I purchased aftermarket hubs they are Saturn and cobalt fit. They bolted in fine However the issue is they are smaller in diameter than oem there is a good 1/2 gap all around the hub where it seats into the knuckle.

what I am afraid of is now all the start and stop force is on the hardware alone. With a tight fit hub that back and forth force is shared by the knuckle.

any thoughts? Is it safe? Thanks in advance!

 

It is definitely not safe! The hub is almost a press fit into the steering knuckle - in the salt world it usually requires a puller to remove. I would not rely on the three bolts to handle all the stress in this area, considering acceleration, cornering, braking, steering, and bumps.

Checking RockAuto, the diameter of the hub is larger for Ions with 4-wheel ABS. The ABS hubs have the ABS sensor built in, which makes them larger in diameter than non-ABS hubs. If your car has ABS, you need the larger hubs. If it doesn't have ABS, do you know if the knuckles were ever replaced (with ABS compatible units)?

 

Definitely not safe.

Run your VIN through a decoder to ensure you know which version ion you have (1,2,3, redline).

Then you can figure out what the disc/drum config should be on your vehicle.

If there is a gap between the hub and knuckle, I believe Oldmarine is spot on that the hubs are too small (the wrong part) and don't fit the knuckle properly.

Search by vin to find the correct parts. I often use www. Gmpartsdirect.co no m to shop by VIN to get the OEM part numbers correct, and search everywhere for OEM and aftermarket parts. If you think about how long the OEM parts have lasted, it kind of makes sense to buy them while they're still available.

Beware AC Delco professional: these are not OEM parts, they are OE parts which means AC Delco sells the right to fill the AC Delco box with a third party part that submitted the lowest bid. They are usually aftermarket parts in an AC Delco box. Some parts are fine others are shayt.

Aftermarket support for sattys was never strong. Most of the aftermarket stuff still out there does not list sufficient detail to allow you to determine if the part is actually the proper one for your vehicle.

 

Thank you everyone I replace it back to the old one. There’s actually nothing wrong with it. I think my issue is a warped rotor. The rotor replacement is on its way.

It’s interesting though I wonder if somebody came along and put a knuckle that uses an ABS wheel bearing. It’s a level one, so there’s no ABS no wires anywhere to be found. I should’ve took a picture of it to show you guys.

 

Should replace them in pairs