the sp450301 have the same hole and has a cover due to the fact that it not 4wd. Can help me out with these questions, because a national 4wd parts store said on the new gm body style 1500 2wd standard trucks they had issues with the hub bearing going out due to bigger tires and wheels. they told me the way they resolved the issue was they swapped out the the 2wd hub on a 2wd 1500 standard breaks 6 lug truck with a 4wd 1500 6 lug standard breaks hub. they said after that they have had no issues with the gm 1500 trucks by switching out the 2wd hub for a 6 lug 4wd hub. thats why I ask if I could use the sp500300 on my 2wd 6lug instead of the sp450301. Then do you know if the newer SP500301 could be used on the 2wd gm trucks instead of the SP450303 for more bearing load support,since the off road shop was able to swap the gm hub 2wd 6 lug hub for a 4wd 6 lug hub. One more question, does timken make GM Hubs? thanks for your time.

Timken: SP500300

- The SP500300 has a spline to accept the axle shaft on a 4WD truck.

- Will bolt up on a 2WD application but has not been validated by GM

- Will have a slightly higher capacity then the SP450301

SP450301

- Does not have a spline (even when the cap is removed).

SP500301

- The SP500301 has a spline to accept the axle shaft on a 4WD truck.

- Will bolt up on a 2WD application but has not been validated by GM

- Will have a slightly higher capacity then the SP450303

SP450303

- Does not have a spline (even when the cap is removed).

Timken is the OEM manufacturer to GM for all these hub bearing assembly part numbers.

Info from here:
http://connect.timken.com/blog/forums/topic/sp500300-and-sp450301/

 

[mattluttrell]

On other 4x4 vehicles, the hub is held together by the outer axle shaft. So the vehicles that use the same bearing in 2WD and 4WD give you a little fake axle shaft.

Even if this fits, your wheel may fall off when you try to drive.

 

[livingez_123]

The axle is what keeps the hub together!

 

[HUMBL57]

The axle is what keeps the hub together!

X2!
Why not just get the direct replacement?

 

[choodock]

X2!
Why not just get the direct replacement?

Trying to upgrade everything on the front end of my Tahoe. Running 20 inch wheels now (instead of stock 16s) and adding the NNBS bigger brakes. Why not upgrade the hub to the larger bearing in the 4wd. The spindles are the same between the 2wd and 4wd, or so I have been told.

 

[01ssreda4]

The axle is what keeps the hub together!

The old lady's Durango has 4wd splined hubs and is a 2wd truck and her front wheels have never come off. Came like that stock. Also, if you look at Timken's catalog, you'll see old 2wd hub part numbers are being superseded by the 4wd/awd part, thus making them suitable for 2wd applications. Meaning part numbers are identical. Maybe you should call them up and tell them what you know about bearings.....

 

[01ssreda4]

I wanted to give this thread definitive closure. Here is an sp500300 awd/4wd hub from Timken. Just like my other suv's hub, the center collar with the splines is one solid piece. Lots say the hub will come apart if the axle is not in place, and that's simply not true. Picture a short piece of pipe, say PVC like water pipe. Place a nut and bolt with washers on each end through the pipe and tighten it down till it clamps through the center of the pipe.....holding the pipe through the center. See what you've done? Absolutely nothing, you're just squishing the pipe. Same applies here, its one solid piece.