i'm in the middle of replacing the hub and bearing assembly, once i got the hub assembly off, i noticed when i grab the axle there is alot of play if i pull the axle up and down or left to right. is this normal as the hub assembly holds it in position? I don't have any fluid leaking so the seal must be good, or am I missing something. trying to do this in 30 degree weather and it sucks.

 

Yes it is perfectly normal, the hub assembly, between your needle bearing and the locking hubs, will keep everything nice and secure once fully assembled.

Just be sure to grease up the needle bearing really well with a good quality grease, these are usually the first things to go

 

Should I pull the half shaft and check everything there also, or just bolt the new hub assembly and call it good? Where is the needle bearing? I thought it was connected to half shaft

 

No need to pull the half shaft unless working in the differential. Needle bearing is part of the new hub. It is what your shaft "rides" on.

 

The only thing to really check on the half shaft would be the u-joint. The needle bearing is the little bearing on the back of your new hub assembly (they sometimes have a little plastic plug in there to help protect them during shipping). One thing to check before you install is the race on the stub axle on which this bearing rides. It should be smooth and pretty much flush with the rest of the stub axle. If is badly corroded or pitted the entire stub axle will need to be replaced. Parts houses and the dealerships will try and tell you that you will need a whole axle assembly, but you can find stub axles online. Amazon and drivetrain America (IIRC not sure on the last sites actual name) amongst others carry them.

 

Thanks, first time doing front. Did the tears this past summer which was easy, so far front is also. I was curious because old hub doesn't have any play when I pulled it off, but when it was still on it moved enough for u-joint to hit greas fitting on top of knuckle. Had me a little concerned. I should be good to throw new hub on and go with it then?

 

If the major motion was when ya grabbed the wheel at 12 and 6 it would likely be bad ball joints. Clamp a big vise grip on the top and bottom of the flange and give it a wiggle, watch the ball joints. Big crescent wrenches would work too.

 

The u-joint hitting the grease fitting on the ball joint could be down to your needle bearing being completely shot. You will know when you tear everything apart. The needle bearings themselves can be replaced if you think the rest of your hub assembly is ok, I hear of people getting them from NAPA (around $10 to replace IIRC). If you do replace your hub assemblies, please stick with a high quality part. The cheap flea bay and part store units do not last, many people have arrested to this. Timken or Motorcraft seem to be popular, Moog also make an assembly, but I have yet to hear of anyone using it and to its longentivity. But they are a popular choice for replacement ball joints on these trucks.

 

the Moog ball joints I installed requires that you pull the grease zurk after lubing & install the plug provided, for for proper clearance for axle shaft.

 

Did that for a while. Then found is I installed a very small short grease zerk and got a side grease fitting for the grease gun I didn't have to take them in and out all the time.

 

Mine came with a 90 degree fitting and I shaved it a bit with my Dremel. Good to go now.