2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Inner Front Wheel Bearings on a 99

[John Berger]

What is the easiest way to get them out? Is there a seal? If there is I must be blind because I could not find it.

 

[DavidC]

I usually use a piece of wood from the outside bearing hole and tap with a hammer. The seal and bearing will both come out. When replacing be sure to use a new seal.



Dave

 

[John Berger]

Where in God's great creation is that seal? I didn't see anything that looks like a seal. I had to re-pack the inner seals from without, if that makes sense. And I don't recall a seal. I'm not concerned about lack of grease as this was the second time I did the inner bearings and there is no scoring from heat. Do you put the new bearings and seal back in the same way you get them out? The original bearings look good, but next time I'm putting new bearings in.

 

[DavidC]

The seal retains the inner bearing in the hub. Looking from the back side of the hub the seal will sit flush with the hub section and is a press fit (tapping in with a hammer). If this seal was not there you would have grease everywhere, and when you removed the hub the rear bearing would fall out. If you change the bearings next time you will need a brass punch to remove the bearing race (new wheel bearings come with a matching race). When you get the rear bearing out and greased reinsert back in the hub and tap the seal into the hub until flush.



Dave

 

[RichB59]

2001 front wheel

bearings are they a sealed hub and bearing unit?? I looked with the dealer and it looks that way in the picture the parts guy showed me. I guess they don't have to be serviced I thought they did on the 2wd??







Thanks in advance RichB

 

[John Berger]

Absent a service manual for your model year, I would not assume that they don't need servicing. It might be worth an hour or so on a Saturday or Sunday, to pull the tires and brake calipers off and give them a look.

 

[DavidC]

After studying the 99 service manual it could be that the 3500 has hub bearings and not tapered bearings. Are your bearings tapered?. The manual hints that if they are hub bearings they are not serviceable. Although the picture from the back side of the hub still shows a grease seal with the hub bearing in front of it (page 5-26 if available). If the 3500 has the hub bearing it appears that you would have to replace the entire hub. Now thats cost effective. My 2500 has tapered and grease seals all serviceable.



Dave

 

[B.G. Smith]

Bearing

John, try pulling the nut and washer, remove the outer bearing and re-install the washer and nut, now grab the disc and pull the hub off, inner bearing and seal will stay on spindle. bg

 

[HGDMARTN]

Interesting thread. I thought my 2000 two wheel drive 2500 was a serviceable unit. The manual states that it is. So I went and bought 2 new nuts and started taking them off this weekend to grease. Surprise, surprise, they are sealed. I would be careful about assuming they are sealed or not sealed based on the manual. Mine proved it wrong.



David