Front end troubles!
the axel bearing on the back side of the hub assy may look "ok" but may be worn. clean it with some WD40 or brake cleaner and run your finger around it, roll the needle bearings, and feel for flat spots...
lemme double check with you... with everything completely together, did you get wobble on the axel when checking it from the U-joint side? (I had wobble there)
the axel shaft will wobble a little if you are checking it with the auto hub off.
the auto hub acts like a bearing on one end, then you have the axel bearing in the hub assy, giving you essentially 2 bearings about 6 inches or so apart keeping the axel "stable"....
a new axel bearing comes in the new hub assy, when put back together mine was rock solid from the u-joint side....
if you need pics from the ford manual, send me an email
if you removed the auto hub, then there is a snap ring followed by three thrust washers (keep them in order, round>hex>round)
there is no nut, just the axel shaft.
if the axel shaft is wobbly, the needle bearings are probably bad...
NOTE: that may not be the only thing bad, read on...
you will have to remove the hub bearing assembly.
first remove the two bolts holding the caliper bracket (not the calipers, the whole brake assembly)
gently lift off assembly, roll it over and lay it on top the leaf spring. (you dont have to remove brake lines)
turn the wheel all the way in one direction to get access to two of the 4 nuts holding on the hub assembly, turn wheel opposite direction to get at other two nuts.
grab a hammer and tap on the hub assembly to get it to free up for removal.
slide hub assy part way out, notice the heatshield may either stick to the hub assy or stay on the truck, watch for a large washer to fall out while continuing to remove the hub assy...
ok you got the hub assy out, heatshield off, and possibly the washer... if you dont have the washer look up in the hole or on the back of the hub assy.
find a flat place to lay the hub assy. you will see the hub assy is 2 parts. there is also a bearing that is pressed into the back of the hub assy.
this is the most important part of the check
with the hub flat, see if you can wobble the big outer collar of the hub assy.
if it is rock solid you are in luck! all you have to do is pull the little bearing on the back of the hub and replace it. be sure to check the axel shaft for scoring and polish with emery cloth if needed.
if it wobbles, get your wallet out!!! you're talking $380-$450 for a ford factory replacement. you can get a cheaper aftermaket one but remember you might just get what you paying for... I chose the factory hub assy because I know it is a high quality timken bearing, not some cheap POS "made who knows where?"
OH! I found this link on the forums http://guzzle.rbmicro.com/nblube.html
also read these threads
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...-pointers.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...aring+assembly
good luck!
I had the ford manual out looking for some good pics, ford manual says to replace the whole thing, I guess they'd rather you spend $380-$400 insted of buying a new bearing for a few bucks (A$$ HOLES!)
that link above to that guzzle site had some better pics. lemme know how it works out?
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
took me a minute to figure out you dont need the www on the front, lol
http://seven.three.superdutypsd.com/
took me a minute to figure out you dont need the www on the front, lol
http://seven.three.superdutypsd.com/[/QUOTE]
The site is loaded with good info.
my suspension is stock and I shimmed it with a piece of 1-1/2" flat stock 1/2" thick. which was nice because I could still use original bolts
the rule of thumb is 1/4" shim for every 1" of lift on lifted trucks, but I've also heard of guys here on FTE having to go 1/2" shim for every 1".
most guys shim 1/4" for starters and keep adding shims until the takeoff vibration goes away, they continue adding shims until it comes back, then split the difference to find a happy medium...
find the sweet spot... alot of the guys try to go with a single shim the thickness they need instead of a stack...
ROYSON,
Sounds like you're on the right track! do yourself a favor and replace the bearing... spend $20 now for bearing and seal and just get it over with..
OR
you can get bent over the parts counter later... like me... (it aint fun
, it hurts *sniff*)







