Front wheel bearings
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Buckenderra
Front wheel bearings
hey guys.
I brought myself a grease nipple bit from riffraff among other goodies to grease my front hubs. I have found that hub has excessive movement from side to side, or up and down. Am I right in thinking if the bearing is shot I will need a new hub assembly.
Cheers in advance.
I brought myself a grease nipple bit from riffraff among other goodies to grease my front hubs. I have found that hub has excessive movement from side to side, or up and down. Am I right in thinking if the bearing is shot I will need a new hub assembly.
Cheers in advance.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 17
From: Jacksonville, FL
Sounds right to me, on the up and down part you may want to check your ball joints too? Go with OEM or Timken branded hub assemblies, the cheap ones do not seem to last long at all, Timken are cheaper than OEM and can be bought from a number of places, autozone and Amazon sell them for sure.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 33
From: Utah
The front wheel bearings is one of the most frustratingly shoddy designs on our trucks. IMO. Get a good bearing such as Timken and go from there. I started lubing them with the Riffraff grease nipple this year as well.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,573
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From: Seattle
Which part is moving like this? If it's the stub axle you're referring to, it could be just the needle bearings.
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Elder User
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From: Buckenderra
Thanks for the replys guys. Yeah it's not my ball joints, I've done them about 50000kms ago. I can hold the wheel studs and wobble the bit they are joined too. When you say needle bearing can I replace just the bearing or is it the whole assembly, I looked up the timken brand on riffraff website. He has them for a little over 200US.
Cheers
Cheers
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,573
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From: Seattle
The needle bearings are separate. As long as the stub axle is not scored or damaged, you can just replace them. If that is your issue.
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Elder User
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From: Buckenderra
Ok, the bearing was making a crunchy noise before I greased it. So to get to the bearing I will need to undo the 4 bolts at the back that hold the hub assembly on then i should be able to see it when that comes off. Does the whole axle slide out with it I can't remember how it worked when I did my ball joints.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Seattle
Yes, the hub will slide off the stub axle when you pull it. Then you'll see the needle bearings.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,465
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From: Jacksonville, FL
Originally Posted by Skip1970
its probably fine the stub if you leave the hubs unlocked and out of 4wd, if the needles were shot and you ran it in 4x4 with hubs locked then it will damage your stubs after a while.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Semper Fi tell I die!
no the needle bearing is stationary.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Semper Fi tell I die!
you are correct, my appologies. i was thinking the way a standard spindle worked on a dana 60 solid front axle where the hub bearings turned around the spindle that incased the needle bearings, where the unit bearings the spindle actually rotates allthe time instead.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 17
From: Jacksonville, FL
Originally Posted by Skip1970
you are correct, my appologies. i was thinking the way a standard spindle worked on a dana 60 solid front axle where the hub bearings turned around the spindle that incased the needle bearings, where the unit bearings the spindle actually rotates allthe time instead.