Review on ACDelco FW344 Original Equipment Assembly by Ryan Larson

After quite a while hearing an increasing humming vibration coming from the front wheel area, mainly the front left I decided to invest and replace the entire hub assembly . It was a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt with no ABS and after verifying that the required part was correct I bought two ACDelco FW344's. (Note: If your car has front ABS, you will need a different part.) I'm not the best mechanic in the world, but I was able to complete the service on my own in about two hours. An hour to take everything apart and remove the hub assembly. It took another hour to fit the new part, mount all the other wheel/brake components and then take it for a test ride to make sure everything was working smoothly. I watched a few how-to videos on YouTube which have great step-by-step instructions. The old part was rough, rusty and covered in dirty black mud. The new part was smooth, clean and shiny. During the test drive, I was simply amazed at the huge improvement in the car's handling. No more deafening rumble from the wheel arches. The ride was smoother and perhaps more important to my ears, at least quieter. I didn't know the Cobalt could drive so quietly for an 11 year old car. I always thought that due to poor insulation and general age the car would always be louder than anything fresh from a new parking lot. Now when I'm driving, the radio volume can be turned down and the passengers don't have to shout to be heard. The part isn't exactly cheap, especially after buying two, but considering how many improvements have been made since then, it's some of the best money I've ever spent on a car. It's not something I would recommend for routine maintenance, but if your car is in need of a new wheel bearing I just can't recommend this part enough.