Front Wheel Bearing...UGHHH

[FTotts]

Well it is time to pay the pauper. I need to change my fron left wheel bearing, I can hardly stand the howl anymore. Problem is the cost Local Napa and moparforless are $305. Anybody have a more reasnoably priced source that they can share?



Thanks

Fred

 

[Prairie Dog]

Is this a job your everyday, handy DIY'r can do who hasn't got a press or torch?

Or, is somebody like me finally going to have to pay somebody to work on his truck?

 

[jelag]

To get one side apart I had to take a Hilti Hammer Drill and set it to chisel to separate one side... it was rusted in so badly... we debured all the surfaces... we pressed it apart, washed it out... . greased it put it back together and its back on the truck...

On the 6. 7 page there is a great thread about working on these hubs.

 

[Regcabguy]

NAPA has a pretty hefty markup. That's a nice discount your friend gets you!

 

[GaryOwen]

The hub at napaonline.com lists for $249. 52. Didn't check the u-joint or rotor.

 

[RDHamill]

I have been drilling the hubs on my trucks for some time now. They are greaseable and have not failed in 350,000 miles.

 

[mweiman]

Hub Puller

Snap-on tools has a tool for removing the hubs, it kind of looks like a deep well socket but is solid. It looks like you loosen the bolts up some, put the tool on the back of a bolt, then turn the wheel with the truck running to push the the hub out as the tool goes against the axle. I bought one but haven't used it yet. They say it works very well. The part number is a DHP1 and I think it is just under $50.

Matt

 

[rjones]

I did my 96 and it was a PITA!! so when my 04 need work I just broke down and purchased the puller it made a 2 hour smacking with a hammer and socket on the bolts down to a 10 minute job well worth the cost in my opinion... . and I searched for bearings for cheap and in my experience you get what you pay for... . unfortunately unless you get very lucky

 

[Walcott]

Just replaced left hub assembly last friday,found hub unit at rockauto.com for 206. 00 with a 5% disc. for tdr members,made by timken and seemed like a decent unit. In AZ rust is not a huge problem,spent 5 min. knocking out hub only to find bad u joint. I caught a break on this one!! :-laf

 

[rjones]

Just replaced left hub assembly last friday,found hub unit at rockauto.com for 206. 00 with a 5% disc. for tdr members,made by timken and seemed like a decent unit. In AZ rust is not a huge problem,spent 5 min. knocking out hub only to find bad u joint. I caught a break on this one!! :-laf

That's a great deal and its Timken ur golden!!!!Oo.

 

[pigpenmorton]

autozone has timken for 240 last time I looked in Ca.

 

[Tejasdge]

Rockauto! They usually ship quickly and are the cheapest I found for Timken. Also get your axle u-joints from them at the same time. I paid double for my mistake and was delayed a day since they were not stocked by anyone.



The OTC 6290 hub puller is well worth the hundred bucks. Mine weren't too bad, but hitting the hub and puller bolt as you go makes it a lot easier. I was worried about this job, but it was just time consuming on the first side. Second took less than half the time. I bought the hub puller and the Jeep/truck ball joint press and they made it much easier. I will rent, barter or trade the use of them to folks within the greater Atlanta+ area. Just not worth shipping 50+ pounds of tools. Also very happy with my XRF balljoints.

 

[flyby night]

I made my own tool similar to the otc tool. Except I caught all 8 wheel studs, 5/8" plate, and 1-1/8" threaded rod to do the pushing. I made it to do the axle shaft u-joints. I think it scared the hubs right out, cause they were no problem. I had more trouble getting the u-joint caps to budge.

 

[wcjp]

On friends 03', he tried for two days to remove the unit bearing. When I arrived, we removed all but one bolt. Slightly loosened the remaining bolt. Used 6" piece of steel from remaining top bolt to axle. I used the steering to move the unit bearing. Loosened top bolt a little more and repeat. Driver side took all of ten minutes while taking our time. Passenger side was 2-3 minutes.



Use lots of antiseize on install. This aides the future.

 

[Tejasdge]

Use lots of antiseize on install. This aides the future.

I looked like the Tinman while I was doing mine. I had it everywhere. :-laf

 

[FTotts]

Well the wheel hub is coming form San Diego, 179 delivered to my door. It is a federal Mogul. I fugure it is made in China. I am pretty sure that the reason this on is bad is because of the way I removed it the first time to replace my wheel joint. I figured out how to press them out with a socket extension and the axle housing like everyone else does. I also have sonathome automotive service so that will help. I lan on greasing this one through the sensor hole...



Thanks

Fred

 

[Prairie Dog]

I looked like the Tinman while I was doing mine. I had it everywhere. :-laf

:-laf I can really picture this ~ that stuff seems to migrate everyplace!

 

[FTotts]

Well the new bearing assembly has arrived and has been installed by sonathome truck repair. Upon test driving after the repair I found that my anti-lock brakes were coming on right as I stopped. Joe and I had discussed weather or not we should change the sensor as well as the wheel bearing and decided aginst it . Well we ended up changing it and the problem went away. On comparison to the old sensor it was about . 03 longer than the old one. That difference would have put the rotor out of the operating range of the old sensor. Along with the new bearing I ended up making a grease fitting that fit down in the hole so we could pump some grease into the hub assembly. The fitting worked out so well I may make them for sale... ... .....



Fred

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

See TDR Issue 67, p. 82 for hub replacement procedures. I got genuine Mopar hubs from Saitta Trudeau Dodge in Pahrump, NV for $280 each.

 

[butchb]

FTotts fitting for abs to grease hub what is it