2 Broken Warn Hubs in 2 Days, no Idea why

[sethdromgoole]

Replaced my auto hubs with Warn manual hubs in the fall. Worked great all winter with no issues. About a month ago I had my summer tires put on, and noticed pulling to the right. About to weeks after that I a sound started from the front right tire when traveling at high speed -- the sound goes away when making sweeping left turns and gets worst when making sweeping right turns.

I pulled the wheel apart to discover the warn hub had seized. The retailer replaced the hub under warranty, and I chalked the issue up to having broken the hub; however, after about 30 miles of driving the next day the new hub seized too. Obviously the hub is a symptom of some other problem, but not sure what.

I pulled out the bearing and this is ok. The only issue I see is that with bearing removed I am unable to move the spindle -- it turns only. On the working side, when I remove the bearing I can move the spindle a few mm in each direction.

Any ideas?

 

[1AJeremyD]

You might have gotten two bad bearings. Its a one in a million thing to happen but it does happen sometimes. The spindle not moving should not be the issue.

 

[Roadrunner777]

Maybe you can put the next new one on the other side, put the old other one where they are breaking. Wow, this is really hard to put in words. I'm saying put the new one where the side where the old working one is, and put the old working one in the troublesome location. If any break again, you will know whether it is the hub or spindle ass'y.

 

[sethdromgoole]

Jeremy -

Not sure if I was clear, but both hubs that seized/broke were on the same size. I'm almost positive the bearing is fine -- it there is no difference between it and the other side of the truck that is working fine.

Regarding the spindle, not only is there no "wiggle" in the side that is broken when I have the bearing removed, but is isn't centered and pointing down/left (towards the 7 o'clock if you viewed it as a clock).

Thanks

 

[Maniak]

Jeremy -

Not sure if I was clear, but both hubs that seized/broke were on the same size. I'm almost positive the bearing is fine -- it there is no difference between it and the other side of the truck that is working fine.

Regarding the spindle, not only is there no "wiggle" in the side that is broken when I have the bearing removed, but is isn't centered and pointing down/left (towards the 7 o'clock if you viewed it as a clock).

Thanks

Different bearing. he bearing in the rotor are the wheel bearings and they ride on the outside of the spindle.. It sounds like that is what you checked.

There is a bearing in the spindle.. Its actually called the spindle bearing. That is what helps center the axle shaft in the spindle. If the axle shaft isn't allowed to move/center itself there its gonna do bad things as the end moves around against the hub.

~Mark

edit: after re-reading you orig. post.. it sounds like you might have pulled the spindle bearing? But, if you pulled the spindle bearing then you pulled the spindle.. If you pulled the spindle then you should have been able to see if anything was inside the spindle or if the u-joint (outter joint) was frozen. I'm just not sure which bearing you pulled/checked.

 

[sethdromgoole]

Mark-

I took it to a mechanic for diagnostics (once I know the problem I can usually fix it), and he said based on my description it sounds like the spindle bearing like you were talking about, but I'll know more this afternoon. I still don't understand why this would cause the hub to break. Is it from the heat generated? Part of why I wonder is because when I put the new hub on originally it seemed okay again, but once I drove it broke again and the driveaxle is constantly spinning.

 

[Tbars4]

but once I drove it broke again and the driveaxle is constantly spinning.

..:scratch:..Sounds like you are in 4wd hi on dry pavement..

 

[sethdromgoole]

That's why it sounds like, but the working side doesn't have this problem. Plus, when I installed a new hub, it wasn't engaged until I drove 40 mi and it seemed to break again.

 

[Maniak]

Normally, when you in 2wd, the front shaft on the transfer case isn't spinning and neither are the front axle shafts. The hubs are unlocked so the tires aren't spinning them either.. But.. if a shaft i at an angle like that then maybe its jambed into the hubs and turning..

Also, normally the spindle bearing isn't even used unless your in 4x4 (or have the hubs locked) since the shaft should not be spinning.

As Tbars4 said, make sure your not in 4x4.. Put the X on jack stands so the front tires are off the ground and then spin the tire on the side with the possible bad bearing.. If it turns the shaft then it probably because its jambed. If it doesn't, just make sure your not in 4x4 mode. you should be able to turn the front drive shaft and it should spin freely.

~Mark

 

[Tbars4]

..I believe everything that's been posted in this thread are the main answers to your question..

...The only other times I have seen this problem in 2wd is when rotor bearings go bad, heat up, which allows the retainer clip in the hub to dislocate allowing the manual hub to spin the shaft...

... or like in my case, the rotor bearing divider itself wore between the rotor bearings.

..This allowed the rotor to move sloppily while driving but couldn't find the problem while diagnosing it..I figured it out when I finally ran out of thread to tighten the spindle nuts..The rotor had plenty of brake life left though...

 

[sethdromgoole]

The mechanic said it was a minor adjustment involving an "inner nut". Not really sure what they are talking about, but they fixed it for free and it has held up for about a week now. Can anyone shed some light on what might have been wrong?

 

[Tbars4]

...Sounds like they didn't tighten your spindle nuts properly which let your rotor move in and out..

..More info can be found here..
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=199915