1. Safety First:
* Parking Brake: Engage the parking brake firmly.
* Jacking and Stands: Securely jack up the front end of the Suburban and support it on jack stands. Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack.
* Wheel Chocks: Use wheel chocks on the rear wheels for added safety.
* Disconnect Battery: Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery to prevent accidental shorts.
2. Preparation:
* Remove Wheel: Remove the wheel and tire from the hub.
3. Hub Removal (This is where it gets tricky and the specifics depend on your exact hub type):
There are several possible hub styles on a 1988 Suburban, including:
* Spindle Nut Removal: You'll need a large socket and breaker bar (potentially a long cheater pipe for leverage) to remove the large nut on the spindle. This nut is often very tight. Use penetrating oil (like PB Blaster) to help loosen it. Some designs require a special hub nut socket that's designed to hold the spindle or rotor in place. Failing to do this properly can damage the spindle threads.
* Caliper Removal: Remove the brake caliper assembly. You'll need to either compress the caliper piston (using a C-clamp or specialized caliper compression tool) or hang the caliper using a piece of wire to keep it out of the way.
* Rotor Removal: The rotor (brake disc) may need to be removed. These sometimes are attached with bolts or may slide off after the caliper and spindle nut are removed.
* Hub Removal (Knuckle-style): After the above steps, the hub itself might be held on by several bolts. These bolts can be tricky to access. Locate and remove these bolts. The hub should then be able to be slid off the spindle.
* Hub Removal (Unit-Bearing Style): Some Suburbans of this era may have a unit bearing hub. This type is more complex and typically requires a special hub puller to remove the hub assembly from the spindle.
4. Inspection and Replacement:
* Inspect the Hub and Bearings: Once removed, carefully inspect the hub, bearings, and seals for wear, damage, or corrosion. Replace any worn or damaged components.
* Clean and Lubricate: Clean all mating surfaces before reassembly. Apply new grease to the bearings as per the manufacturer's instructions.
5. Reassembly:
* Installation is the reverse of removal. Remember to tighten all fasteners to the correct torque specifications as outlined in your repair manual.
Important Considerations:
* Special Tools: You'll likely need a variety of tools, including sockets, wrenches, a breaker bar, a hub puller (possibly), a caliper compression tool, and potentially a special hub nut socket.
* Repair Manual: Obtain a repair manual specific to your 1988 Chevy Suburban 4x4. This is crucial for proper procedure and torque specifications.
* Professional Help: If you're not comfortable performing this repair yourself, take your vehicle to a qualified mechanic. Improperly removing or reinstalling the hub can cause serious damage.
This is a complex job. Take your time, be careful, and double-check everything before proceeding. Again, a repair manual is indispensable for this task.
