1996 f150 with a dana 44 auto locking hubs.

Last month I went completly through my hubs because of a rub, rub, rub noise which was probably a seal. I replaced all the rolling diaphram seals, even the ones behind the spindle and the grease seals. Bearings were OK and had no excessive wear and tear. Put back together, didn't tighten hub/rotor down too tight and wheel spins freely, all has been well

I washed my pickup sunday afternoon and parked it in the garage overnight and had to take it somewhere on monday evening. I went about three miles across town, no problem. Got back in it and my front end started this terrible howling/rubbing which could probably be heard a good block away all the way home. Not the brakes, either. Got home in the driveway and crawled undere the front end and I could smell burnt rubber. Hub hot but not really that hot to the touch. My only guess is the rolling diaphram seals behind the hub are causing this. ???

I haven't tore into it yet because of lack of time. I bought the seals from NAPA. I tapped them as far as I could onto the spindel housing and they press pretty firmly against the back of the hub, maybe too firmly(???). Did I do something wrong???

Any ideas out there. I'm bout ready to replace the bearings and races just so I can say I replaced everything else.

Do they (the rolling diaphram seals) need thin coat of grease around them or something??? I'd think they'd attract dirt if they had grease on them.

 

I grease mine, they do contact the spindle if i remember right.

 

That and I'm wondering if there's too much seal there pushing against the backside of the hub. I put this one on a bit further on than the orginal was just cause I noticed that it pressed back quite a bit when I put the hub on. It went on as far as I could get it with out damaging it and it still pressed back against the hub.

Maybe it's just a bum part from Napa. I've bought several other things there now in the past year only to have them not fit right and I had to go somewhere else to get a part that fits right. I think I may swing on over to O'reilly's after work to see what thiers looked like.

 

Seals do make contact. Did you grease them? They shouldn't be burning though, sounds like a size issue. Won't know 'till you tear into it, though.

 

No I didn't grease them. Hayne's manual and a repair disk I have don't say anything about greasing the rolling diaphragm seals.

 

I usually use a lithium grease on all of the hub seals to ensure that they remain flexible and help seat them. Since you experienced a "burning rubber" odor, I'm guessing that you have a seal size issue, not sure though.

 

are the bearing races seated all the way? this will add thikness to them not leaving enough space for the spacer and clip.

Bob

 

I never removed the bearing races. I looked them over good and they were seated firmly as far as I could tell. Hub fits on fine. I can get all the necessary parts on to secure it. It's just that the rolling diaphragm seal seems to be a bit snug against the back of the hub and the seal is on far enough. I went to O'riellys last night and they brought out something that didn't even look like the original that I took off. I think I'm gonna mosey on over to the ford deal and have a look at what they've got on hand tonight.

It's weird, I went over to the grocery store about a mile away and it made noise the whole way. Got my groceries and on the way to O'reilly's and home (at least a two mile trip) it made no noise at all. Completely quiet. ???

 

I have a 96, and believe me, i am going through the same thing...rub rub noise anywhere from 20mph to a stop. I did bearings on it about 6 mos ago, and re-used the grease seal, because the $25 for the seal was outrageous!! I took it off the other day and cleaned the mating surfaces. Still does it. I think upon removal of the seal to replace the bearings, it may have some "high spots" of the surface of it, not allowing it to make a "completely" flat seal. Well I'm gonna get the expensive seal this weekend and throw it on. I have it all down to a quick science by now!

Rich

 

Rich, let me know how it goes for you after replacing the seal. Are you gonna put grease on it and what kind?

 

I've been doing the same thing for years now. The seals never last and are always dirty. Try this--take a spray can of WD-40 and with the little straw on the can, spray the seal while its installed on the truck, yes our going to have to work at it a little to get in there. Spray it good, then drive around and see if the noise is gone. If it is then you at least know its the seal. Mine get really dirty, brake dust, dirt, and whatever else. 1 time every year I remove everything and grease the H*LL out of em', the seal that is inside and out. Seams driving with dust/dirt make it worse, especially with the heat of summer. Its the only time it happens--summer time. Try the WD-40 trick--it'll tell you its the seal and that if it quiets the seal then you know it needs grease.
OH, make sure your bearings are not to tight, I use 25Lbs. on the torque wrench, any more and the heat build-up will burn your hand when you touch the hub.
Randy

 

Yeah, I drove it down to the hardware store yesterday, no noise. ??? I'll probably tear into this weekend. I'm currently installing some flourencent lights in my garage so I can work on things like this...

 

25lbs on the first lock nut? On a 4wheel drive it should only be snug and 2wheel (if I remember correctly) should be snug and then a 1/4 turn. You don't need much preload on the bearing and don't want much. You should tighten the nut a little and spin the hub to seat the bearing then back it off to the right spot. I also grease the spindle where the seal goes and the whole spindle. The only thing I use wd-40 for is to clean, it sucks for everything else, use a teflon spray.

 

Noise has mysteriously vanished, for now....

I'm thinking that I washed off any grease, if there was any, off of that Rolling Diaphragm Seal and that caused my noise. I'll put a little grease on there this weekend and see if cures the problem...

WD-40 will probably wash away any grease that is there, but I see what you were getting at ssn randy. I'm just gonna pull it apart and try to fix it right with the grease. If it acts up before I get around to fixing it, I have some of that foaming chain lube in a can, I think that'd probably work good for lubing it up.

 

the WD-40 is not used to lube it up, just to quite the seal to tell if "the seal is the problem". It only works to give it enough lube to silence it, trust me the noise will be back tomarrow if that is what it was. Pull it apart and grease it, just like you said, that is the only cure! Don't forget to clean it first.
Randy