Aluminum / XFE NNBS Front Suspension Rebuild

[Scrappycrow]

Never gave it much thought, I just assumed wheel bearing grease was wheel bearing grease. I usually use Red & Tacky.

Here's a compatibility chart from the Lucas site. Red "N" Tacky is calcium sulfonate:

 

[j91z28d1]

I was always taught you don't grease sealed bearings. they have the correct amount when manufacturered and anything more just gets pushed out the seals. but since these fail constantly, probably can't hurt anything.


I ended up going with the oem hub last week after Mikez71 said his made noise. I like the theory but didn't feel like missing with it. I only replaced the one side that went bad. I'll wait on the other side to go bad before changing it out. but listening to all 4 bearings with the mechanic ears 3 sounded perfect, the one buzzed oddly. would have never found it, I even thought it was the drivers side noise. bearing feels perfect in hand.

I am pretty sure I first heard it in a road trip back in December.

 

[petethepug]

I’m gonna call SKF tomorrow.

 

[Noggles]

Slightly off the grease topic, the knuckles for the aluminum arms are different correct? If so, does anyone know how Belltech is able to offer the same drop knuckle for both hybrid and non-hybrid trucks?

 

[j91z28d1]

I bought these "oem" hubs for the awd denali about 4 years ago, they are genuine gm, made by iljin korea
currently have about 30k on them and they are fine
if you zoom in on the rockauto photo you can see it stamped iljin korea, same as mine

More Information for GM GENUINE 84856654

View attachment 452260

huh. I thought forsure my hub would be oem on that side. I haven't tossed it yet, went out and looked. no markings on the flange at all. flipped it over, knocked off some crude and bam.. timkin.

I got it at 135k, guess the oem didn't make it that long. all junk.

 

[kbuskill]

Here's a compatibility chart from the Lucas site. Red "N" Tacky is calcium sulfonate:

View attachment 453533

What do you suppose would happen if you mix incompatible grease???.... Nuclear explosion?... lol

 

[91RS]

Slightly off the grease topic, the knuckles for the aluminum arms are different correct? If so, does anyone know how Belltech is able to offer the same drop knuckle for both hybrid and non-hybrid trucks?

The knuckles are different for the different size ball joints. For some reason, they want a lot more money for the knuckle for the larger joints for the aluminum/stamped steel arms.

 

[Noggles]

The knuckles are different for the different size ball joints. For some reason, they want a lot more money for the knuckle for the larger joints for the aluminum/stamped steel arms.

Interesting. But they are iron correct?

I was wanting to do the aluminum swap to lose the weight and also thought about doing a spindle drop but I will have to rethink either or if the drop knuckles are only iron.

 

[91RS]

Yes. That’s why I didn’t go that route. I figured if I wasn’t going to use the aluminum knuckles, there was no point. The knuckles are the only part that is 100% unsprung weight, I don’t know the math but since the control arms are attached to the frame and the shock, the weight reduction of the lower arm wouldn’t be the full weight savings but partial. I didn’t feel it was worth it unless I raised the truck back to stock height and did the aluminum knuckle.

I did the OEM aluminum arms for the 900 body style with the correct smaller ball joints and left all the other pieces I already had. The aluminum/stamped steel upper arms don’t weigh much different than the iron uppers either. Then I also got new wheels that are lighter and replaced the front shocks with new OEM since they were still original. I feel like it made a pretty significant difference but we haven’t taken any trips yet.

 

[j91z28d1]

What do you suppose would happen if you mix incompatible grease???.... Nuclear explosion?... lol

usually grease has a temp and pressure rating. if they spec a good high end grease and you pump in cheap low spec stuff you just make everything worse.