2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Front Hub Bearing **** The Bed??? Help!

[ctdodgeram]

Wife was driving truck, got on highway, and thought she blew a tire on the 98. 5 Dually 4x4. Get out, front left tire is on an angle. Just had 6 new tires put on 2 weeks ago, so State Trooper thinks it's a loose rim.



Towed it home. NOT! The bearing disintegrated in the axle shaft or hub assembly. Not sure what comes out, and what stays in. Brake dust shield is toast. Jacked it up, that baby is flopping around.



Do I need entire hub assembly, and do I need to undue the rusted huge axle nut? What parts do I need to order from DC?



Thanks in advance!

 

[ndurbin]

I've read different things on the axle nut as to wether or not to take it off. Some say it screws up the bearings pre-load. I took both off the other day as I am slowly tearing apart the front axle. They're a bear, I soaked them down acouple hours ahead of time and it still took a 4 ft. cheater pipe to bust them loose. The bolts that hold the hub in on the back side are also a bear. But when you go back together with everything anti-seize and silicon everything you can.



Nathan

 

[JFaughn]

the right tools make the job easy, 1/2 impact , swivel on extention and wheel puller after that its just a mater of seeing the condition of the parts to see what you can save , if it fits together tight enough to press together than there probubly ok.

 

[Jschafer]

Yes you will have to remove the Big nut as it holds the axle shaft to the hub and your bearing is already shot.

You will need a complete hub bearing assebly it is held into the knickle with 4 12 point bolts on the back side. yours is a duelly so I don't know if the wheel studs are part of your assembly but on a single wheel they are. We were just helping HDarga with same thing read his thread for more info.

Hope this helps

 

[ctdodgeram]

With the dually, I had to take the 8 nuts off the extension housing to get at that nut. I took the brakes off, and yes, I see those damn 12 point bolts, but it appears all I need is the entire hub replaced as 1 unit.



Looks simple onece you can see things, but heck, I don't have it off yet!



Off to DC to spend.



Lasted 135k miles, but I hope the other side is okay. I'm guessing this bearing went dry, and eventually crapped out. Seal probably got damaged a year ago when DC changed ball joints on this 1 side, and that caused the damage. I guess I'll never know.



Thanks everyone for the insight.

 

[tp0d]

Dont get bent over at DC for those parts... quad4x4.com has updated bearings at cheaper prices, and a complete install kit if thats what u need. .



good luck



-j

 

[Jschafer]

I second looking not looking at DC for parts most places will have lifetime warranty on there parts.



Also many people want to pull on the bearing to get it off, so you might be correct about the ball joint replacement, the axle nut holds the bearing together so don't move the truck without the nut back on the axle or you will ruin your new bearing (did this once ) exspensive mistake!

 

[ndurbin]

I believe the front hubs are b/w $200-$300 each from DC if I remember right but it's been awhile since I priced them.



Nathan

 

[Extreme1]

Front hub on a dually is a DC only item. No one else makes them and, yes, they are different and won't interchange (been there, tried that). The new hub includes the studs.



If you have a lot of miles, do the u-joint while you're there. And, like ndurbin said, use antisieze on everything when reassembling (not the threads!). I took mine apart after 4 years last fall, no puller needed.

 

[ctdodgeram]

Well, it looks like it is worse than I expected. Put everything back together 2 weeks ago, and I had a nasty vibration in front end. Thought maybe I lost a weight when the bearing disintegrated, and the truck dropped onto the axle against the tube. Look mom, no bearing!



I also got a gear lube leak out of same side, so I had the pleasure of screwing with those seals. I changed the u-joint this time, along with all seals and drivers side ball joints. I had tires rebalanced, but still nasty vibration.



I set truck on 4 jacks, and the axle looks like it bent when it dropped. You can't see but a little through axle tube, but it certainly looks like it's egg shaped.



Can you buy the axle assembly from anyone except DC?

 

[ndurbin]

Yeah you can get the axles from junk yards and places like that for around $1500 from hub to hub. One place was going to sell me a center section (ya got me what that is?) for around $400.



Nathan