97 front bearings/hub replacement?
97 4x4 ABS 105K
Rotational noise out of left front. After balance, rotation etc, down to bad bearings.
I now understnd that the bearings are pressed into the hub that must be replaced in order to replace the bearings.
Is this true and the only way to replace the bearings? Can a machine shop get the bearing out and press new ones in the old hub assembly?
Also, I have 3 quotes from $156 - $268 for one hub assembly. Is this about right?
Thanks for your help.
Bob
Just wondering if you found out anything more about the bearing problem. I have a '97 Expy XLT with what might be a similar problem. We had a flat two weekends ago and put on the spare. I had an older tire that I had kept when we got the new ones so I had that tire put on the left front. After we put that tire on the truck, we got this heinous rotational noise. It almost has to be the tire (maybe a broken cord or something) but in case it is not, I would be curious what you find out about the bearings. My truck has over 120k on the clock. I would think that might be a good time for a bearing to fail.
Oh, we are going to get a new set of tires for the truck. Probably go with the Yokohama Geolander H/T. I have read a lot of good on the tirerack website as well as heaing first hand from a co worker who switched to the Yoko's from a Bridgetone Dueler. She said the ride was MUCH better and much more quiet.
Big
Narrowed it down to the bearing hub assembly. It is a unit that includes ABS, etc. CHECK around for prices. They varied by $100.00 for teh same part number. Best price in Ohio was Autozone. It is a Timken (Canton OH) part, and the part is used by Ford. Autozone price 145. Ford 184. Advance was 206. Firestone was 224, etc......... Ford labor shows .6, Firestone shows .6, ...................... The bitch as everyone knows is getting the rotor off.
MY question is: can I just pull off the spindle nut and pin and remove the whole assembly with teh rotor attached?
Will get it off (hopefully) this weekend. Will let you know.
Bob
Thanks for the tip. I rotated the tires on my Expy and isolated the noise to that old tire. I will be getting new rubber today, but I found that the left outer tie rod end is bad. Picked up a new part at the Ford stealership and it cost me $39.00 I will get that on prolly next weekend, then alignment. Fun fun.
Good luck with the bearing ***'y.
Big
Had to wale on the rotor so bad it cracked. Wound up taking the rotor and hub assembly off as one piece.
Trouble was, the new one did not fix the probem. Neighbor shop owner sex replace the other one as you can not differentiate noise and vibration accurately., So, here I go again praying that this fixes it and that I'm not looking to pull the half-axles.
I'll keep you updated. Boy, oh boy, 5 year old rotors are sure fun on these beasts!
Bob
Got the new rubber on and it is sweet. Not at all sexy, but good and not expensive. I put on Yokohama Goelander H/T y816 on my Expy with the 17" wheels. Drove back from South Bend to Fort Wayne with a smile on my face cuz these tires are such an improvement over the Goodyear Wrangler RT/Ss that were on the truck. Quiet and much smoother than the stock rubber. I paid $426.xx for the tires complete. Not bad for 17" rubber. These tires' tread pattern is so close to the Michellins and all the info shows people to be as happy with the Yokos as others are with the Michellins at about half the price.
Sorry for such a long off topic post. I will drop a note in the appropriate forum later today.
Big
Sorry for such a long off topic post. I will drop a note in the appropriate forum later today.
Big
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Replaced 2nd set of bearings and rotor. No help.
Now looking for other sources of the rotational noise. I've seen the other thread with the 99's with the same problem.
The frequency of the sound still makes it sound like a tire problem instead of an axle problem.
Anyone else???
Bob
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Expert Expy guy at local ford truck dealership says it's either a bad alignment (visually can see it out of camber) or bad ball joints.
He stressed to check the ball joints with the wheels turned 30 degrees both ways in addition to straight ahead.
Alignment to come, update to follow.................




