Full float hub service
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Full float hub service
I just swapped a replacement '97 rear axle with full float hubs into my E350. Water had gotten into the gear oil from its time in the junk yard, so I disassembled the hubs to inspect them. I would like some advice about lubrication before I reassemble them. A Ford web site says to pack the bearings with grease. It also says to fill the hubs with 1 ounce of motor oil. Elsewhere it says to lube the axle tube with gear oil. Can I just pack the hubs with grease? If not, do they really mean motor oil, or do they mean gear oil? I'd like to do this right the first time, so any advice would be appreciated.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
Once you start driving the truck, the gear oil gets to them through the axle tubes, so you just need to lube them enough to last the first part of your test drive. I just squirt a little gear oil on them.
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Ford rear axles
Thanx to all who responded to my previous post. My local Ford dealer said to pack them just like front bearings.
Now, the rear end is in and working fine, but a new problem has been exposed. The pinion seal is leaking. The machine shop suggested that there could be a catastrophic problem with the pinion bearings, but they seem to have no slop, and my next step is to measure the bearing preload torque. My problem now is, what size is the socket for the pinion nut? I tried a 32 mm axle nut socket, and it doesn't fit. Should it? The nut is recessed, and the 32 mm socket barely fits into the recess. A larger one might not fit at all.
Is there a special socket for this operation? If so, where do I find one?
Thanx again
Now, the rear end is in and working fine, but a new problem has been exposed. The pinion seal is leaking. The machine shop suggested that there could be a catastrophic problem with the pinion bearings, but they seem to have no slop, and my next step is to measure the bearing preload torque. My problem now is, what size is the socket for the pinion nut? I tried a 32 mm axle nut socket, and it doesn't fit. Should it? The nut is recessed, and the 32 mm socket barely fits into the recess. A larger one might not fit at all.
Is there a special socket for this operation? If so, where do I find one?
Thanx again
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