That inner bearing is not user replaceable. The axle support bearing is.

 

I am gonna go back on what I said, after further study, and report that grease can indeed be pumped into that ABS hole, like you all say it can. I believe I am wrong now, based on the picture I see in the link listed above.

The bearings inside the hub do indeed appear to be open, non-sealed, but inside a sealed hub.

Yes, it's the axle support bearing that is replaceable.

My experience right now is one hub (the passenger-side) appears to turn with noticeably more resistance than the left side. I can turn it by hand, holding the hub alone, without any grind or friction. It turns smooth, but simply has more resistance. Interesting.

My bad. If you all can pump grease down that ABS-hole, power to you. I'm gonna do today. Thanks for the advice.

RTFLDGR

 

Turtle Expedition » The Bearing Thing

This link shows the hub cut open and you can see the main hub bearings are "open" inside the sealed hub. Grease away. My 2005 has a hex-bolt that locks the ABS sensor in place.

When you pull the hub off, you gotta replace that large stock yellow O-ring to maintain vaccuum in the hub. The Ford replacement is black. Also replace the outer hub o-ring and you get vaccuum-functional auto hubs. If the hub leaks vaccuum, you lose heater-a\c vent direction function.

Note the turtle link shows a retro-tech upgrade hub & stub-shaft option. Pretty tough and heavy duty. I like it.

RTFLDGR

 

RTFLDGR,
Do you drive with hubs locked or not?

 

What effect, if any, can putting grease in through the ABS port have on the function of the front ABS sensor readings?

 

Hubs not locked.

Yes, how does packing the grease in the unit-bearing hub affect ABS function and vacuum function also? Vacuum is not sucking through the grease, I assume.

Are you auto-hub guys getting vacuum function with greased-packed sealed unit-bearing hubs?

RTFLDGR

 

From one who has used this method for years, I can report that the grease has no effect on the ABS sensors whatsoever, and the system continues to operate normally.

Pop

 

"Hubs not locked."


The rental car companies leave the hubs locked so the axle support bearing is not rotating therefore preventing failure.
If it gets 1 mpg less that is on the renter.

 

Please explain in more detail.

 

Nonsense Jesse5. You don't leave your hubs locked-in when you drive around in 2-wheel drive.

Pops: Since you have done this for years, could you address my question? Does packed grease in the hub prevent the vacuum function in auto-locking hubs? Or are you by-passing that feature and running manual hubs in place of vacuum-operated? Thank you for your experience and comments.

RTFLDGR

 

Why not? I leave mine locked pretty much all winter (or about 5 months around here) and just put the truck into 4H when I need it.

 

Jesse
ASE Master Technician
I rest.

 

With those qualifications established, can you please explain "The rental car companies leave the hubs locked so the axle support bearing is not rotating therefore preventing failure." ?

 

The needle bearing is static on the stub shaft when locked but the mpg's suffer a bit but they don't pay for gas.

 

So we are talking about two different bearings then... right? Needle bearings in the 4WD hub? Versus roller cones in the area that is greased through the ABS hole?


I got the part about customers paying for gas. I'm just trying to visualize the wheel bearing "not rotating".