Hello everyone!

My question pertains to a 94 f-150, inline 6 ,4.9L 300. This truck has its original manual locking hubs.

I broke my torque wrench and I am trying to get by.

My question is this. Are my methods okay?. After repacking the bearings and replacing the seals--So instead of using a torque wrench I tightened the wheel bearing lock nut until the hub retaining ring and snap ring could fit into their respective grooves. this was a time consuming venture consisting of me pulling the hub out, adjusting the lock nut and replacing the hub several times to get it right.
The drivers side feels pretty tight and I am not sure what I can do. The lock nut needs to be far enough into the hub to allow for the hub retaining ring to fall into its groove. any thoughts??

I replaced inner and outer timken bearings as well as inner an outer oil seals on both sides of the front end. One thing that struck me was that whoever did this job the last time didn't replace the outer oil seals?

sorry this was so wordy... looking forward to advice.
thanks
jack

 

Go to Auto Zone and rent a torque wrench.... upon return of tool you get your money back.

 

Go borrow a torque wrench

You won't be right using your hands, wear the bearings out or have the hub come lose. Someone you know has a torque wrench you can borrow, and if not. Make a new friend

 

You can spin the wheel and at the same time tighten the nut up until you get a little bit of drag. I guess the only way to know whats right is to know what it feels like.

Ive been doing it for a few years now and never burned up any bearings and this is on both semi's and these trucks.

Or, you can go to a parts store and they have tools to rent.

 

thanks Volvo92906! Yah thats also what i've been told Im gonna go break into it right now and start twisting stuff.
thanks again

 

anybody know what the torque spec is?

sorry dont mean to hijack..

 

50# on while rotating wheel to seat bearing. Back off 45*. Install lock ring. Torque outer to 150#. (Should have less than .006 end play.)

 

Is it different for automatic hubs?

 

Im pretty sure its the same because the only difference is how the hubs engage.. not what they do or how they fit.

 

I've done this dozens of times and never once used a torque wrench. You can easily do it by feel.

However, the OP needs to realize that the axle stub shaft is not fixed. It can be pushed out from behind the knuckle, and often needs to be in order to get enough of it out past the lockout to attach the snap ring.