Wheel Bearing Adjustment

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Sep 24, 2008 | 04:06 PM

E150

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: Nov 2003

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Wheel Bearing Adjustment

Hi. I'm changing rotors and wheel bearings on my 1998 E150 van. I have read several posts on this subject and procedures seem to vary. I am though working from volume 1 pages 206-03-17 &18 of the Ford factory manual. Step 1 while turning rotor tighten nut to 29.5 lb/ft, step 2 while turning rotor tighten nut to 17-24 lb/ft, step 3 while turning rotor tighten nut to 17 lb/in. Is 17 lb/in correct? When the nut is tightened to 17-24 lb/ft the rotor turns hard, but it does with some effort. Or is the last step of 17 lb/in basically the same procedure as tightened the nut and back it off 1/3 turn?
Please Help.

Sep 24, 2008 | 06:41 PM

subford

Fleet Owner

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 23,667

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From: Easton,Ks

1. Loosen the spindle nut two turns.
2. Tighten the spindle nut while rotating the brake disc and hub 17-24 LB/FT.
3. Loosen the spindle nut 175 deg.
4. Tighten the spindle nut while rotating the brake disc and hub 17 LB/IN.

Yes it is inch lbs.

Sep 25, 2008 | 08:00 AM

Clubwagon

Cargo Master

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 2,182

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From: Saint Augustine, FL

No its not the same as tightening the nut and then backing it off 1/3rd of a turn. The purpose of the proceedure is to properly seat the bearings and races so that the final torque setting is retained.

Simply backing off the nut some arbitrary amount doesn't maintain an accurate torque setting. Use the proceedure above or the one in the factory service manual. Either will work just fine.