Saturn help

[bensonwe]

I have a 1996 saturn sl2, with a 1.9 dohc engine. I need help with the rear wheel bearing. Where can I purchase just the bearing? I can press out the old and pressure in the new. I don't want to purchase the entire rear hub. Does the front wheel bearing also fit the rear? I pressed out the front wheel bearing and pressed in a new bearing last fall so I was wondering if saturn used the same bearing for both front and back. Thanks for the help.

[hawkenhunter50]

Doesn't look like any are available, only see complete hubs listed. Also looks like front and rear are different. Amazon lists a complete hub for 34.50 shipped, for a 4 bolt ABS hub which dont seem too bad. May be worth not messing with pressing out/in new bearings for that money, if its even doable.

https://www.amazon.com/Brand-Wheel-Bearing-Assembly-Saturn/dp/B006WQR9NM/ref=au_as_r?_encoding=UTF8&Make=Saturn%7C53&Model=SL2%7C627&Year=1996%7C1996&ie=UTF8&n=15684181&newVehicle=1&s=automotive&vehicleId=4&vehicleType=automotive

[1911sw45]

No rear bearing available hub only. Check rock auto here’s the link


https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/saturn,1996,sl+sedan,1.9l+l4+dohc,1266971,brake+&+wheel+hub,wheel+bearing+&+hub+assembly,1636

[sawinredneck]

You’ll have to press it out, find numbers, or measurements and find one in a bearing supply house. The Saturns are based off of German Opals but I can’t recall the exact model.

[starmac]

You’ll have to press it out, find numbers, or measurements and find one in a bearing supply house. The Saturns are based off of German Opals but I can’t recall the exact model.

That may or may not work.
When gm first came up with that dung on front hubs of their pickups, I took one apart and even with a good timken number timken tried to tell me it was not a good number. I explained to them that I could read fine, and they finally said that I had a good number, BUT they could not sell me or anyone except gm one.
U-haul has the same deal on some trailer wheel bearings and seals.

[bensonwe]

Thanks all. I knew I could get some help from this site.

[6bg6ga]

I replaced wheel bearing hub assemblies in our Cadillac SRX and GMC Envoy. Replacing them is the only reasonable course of action. Trying to remove and install a new bearing will only result in a seal failure and premature bearing failure as a result of dirt and contaminents.

[6bg6ga]

I have a 1996 saturn sl2, with a 1.9 dohc engine. I need help with the rear wheel bearing. Where can I purchase just the bearing? I can press out the old and pressure in the new. I don't want to purchase the entire rear hub. Does the front wheel bearing also fit the rear? I pressed out the front wheel bearing and pressed in a new bearing last fall so I was wondering if saturn used the same bearing for both front and back. Thanks for the help.

Its easy for you to check the front and real wheel bearing assemblies for your vehicle. I would bet money they aren't the same.

[Plate plinker]

Press it out and run it into a Napa store that usually gets it for me. I’ve bought some oddball stuff for machinery from them that any other store can’t seem to do.

[William Yanda]

Bearings aren't rocket science. Somewhere in the previous century, a couple of careers back, One farmer I worked with had a tractor down due to a bad front wheel bearing. British made tractor, no longer any local dealers, exorbitant price from long distance dealer, etc. Pulled the bearing, went to NAPA, got one that was made less than 100 miles away.

[mold maker]

Lots of what used to be simple replacements are now cash cows for the mfg. They use priority sized/shaped parts that aren't available except in assys. Thus you either buy their part assy or make do with used. It also ensures that their repair shop gets more business.

[Rick Hodges]

I know a cross reference book saved me lots on wheel bearing and brake calipers for my Jeep CJ-7. The bearings listed for the CJ were $27 the same exact bearings for a Ford Galaxy were $12. Calipers was the same deal, less than half price. I don't know about the Saturn but $34 for hub and all sounds like a fair trade off.

[Tackleberry41]

Most new cars they sell it as a unit. Just the way its done anymore. Sometimes you can find out the bearing number and buy direct. But way better off just unbolting the old one, bolting on a new one and away you go.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I had a front wheel bearing go out on a Buick Park Ave. My Mechanic said he had to replace the hub assembly as he couldn't get just the bearing. I suspect the reason is as 6bg6ga mentions in his posted I quoted.
My issue was the price of the hub assembly, It was crazy high priced due to it being a Cadillac part or something?
So, that 15 year old high mileage buick got a hub assembly that was salvaged from a junkyard. My buddy bought the car from me a few years ago, and the front hub is still going strong.


I replaced wheel bearing hub assemblies in our Cadillac SRX and GMC Envoy. Replacing them is the only reasonable course of action. Trying to remove and install a new bearing will only result in a seal failure and premature bearing failure as a result of dirt and contaminents.

[starmac]

The issue and reason that they use a proprietary bearing that can not be bought from timken or anyone else is their is no bearing race, the hub itself is the race, so even if you could buy a bearing for one which you can't is they will not last, mating them to a wore out race. When gm first started doing this they were crazy expensive, I have heard that they have come down some. Heck even some semi's have them on the steer axles now.

[Lloyd Smale]

yup I tried it twice and neither held up.
I replaced wheel bearing hub assemblies in our Cadillac SRX and GMC Envoy. Replacing them is the only reasonable course of action. Trying to remove and install a new bearing will only result in a seal failure and premature bearing failure as a result of dirt and contaminents.

[.45Cole]

Been there, done that. BUY THE UNIT, it's like $45 and literally takes 30min inc busting the tires. Super easy and you'll enjoy the time saved. Same goes for the front, buy the hub and have it pressed into your knuckle. Pressing them sucks, you usually ruin the race and have problems, been there done that. If your car has more than 100k miles, the hub/bearing will be a pain in the *** to separate. Had 6 tons on the front one time trying to separate and had to take to a shop with a 15ton press. Stay away from Dorman and the bottom 1/2 of the makers. No use in doing it twice, been there done that. I've got a 01 sl1 and a 02 sl2.

[6bg6ga]

I had a front wheel bearing go out on a Buick Park Ave. My Mechanic said he had to replace the hub assembly as he couldn't get just the bearing. I suspect the reason is as 6bg6ga mentions in his posted I quoted.
My issue was the price of the hub assembly, It was crazy high priced due to it being a Cadillac part or something?
So, that 15 year old high mileage buick got a hub assembly that was salvaged from a junkyard. My buddy bought the car from me a few years ago, and the front hub is still going strong.

Actually I could get the raw bearings without a problem. Its very easy to access new bearings for me since I have experience finding bearings for machines and such in the past. The actual problems with replacing the bearing is the quality of the bearings the tolerance of the bearings, the seal and getting the new seal to actually seal correctly. Part of the problem lies in moisture and water being able to get inside these bearing hub assemblies Once moisture does get in the seating surfaces can be compromised as well as the rest of it. Its a lot easier just to purchase a part that has a warranty. The cleaper parts in the plain white boxes cost a lot less money and work just as good. I think the GM rice per wheel bearing hub assembly was in excess of $300 a wheel and I got the same assembly minus the GM box for less than $50.

[Petrol & Powder]

While I've certainly pressed bearings on and off various axles, hubs, etc.; the rear stub axle/hub assembly of a front wheel drive vehicle probably isn't worth fooling with. Just replace the entire hub and be done with it.

I understand the desire to save money by just replacing the bearings and races but on some assemblies you're going to reach the point of diminishing returns very quickly.
Two options:
1. Shop around and find the lowest cost hub. Rockauto is a good place to start.
2. Get a used hub from a junkyard. Chances are good that it will outlast the car and if it doesn't; you haven't lost much money.