Hey everyone. I recently experienced a strange happening. I had not been driving my truck very often, maybe once a week. I noticed a smell from the passengers side front wheel after driving it. I pulled the wheel off and found that the bearing had spit out all the grease through the back. I took it down to the bearing and when turning it, it seems a bit rough. I added new Mobil one red grease and it seems fine. No extra heat, measured with heat gun, after a 4 hour drive.

So my questions are:

1. Should I replace the bearing?

2. What grease does everyone use?

3. If I choose to replace, do I need to put all the ESOF stuff back in?...seal, washer etc... I have manual hubs.

4. Semi-related, how much play should there be, fully assembled, in the stub shaft in the back of the hub? (when I grab the U-joint, I can move it up and down a bit. U-joint tight, shaft seems loose in the hub, I'll check again tonight)

I rebuilt the drivers side completely when I bought it but the pass side was done when I got it. I have everything but the bearing and plan to do it all at once. Nothing else needs it yet but if I have hidden issues, I'll do the whole thing. Thanks for any insight.

 

Was the grease underneath the back side of the rotor?

Here is a link from tech folder regarding greases and such. Also has links to FTE about the wheel bearings.

2004 F250 Front End Service

 

[QUOTE=carbon coupe;15502622]Hey everyone. I recently experienced a strange happening. I had not been driving my truck very often, maybe once a week. I noticed a smell from the passengers side front wheel after driving it. I pulled the wheel off and found that the bearing had spit out all the grease. I took it down to the bearing and when turning it, it seems a bit rough. I added new Mobil one red grease and it seems fine. No extra heat, measured with heat gun, after a 4 hour drive.

So my questions are:

1. Should I replace the bearing?

2. What grease does everyone use?

3. If I choose to replace, do I need to put all the ESOF stuff back in?...seal, washer etc... I have manual hubs.

4. Semi-related, how much play should there be, fully assembled, in the stub shaft in the back of the hub? (when I grab the U-joint, I can move it up and down a bit. U-joint tight, shaft seems loose in the hub, I'll check again tonight)
QUOTE]


1) yes, yes, & yes "MAYDAY! MAYDAY! MAYDAY!

Passenger front bearing seized, damn near threw Excursion off I-65 southbound just south of Greenville, Alabama.

In desperate need of help, be it a jack and stands loaned and a ride to the parts store or a tow someplace safer."


2) Mobil 1 is hard to beat. I.M.H.O. Was my choice.
3) don't HAVE to
4) don't know BUT don't think you should be able to move it around by hand either...Can you wiggle the other side as well ???

 

Yes, the grease came out of the bearing on the back side between the stationary part and the rotating part. It was not on the brakes but everywhere else. Messy. Nothing now.

Im leaning torward rebuilding the whole thing, new bearing and all. I have a couple of long road trips coming up, one to Denver, and dont want any issues.

Both sides seem to be equally 'loose'.

 

Mine did the same after I filled it with grease. I cleaned it up and have left it alone since, been a month with out issue so far. Knock on wood.

 

This was just random though, like suddenly it rejected the grease while sitting. While filling it, I pumped until it just started creeping out the back, cleaned it up again and reassembled. No issues since.

I just ordered a new bearing. If I have time, I may rebuild the corner this weekend. Im going to keep the one I take off for the shelf.

 

I did the passenger wheel bearing last year and pumped some grease into the driver side at the same time. In May I did some brake maintenance and noticed grease all over behind where the rotor is. Cleaned it up and haven't messed with it. I may have to slide under and see if grease is all over again.

 

I pumped both of my unit bearings full of red Mobil 1 grease about 3 years ago, full until I saw some creeping out the rear seals (about 22 to 24 pumps each). It has not ejected any of that grease since (or not up to the last time I was under there....). I think your plan to change that bearing out may be a prudent considering your long upcoming trips and Matt's recent bearing failure on the road.
I'll be rechecking mine for any grease ejection soon.

 

So reading that thread, it seems that the moly based grease is not recommended for these bearings. Unfortunately, thats what I put in last year. Well, new part on the way and I'll repack both with the proper grease when I do the RF corner.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...earings-3.html