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Old Feb 8, 2015 | 05:46 PM
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brooksa44
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Front hub question

Started hearing a squeak from drivers front wheel area when turning right, thought maybe pads might need replacing but they were fine as were the pins. So I checked for play with tire off ground and there was def some play pulling from top to bottom, so that lead me to the front hub, I read some posts about pulling the abs sensor and getting some grease in the the hub bearing so I did that but when I replaced the sensor and spun the hub it was scrubbing on the bearing.? So I shimmed the sensor with a washer but now the abs light comes on but there doesn't seem to be a squeak when turning right anymore. Anyone else done this and had the sensor scrub?

And with the play I would assume I need to plan to replace the hub assembly fairly soon, just wanted to get some feed back from some pros, any help would be greatly appreciated.

2000 X 4x4 V10 with 147k
 
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Old Feb 8, 2015 | 06:26 PM
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Originally Posted by brooksa44
Started hearing a squeak from drivers front wheel area when turning right, thought maybe pads might need replacing but they were fine as were the pins.

1. So I checked for play with tire off ground and there was def some play pulling from top to bottom,

2. so that lead me to the front hub, I read some posts about pulling the abs sensor and getting some grease in the the hub bearing

3. so I did that but when I replaced the sensor and spun the hub it was scrubbing on the bearing.?

4. So I shimmed the sensor with a washer but now the abs light comes on but there doesn't seem to be a squeak when turning right anymore.

5. Anyone else done this and had the sensor scrub?

6. And with the play I would assume I need to plan to replace the hub assembly fairly soon, just wanted to get some feed back from some pros, any help would be greatly appreciated.

2000 X 4x4 V10 with 147k
Hey Brooks- Wow, that's quite a tale. I added some numbers 'cause - dang your writing style is tough to follow.

Let's start back on step 1. You looked at the brake pads visually, then looked at the pins, right? Did you happen to remove the pins to make sure they moved smoothly?

Now, still on step 1, how do you know that wiggle was the unit bearing and not ball joints?

Not trying to be a smart a$&, but trying to go step by step to get to the root cause.

2. If the unit bearing is worn, grease won't make it new again.

3. What was scrubbing on the bearing? The dust shield or the ABS sensor?

4. Add a washer to make the sensor further away from the tone ring? And that stops the scrub? Remove the washer and I bet the ABS light goes off.

5. No

6. Check the tie rods and the ball joints (upper/lower) with a crow bar, look for any movement. Compare to the other side. If it ends up being the unit bearing (sounds that way to me, but double check), buy 2 and do both sides. Squirt High quality grease into both new ones for a long life.

Read the how-to with photos before replacing and take your time.
 
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Old Feb 8, 2015 | 06:59 PM
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" Squirt High quality grease into both new ones for a long life"


Grease them when new ?? Then every 40 -50 K ??
 
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Old Feb 8, 2015 | 07:18 PM
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Originally Posted by wpnaes
Hey Brooks- Wow, that's quite a tale. I added some numbers 'cause - dang your writing style is tough to follow.


Sorry sorry, I was typing while getting dinner ready, don't multitask too well lol


Let's start back on step 1. You looked at the brake pads visually, then looked at the pins, right? Did you happen to remove the pins to make sure they moved smoothly?

Yes, pads had plenty of meat and pins glide like silk.

Now, still on step 1, how do you know that wiggle was the unit bearing and not ball joints?

Ok I don't know for sure but after I removed rotor I could wiggle the the hub, seemed to be a generous amount of play, I will have to look more closely at ball joints tomorrow night.

Not trying to be a smart a$&, but trying to go step by step to get to the root cause.

Understood and I don't think you are being smart a$$ at all, I appreciate the feedback!


2. If the unit bearing is worn, grease won't make it new again.

True, thought maybe buy me some time, very little time lol

3. What was scrubbing on the bearing? The dust shield or the ABS sensor?

Dust shield did not appear to be scrubbing, the abs sensor when reinstalled was making contact with bearing, could feel and hear when rotating hub.


4. Add a washer to make the sensor further away from the tone ring? And that stops the scrub? Remove the washer and I bet the ABS light goes off.

Yes, to keep it from making contact
That's what I was thinking but did not want to leave the abs sensor contacting the bearing.

5. No

Roger that,

6. Check the tie rods and the ball joints (upper/lower) with a crow bar, look for any movement. Compare to the other side. If it ends up being the unit bearing (sounds that way to me, but double check), buy 2 and do both sides. Squirt High quality grease into both new ones for a long life.

