Front Wheel bearing?
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Front Wheel bearing?
How do you know when the front wheel bearings are worn out? I have a 2001 SD CC V-10 with 115,000 miles on it. It tends to wander going down the road. I recently put on all new ball joints, drag links, tie rod ends, steering stabilizer, and realligned which helped Allot, but it is still not as solid feeling as my 96 F-250. The steering gear box seems tight still so I am starting to question the bearings now.
Any thoughts?
ElectronJunk
Any thoughts?
ElectronJunk
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wiggling the tires found nothing this time. I did that to determine my ball joints were worn out, but now that they have been replaced, I get no unwanted wiggle movement in the front wheel. How do you adjust the steering box?
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Too close to Houston
Here is a thread on steering wander that you should read.
After driving 50 miles or so wet your finger (spit works) and touch the front wheel between the lugs and the hub. If it sizzles the bearings are shot. (Ever heard the term "hot enough to fry spit"?) I don't think bearings can get bad enough to cause steering wander without letting the wheel fall off.
After driving 50 miles or so wet your finger (spit works) and touch the front wheel between the lugs and the hub. If it sizzles the bearings are shot. (Ever heard the term "hot enough to fry spit"?) I don't think bearings can get bad enough to cause steering wander without letting the wheel fall off.
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Thank you for sending me to that thread on the steering box. I remember now that many years ago I had a curious wandering problem on a Full size bronco and tightening the adjusting screw slightly, fixed it. I will adjust it this weekend.
ElectronJunk
ElectronJunk
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Too close to Houston
Good luck with it. If adding a little preload doesn't fix the problem you may need a little more toe-in on the front end alignment.
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Doesn't the front hubs need to come off to do the ball joints? Wouldn't the bearings have been checked at that time?
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Yes, I did remove the hubs, steering knuckle, etc. when I installed new ball joints, and after installing new ball joints the wheel no longer has any sounds or loosnes feeling when I jack up the truck and shake, wiggle, and pull at the top and bottom of the tire. But the truck still wandered when driving down the road. I am HAPPY to report that with just over an eighth of a turn of the adjusting screw on top of the steering box my truck now handles nicely going down the road. Thanks for everyones help.
ElectronJunk.
ElectronJunk.