replaced front wheel bearings - not too bad.
#1
12-27-2008 | 08:58 PM
Thread Starter
|
Hall Of Fame
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,204
Likes: 8
From: Gainesville, Ga.
replaced front wheel bearings - not too bad.
i'd been hearing a little roar/whine from the left front. was hoping it was brake pad squealers and wasn't too worried about it.
so christmas day i had the truck up on stands working on a 4wd problem and gave the wheels a spin. left front had a bad roar. grabbed the tire at 12 and 6 and wiggled it. about 1/8 inch of play out at the edge of the tire.
so i fixed the 4wd problem and decided to tackle the bearing and replace brake pads. took the brakes apart on christmas night. i didn't have the 1-11/16 socket, so i soaked the big nut and the 3 on the back side with lots of pb blaster and let it soak all night.
went to get parts and socket. autozone didn't have the bearings in stock (and none anywhere around) nor the socket. got the brake pads there.
went across the road to the local parts store with the machine shop. you know, the one that has everything and you pay out the nose. timken bearings were $200 each, and the socket was $25. by the way, the socket is 3/4 drive.
i've got a lot of tools including a 3/4 drive electric impact wrench, air compressor and wrenches, a 3 foot long 3/4 breaker bar, an 18" 1/2 breaker bar, etc. fearing the worst, i get started.
i put a crow bar between the lugs and the garage floor to hold the wheel, put the 3/4 electric impact on the big nut, and squeezed. damn - it came right off. for the 3 bolts on the back, they take a 12 point 14mm. (as opposed to 6 point). i happened to have a set. its sort of tight behind the wheel, and not much room for the impact, so i put the breaker bar on those. damn - they came right off. moment of truth - getting the bearing out of the knuckle. i tapped the back side of the lug flange a few times with a hammer. damn - it slid right out. be careful here, not to let the axle come out of the diff, or you risk damage to the axle seals.
i put anti-seize on the 3 bolts, the outer part of the bearing, grease on the inside and axle splines and put it back together. hand tightened the 3 bolts with the breaker bar (100+ pounds). let the 3/4 impact put the mojo on the big nut. put the brakes back together with new pads. couldn't believe it was that easy.
didn't take any pictures. its all right here.
http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/hub.php
so christmas day i had the truck up on stands working on a 4wd problem and gave the wheels a spin. left front had a bad roar. grabbed the tire at 12 and 6 and wiggled it. about 1/8 inch of play out at the edge of the tire.
so i fixed the 4wd problem and decided to tackle the bearing and replace brake pads. took the brakes apart on christmas night. i didn't have the 1-11/16 socket, so i soaked the big nut and the 3 on the back side with lots of pb blaster and let it soak all night.
went to get parts and socket. autozone didn't have the bearings in stock (and none anywhere around) nor the socket. got the brake pads there.
went across the road to the local parts store with the machine shop. you know, the one that has everything and you pay out the nose. timken bearings were $200 each, and the socket was $25. by the way, the socket is 3/4 drive.
i've got a lot of tools including a 3/4 drive electric impact wrench, air compressor and wrenches, a 3 foot long 3/4 breaker bar, an 18" 1/2 breaker bar, etc. fearing the worst, i get started.
i put a crow bar between the lugs and the garage floor to hold the wheel, put the 3/4 electric impact on the big nut, and squeezed. damn - it came right off. for the 3 bolts on the back, they take a 12 point 14mm. (as opposed to 6 point). i happened to have a set. its sort of tight behind the wheel, and not much room for the impact, so i put the breaker bar on those. damn - they came right off. moment of truth - getting the bearing out of the knuckle. i tapped the back side of the lug flange a few times with a hammer. damn - it slid right out. be careful here, not to let the axle come out of the diff, or you risk damage to the axle seals.
i put anti-seize on the 3 bolts, the outer part of the bearing, grease on the inside and axle splines and put it back together. hand tightened the 3 bolts with the breaker bar (100+ pounds). let the 3/4 impact put the mojo on the big nut. put the brakes back together with new pads. couldn't believe it was that easy.
didn't take any pictures. its all right here.
http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/hub.php
