I am starting to get what sound like metal to metal rubbing noise coming from my front drivers side wheel, and i have never owned a new truck like this before. I had a 69 F100 4WD and i know you can take the spindle off the front and grease the bearing, can you do the same thing on the 2003 or is that hub assembly one single unit that cant be greased?

 

You cannot, it's a sealed hub assembly.

Do yourself a favor, and do not get a cheap one to replace it though. You'll do it again pretty quickly.

 

Before you start replacing things, make sure it is the hub and not something else. There are a set of needle bearings in there that the axle shaft run on. They are more likely to get dry and cause problems than the hub itself.

One thing to try is to lock the hubs. With the hubs lock, the axle and the needle bearings turn together. If they are the problem the noise will go away.

Also you can jack the front end up and see if their is any play in the hub. Usually by the time they start making noise, they are at the point that there is visible play up and down in the hub itself.

 

so it doesnt need to be in 4WD just have both hubs in lock?

 

Yes. Locking the hub will cause the axle to turn with the hub, so there will be no movement in the needle bearings. You don't have to be in 4WD.

 

Well when i lock the hubs it stopped squiling now the question is how do i get to the needle bearings and do i want to grease them or just replace them?

 

Here ya go:
Welcome to guzzle's 4x4 Needle Bearing Maintenance Web Page

 

Whether you just need to grease them or replace them depends on how bad they are. Hopefully they'll just need grease.

I'm not entirely sure if they're replaceable apart from the main bearing, but I think they are. Follow the instructions in the link above to get them and evaluate their condition. If necessary, you can look around Guzzle's site he may have instructions to replace them as well.

 

I read somewhere about folks greasing the bearings through the wheel speed sensor bore, is that possible/effective?

 

I've heard that is effective for the main bearing, but I've never had it apart to see how so I can't say. I don't think it would be for the needle bearings.

 

does anyone know what the name is for those bearings im trying to look them up online and not having to much look? Or can you even just change the bearings or are they one piece part of the hub?

 

They're called needle bearings. Read the link below. When you get down to where he's showing you the needle bearings, he gives replacement parts numbers for them and the axle stub shaft if it's damaged. The axle stub shaft (or outer shaft) rides on the needle bearings, so if they are damaged, the axle shaft may be as well.

I checked the part numbers in the catalog and they appear to be valid.

Welcome to guzzle's 4x4 Needle Bearing Maintenance Web Page