The wheel hubs on a Chevrolet Venture allow the front wheels to rotate in the spindle in harmony with the drive axles. These hub assemblies include the wheel bearings, and come as a complete assembly. If the bearings wear down, then the hub could freeze, causing the wheel to lock up, which could lead to a serious accident. To solve the problem, you need to change out the wheel hubs with new ones, which takes a few hours to do.
Loosen the front wheel studs on the front wheels with the tire iron. Lift the front of the Venture using a jack and put the jack stands under the chassis. Take the wheels off with the tire iron.
Install the modified inner drive joint seal protector around the backside of the spindle, on the drive axle joints, with your hands. Put the drift punch through the brake caliper so that it sticks into the vents in the middle of the rotor and keeps the rotor from turning. Remove the hub nut and washer from the center of the rotor with the 1/2-inch ratchet and socket.
Pull the drift punch out, then unbolt the caliper from the spindle with the 1/2-inch ratchet and socket. Hang the caliper on the fender well with the mechanic's wire. Pull the rotor off the hub. Install the hub removal tool onto the front hub and tighten it down with the 1/2-inch ratchet and socket until the hub comes free of the spindle. Unbolt the hub and bearing retaining bolts from the spindle with an open-end wrench, then pull off the shield, hub/bearing assembly and the O-ring.
Install the replacement bearing seal and replacement wheel hub/bearing assembly into the spindle with the hub installer tool and the 1/2-inch ratchet and socket. Rub the bearing grease around the hub and bearing seal, then install the replacement O-ring onto the hub/bearing assembly. Bolt the assembly onto the steering knuckle with an open-end wrench.
Slide the rotor onto the hub/bearing assembly. Bolt the brake caliper onto the spindle with the 1/2-inch ratchet and socket, then torque the bolts to 38 foot-pounds with the 1/2-inch torque wrench. Put the drift into the rotor in the same manner that you did in Step 2, then install the hub nut and washer to the center of the hub. Torque the hub nut down to 185 foot-pounds with the 1/2-inch torque wrench.
Take off the modified inner drive joint seal protector with your hands. Reinstall the front wheels with the tire iron, then lower the Venture off the stands with the jack.
