Packing wheel bearings

[Randy]

When should I pack my wheel bearings? I have 60,000 miles on my 98. I need some tires and I was wondering if I should get the bearings packed at the same time. Also I know you should get your front end alined when you get new tires, but the tire stores are talking about 4 wheel alignment. What's the deal with that??? Do I really need my rear wheels aligned? Thanks for the help. Randy

 

[TSielski]

As you have a 4x4, your front wheel bearings are not serviceable. They are a Timken Unipack, integral with the front hubs, and pressed into the rotors as an assembly. The rear wheel bearings are serviceable, but are lubricated by your rear axle oil, and are not usually packed with grease unless done prior to reassembly if your rear axle seals needed replacing. Always a good idea to have your alignment checked with a new tire purchase, IMO. Also aligning all 4 wheels is not possible on the Ram pickup. I've never heard of that. A number of cars need that done, like corvettes, and perhaps others with independent rear suspensions.

 

[Deezal Man]

Front wheel drive and some independent rear wheel drive vehicles require four wheel alignment.



Rear wheel drive trucks do not. 4 wheel alignments generally cost twice as much as a Front end alignment.

 

[Jetson]

I would be very careful about anything a tire store says or does with your alignment. Many of the people at those places barely know how to use their machines and do not have much front end experience. It would be better to buy tires and then take it to a frame shop for an alignment.

 

[LandShark]

Randy: you state 'Also I know you should get your front end aligned '.



I would suggest that you closely examine your tires for uneven wear and if they look good save the money. The other criteria would be; How does the truck drive? If it tracks straight when you let go of the wheel on a level road (note that most roads are crowned and your truck will pull to the right) you're in good shape. If these two items are in good shape then why risk having someone screw it up?



I've gone about 80,000 miles since my only alignment. The only reason it was done was that I had slightly bent something while trying get the truck unstuck from mud that was over the axels!

 

[Ram_Kowboy]

When you hang the rear alignment heads on our Ram trucks you measure the thrust angle of the rear axle. When you know the thrust angle of the rear axle, the adjustments to the front axle will be more accurate.



Most of the newer automobiles have adjustments to the rear wheels now.



In my opinion a 4 wheel thrust alignment is the proper procedure for our Rams.

 

[Deezul1]

If your tires did not have any odd wear patterns and no pulling of the steering wheel it doesnt get any better than that, save your money. New tires have nothing to do with alignment. I had a Ford 3/4 4x4 1975 and at 285,000 miles it had never had a wrench on the front end and tire wear was still very even.

 

[Alaskaskiff]

Never been aligned - 84K/6yrs

Never paid to have someone align my truck. Trailered 18K GCVW from CA to Alaska and 15K GCVW from Alaska to NYC. Three years here on LOUSY roads and not being able to find a place to align truck (CC won't fit on many car lifts), finally gave up, used service manual at 70K to set toe-in to 1/8" and tires are perfect & have no tracking problem (once I replaced worn out front end parts... track bar, 1 ball joint, drag link thanks New York!)

 

[Extreme1]

What is "Thrust Alignment"??

I've heard the term from some Gomer at an alignmant shop once but he couldn't tell me what it was. He did still try to insist I needed it though!



The alignments we did started with hanging alignment equipment on the rear wheels.



The road race cars I've set up the first thing we do is make sure the chassis is square and level.