I have a 96 K1500 Suburban 5.7 automatic. Good Truck with 250,000 on it. New Transmission due to cracked case near tail housing last Fall (2010). The push button 4 wheel drive button on the dash does not stay engaged in 2wd all the time. There are times I have no lights on, hold the button in and it comes back for a while. It's been doing that for a year or so. Now I have a vibration in the front end at 45-70 mph. If I cycle it to 4wd and back to 2wd its not as sevear. I pulled the front drive shaft to see if it was the cause, with no improvement. Where do I go next? Wheel bearings? Half shafts? Front differantial??

 

check your wheel bearings also check the hubs
if your wheel bearings go bad you should hear a grinding noise in the front it also may cause it to shimmy and shake also check all your bushings and tierods and what not

 

Ok sounds good. Wheel bearings u front. i never replaced them on a Chevy 1500 yet. They bolt in, hub though? I have no lockouts. Do you mean axles?

 

you have wheel bearings in the front the are inside of the hub i believe i would recomend gettin a chiltons it will help you

 

Thanks when you say hub, I'm still thinking old school straight axle hub. The bearing and hub are in one assembly, I now understand. I ordered 2 this weekend and will change them this week. I'm told it's best to change them in pairs. Is there a way to check which one is actually bad with it in the vehical? Is there a good post out there with pics showing a bearing change? Thanks again.

Gerald

 

i havent found any pictures but i did have a chiltons that had one also
yes when you get the old hub off try and spin the hub with your hands if its ruff and or doesnt move thats the one thats bad
that is what i used to do when i was performing services on humvees in the army
and your welcome i will look for some pictures if i find any i will send you the link