Blazer wheel hub bearing recommendations

[TCGrove]

I have a 99 Blazer with 158,000 miles. I've replaced the front wheel hubs on both sides 3 to 4 times. I've used NAPA $99.00 hubs and have been getting 12,000 to 16,000 miles before they go again. I'm wondering what recommendations and life people are getting out of other wheel hub/bearings. I'm thinking of going with the Autozone Timken hubs but they're $140. I guess you get what you pay for. I see the low end from NATAUTO.COM that is $62. These are by Precision (probably Chinese). The other brands I know of from the various auto parts stores are Valuecraft, Dynapak, and NTP. Any recommendations out there? I'm tired of changing these things.

[emt1134]

They may be a bit pricey, but I always like to use AC Delco parts.. Also, make sure you aren't overtightening the axle nut when you replace those things... Any other thoughts as to why you are experiencing premature failure of the hubs other than the fact that the brand just might be crappy?

[TCGrove]

I'm tending to think they're just a crappy brand? That's kind of why I'm asking what other people are doing. I've had the help of the maintenance shop where I work with these. One of the guys is a GM cert. technician. (he think's they're junk too). Anyone know the torque spec.? I think it's 100-110 ft.lb.

[old_master]

BCA National bearings are made by Federal Mogul, (an OEM supplier). I service a fleet of T body GM vehicles and these are the only bearings we install. Never had one comeback. Cost is around $130 each. Axle shaft nut torque is 103 ft lbs. A wheel alignment would be a good idea: keeping camber at zero degrees will prolong bearing life.

[feeder82]

I had the same result with the NAPA bearings, I went with a timken so far so good 40kmiles my NAPAs lasted 10k.

[TCGrove]

Just an update: I found the Timken bearing online for $87. I decided to swap them both out for that price. One of the old bearings was still good. The other one felt like it was dry. It wasn't far from serious failure. My past bearing/hubs were so shot they basically came apart with the hub puller. The Timkens just look like a better bearing. We'll see if they hold up. Now on to tackle my intake manifold gasket......

[skyzend]

old_master has 2 good recommendations. First on the brand but more importantly on the allignment (camber).

To add to that, you should have a good look at both upper and lower ball joints.
From experience, I own a 1999 blazer and have swapped as many wheel hub assemblys as you have. The last time I went all out and replaced both upper and lower ball joints on both sides, just prior to new tires and an allignment. Have not had to replace a hub assembly since and its going on 3 years now ... knock on wood.

I suspect that any non 90degree installation of the hub assembly wrt to the axle will put added sideways stress on that bearing which will eventually lead to premature failure. Worn ball joints will do exactly this and depending on who does the alignment they may or may not stress the need to make a replacement here.

Finally, I too have changed a lot of wheel hubs. But I am sure that I got 60-70,000 km at least out of each replacement. Not sure which brand I used but they were never the low end available units.