I have a 97 dodge ram 1500 has anybody done a write up on this? Also how do i pack the bearings?

 

2 or 4 wheel drive?

 

oh yeah its 4wd

 

In that case, you have a unit bearing assembly up front. No bearings to pack. The whole thing gets replaced. not exactly cheap either. (anywhere from 70 bucks for a cheap one you will replace again in six months.... to the REALLY good ones for 300 plus per side.)

Not that bad to change..... just the bolts hang out in the worst part of the environment, and tend to get a seriously good grip on the truck, and are extremely reluctant to let go. having air tools makes the job easier....

There might be a write up on this in the faq section, but, if you can't find one there, the procedure has been outlined several times on the forums here. (and at least once by me......) You can also grab the 01 service manual from the faq section, and it will be detailed in there too. Not much changed on the front ends......

 

ill make an attempt, but may forget something...
1. remove wheel/tire
2. remove caliper then rotor
3. remove axle nut cotter pin
4. remove 1-11/16" axle nut (it can be a REAL bear!) i jumped up and down on a 3/4" drive ratchet for 10 minutes!
5. remove the three 12 POINT 9/16" hub bolts
6. remove hub assembly (if seized try using some dummy 14mm bolts and thread them in half way or so and pound on em)
7 apply anti-seize to splines and install new assembly

 

Thanks alot guys that really helps looks simple. I found a set of the hubs for 200 bucks with a 2 year warranty on partsgeek.com one more question how do i know if my truck has abs its a 1997 ram 1500 4x4 sport ext cab

 

The only thing I have to add to Matty is-- leave the tire on, and the truck on the ground while you break the hub nut free it saves trying to figure out the best way to keep the axle from turning.
And the 3 bolts should be 14mm 12 point not 9/16"

As far as ABS on the front there would be a wire to each Hub assembly like in the pic below.

 

Thanks that helps alot thats a good little trick but i guess you have to pull the wheel and tire remove the pin then put the tire back on the remove the nut

 

also i can tap on the backside of the old hub to get it loose if it is seized it wont hurt anything by doin that?

 

You can't really get to the hub to hit it.
Read step 6 in Matty's post..
The thread is 14mm X 1.5 pitch