I thought my glass packs just needed to be replaced because they were causing excesive drone because the fiberglass? (I think thats what they use in glass packs) was getting burned up and was almost out so its becoming a straight pipe. Then one night I just let it coast to a stop and heard a horible grinding noise around 5-10 mph. Then I realized that it wasn't exhaust drone...it was wheel bearing drone. I replaced the inner and outer bearings in my 1992 F150. Along with it I got seals and brake pads. It was a PITA. Mostly cause I haven't done this before.

Greasing the bearings was the most time consuming part. While replacing bearings on my friends we just put them in grease and move it back and forth in the grease and put them on. My dad taught me how to properly pack bearings with grease. It takes forever...anyways after that its time to get in and replace these things. I had trouble getting the driver side caliper off. Once off I noticed why. One pad was like new. The other side (the one closest to the engine) was almost gone.

After I get all the brake things off then came to the outer bearing it looked good so I thought well I guess its the inner one. The races were hard to get out because I was using a screw driver. I got the outter race out with the screw driver..it took awhile. Then I thought... more leverage! So I got the other one out with the breaker bar. 5x faster than the screw driver. The inner bearing looked alright, looked like it could go longer. So I guess that left the other side to the huge noise maker.

After I got everything out of the driver side I thought..... If the brakes are worn what about the rotors? I asked my dad where he bought the rotors he said NAPA and I probably got a lifetime warranty. We looked in the F150 folder cause he keeps all his receipts. He even kept the 2G alternator receipt in case it got recalled (even though its probably not gona get recalled now). Anyways... We found the receipt and looked up the part #. 12 month warranty... . Don't want to put in new bearings in a rotor that can't be turned. Time to get the calipers and measure. Since I had the part # I looked up specs. It was just below from being turned.

Well I thought might as well get new pads. Asked my dad if he got Lifetime warranty on the brake pads. He said probably. I called O Rielly's and they said they had some pads that my dad bought with lifetime. Went in to go get them and turns out...they were for the van. To Autozone. Nope again. Went back to O'Rielly's to get them $21 for lifetime warranty...except the rotors had to be turned for warranty to be valid. I said I'll see about other places. Went back to the van with dad and he said F#*! that. Autozone has never told me that. Go back there. We went back there and got pads for $23.

Back at home we got the other side off and the outer bearing looked alright on that side. I was beginning to think that I bought all this for nothing. Once i got the rotor off I flipped it over and messed with the bearing while the seal was still in. It was moving everywhere, which its not supposed while the seal is in. I take the bearing out and mess with it in my hand and spun it around. Major problem, the cage was warped bad. Only about ¼ of the bearing actual moved like it was supposed to. Now that I know that its that I feel better buying everything.

Reinstalled everything and got new retaining clips for the calipers so they come out much easier now.
Haven't moved the truck much (from the concrete to the drive way (gravel) ) So Im waiting to actually drive it back on the highway and see if I can hear my wonderful exhaust again...and maybe stop putting a load on the alternator with the sound system turned up so loud.

 

nice job Weberman.
worn bearings besides unsafe hurt fuel economy too.
she'll feel like a brand new one again now.

 

Good job, packing the bearings with grease properly is a must, i just did the same as you, with some other added stuff, you can check the link in my sig. if you want to.

 

How do you properly pack them mite help me out every couple months lol

 

If you don't have a bearing packer (or whatever it's called) you have to put plenty of grease in the palm of your hand, then, with the other hand you will drag the edge of the bearing through the grease, repeat until the grease comes out the other side of the bearing.

 

If you don't get that description I might go out and get the bad bearing and show in a video how to properly pack a bearing, I won't go all the way to grease out the top but I'll show how you put it in.

 

get one of these cheap bearing packers , well worth there weight in what ever is of any value these days !

 

^^^^ I got a little packer that works with my grease gun fitting (most do). I think it was about $25 at my local parts house (non chain), and that little thing is awesome. Couple shots with the grease gun and a bearing is ready to go, can't beat that!

 

A video would really help me since wheel bearings are my trucks down fall

 

Correct way to pack a wheel bearing - YouTube

 

I think I'll drive it today

 

All I can say is....So thats what my exhaust sounds like