I will do the ball joint test tomorrow night and post my findings, and yes I think unit bearing also, just wanted to get another opinion before ordering bearings.

Read the how-to with photos before replacing and take your time.
And yes already studying this procedure from here, thank you for your input, especially the drinking suggestion lol!
 
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Old Feb 8, 2015 | 07:55 PM
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Got it. Back to the ABS, the only thing I can think is the sensor didn't go back in correctly. But it only goes in one way, so not sure how a fixed depth sensor can go deeper into the hole than before?

How many pumps could you squeeze in before oozing out the bearing seams?
 
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Old Feb 9, 2015 | 05:52 AM
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Originally Posted by harley4jcs
" Squirt High quality grease into both new ones for a long life"


Grease them when new ?? Then every 40 -50 K ??

Yep, should help those sealed unit bearing to live a long and happy life!
This thread https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-hub-zerk.html explains the procedure and has the contact info for Snowseeker who has made several of these special fitting for us here. Clay over at Riff Raff Diesel also sells a fitting for this. Each of my hubs took about 22 pumps of Mobil 1 red synth grease till I saw it ooze at the seams.
 
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Old Feb 9, 2015 | 07:38 AM
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Thanks. I'd found & read the info on the grease job a while back & think it's great. I just did not know this was being done when NEW. Sure will be a lot easier when they are on the bench
 
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Old Feb 9, 2015 | 07:45 AM
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I can't remember the thread but I thought I read that you shouldn't grease them when new but do it yearly after install. Also, that putting that much grease in was bad, that you only wanted to do 2 to 3 pumps. Something about too much pressure on the bearings. I'm at work now but will search for the thread reference tonight. I just installed new hubs and didn't grease them internally due to what I read.
 
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Old Feb 9, 2015 | 04:35 PM
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Originally Posted by JuanHuevos
I can't remember the thread but I thought I read that you shouldn't grease them when new but do it yearly after install. Also, that putting that much grease in was bad, that you only wanted to do 2 to 3 pumps. Something about too much pressure on the bearings. I'm at work now but will search for the thread reference tonight. I just installed new hubs and didn't grease them internally due to what I read.
That's not true, grease can't put pressure on bearings.............fill those babies up!
 
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Old Feb 9, 2015 | 07:16 PM
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Looks like hub lube is something I will be adding to my scheduled MX. The only drawback to too much grease would be expansion when heated which would push the grease past a seal. If it puked at a seam when cold filling it, it must have a place to relieve this pressure.
 
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Old Feb 9, 2015 | 07:34 PM
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That makes sense 05Mil, but we've been collectively doing this for years with no ill effects documented. I've cleaned grease off the inside of my rims as it oozes and gets sling'd. A natural relief valve. Got 170K out of them.


My other thought is with not enough grease inserted it's not gonna reach the bearing surface...


I wish someone would cut open a used one open and take some pics.
 
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Old Feb 9, 2015 | 07:43 PM
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I'm not saying it's a bad thing. Just saying that you can't overgrease one if it has a place to seep out. If it were truly a sealed unit it might be bad, but it clearly isnt. I plan to fill mine up!
 
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Old Feb 9, 2015 | 11:20 PM
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Originally Posted by 05MilMachine
I'm not saying it's a bad thing. Just saying that you can't overgrease one if it has a place to seep out. If it were truly a sealed unit it might be bad, but it clearly isnt. I plan to fill mine up!
I agree, and there are no seals in it. I filled mine until it oozed out the cracks and I will admit there was a few specs of grease that temporarily showed up on my wheels but I doubt if I will ever have a problem with them as long as I own it and they have already gone 175k miles. (The speckling was very temporary)
 
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Old Feb 9, 2015 | 11:27 PM
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Originally Posted by wpnaes
That makes sense 05Mil, but we've been collectively doing this for years with no ill effects documented. I've cleaned grease off the inside of my rims as it oozes and gets sling'd. A natural relief valve. Got 170K out of them.


My other thought is with not enough grease inserted it's not gonna reach the bearing surface...


I wish someone would cut open a used one open and take some pics.
I agree and there are some good pics in here, I will see if I can find them. It is just a barrel will two sets of HD roller bearings sitting in a V shape.
HERE;
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post12409863
 
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Old Feb 15, 2015 | 08:46 AM
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Update

I replaced drivers side wheel hub as it was shot out, took my time and the replacement went without a hitch except after test drive I am still getting a squeak from that wheel when going around corner to the right.

Any suggestions as what might be causing this? Not the dust shield and no noise when free spinning on a jack, so I'm at a loss!
 
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