Rear wheel bearing assembly WILL NOT BUDGE! '98 GC Sport

[writermom]

'98 GC Sport - I ordered the rear wheel bearing (Driver's side) and spouse is trying to remove old one. Removed the four screws, etc. this thing WILL NOT BUDGE. Clearly there is more here - is some special tool required to pull the entire hub assembly?

[harley909]

Hi,
Did one of these a few months ago.
Two words of wisdom.
1. Make sure you know which one of the rear bearings is bad/whining or whatever it's doing. I changed the one I "thought" was howling and it turned out to be the other. Very tricky howl to pinpoint.
2. I used a axle puller (slide hammer type) If you don't have one you'll need to get one. Don't try to pound it out or you will regret it for sure.
Hope this helps

[writermom]

Originally Posted by harley909

Hi,
Did one of these a few months ago.
Two words of wisdom.
1. Make sure you know which one of the rear bearings is bad/whining or whatever it's doing. I changed the one I "thought" was howling and it turned out to be the other. Very tricky howl to pinpoint.
2. I used a axle puller (slide hammer type) If you don't have one you'll need to get one. Don't try to pound it out or you will regret it for sure.
Hope this helps

Yes, big help! Thank you!!!

AutoZone was able to help us out.

FYI the rear wheel bearing price was quoted by one local dealer as
$202 and another as $378(!) (Van has 16" rims).

Autozone, NAPA, etc. have no available part listed for a 98 GC But ...
a savvy AZone employee figured out that a $98 bearing listed for a '97 Pontiac Voyager was interchangeable and ... it was!!!

I could have spent $200-$400 just for the PART without the knowledge.

So, now I know to ASK if any cheap other year/other model parts are interchangeable.