Fordfan02
New Member
- Joined
- April 8, 2010
- Messages
- 6
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Wheeling,IL
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 16 XLT, 13 Edge
I just got done doing both my front hubs on my '02 "X". I had what I thought was a tire hum, but was reading these threads and figured out it was my hubs making the noise. I couldn't have done it without all of your suggestions!
Taping the axle back just a little was the ticket to getting the socket on the PITA bolts using a breaker bar with 1/2 by 3/8 adapter, a short 3/8 extension and 3/8 15 mm socket. Put some heat on the end of the bolts and a lot of PB blaster made them come out a tad easier. Also loosened each bolt a little at a time and kept banging the slide hammer (I had it attached to the lugs) to keep the bolt heads tight against the spindle, that way I could keep using the socket with the breaker bar. I did take the back bolt out all the way so that I could turn the steering wheel and work on the top and front bolts a little at a time. I did break my 3/8 15mm Craftsman socket, went and got a new one to finish the job. I used a lot of anti-seize on everything while putting it back together, hopefully I don't have to do this again.
I'm glad I made it almost eleven years on the first set of hubs. I did buy Timken hubs because the originals are Timkens too (made in USA). I can't understand High Orders going out in 2 years, an '05 having to be done in '07. Maybe Ford switched to Chinese hubs in '05. Well thanks again for all the great threads!
Taping the axle back just a little was the ticket to getting the socket on the PITA bolts using a breaker bar with 1/2 by 3/8 adapter, a short 3/8 extension and 3/8 15 mm socket. Put some heat on the end of the bolts and a lot of PB blaster made them come out a tad easier. Also loosened each bolt a little at a time and kept banging the slide hammer (I had it attached to the lugs) to keep the bolt heads tight against the spindle, that way I could keep using the socket with the breaker bar. I did take the back bolt out all the way so that I could turn the steering wheel and work on the top and front bolts a little at a time. I did break my 3/8 15mm Craftsman socket, went and got a new one to finish the job. I used a lot of anti-seize on everything while putting it back together, hopefully I don't have to do this again.
I'm glad I made it almost eleven years on the first set of hubs. I did buy Timken hubs because the originals are Timkens too (made in USA). I can't understand High Orders going out in 2 years, an '05 having to be done in '07. Maybe Ford switched to Chinese hubs in '05. Well thanks again for all the great threads!