2wd Front Wheel Bearing Replacement?

[masospaghetti]

I think the races bottom out against the inside of the hub, I just did this same job on another car, but I think the Explorer is the same. It would be nearly impossible to set a depth of the race and keep it completely constant all the way around.

It is really important not to overtighten the bearings once its installed. The initial torquing to 35 ft-lbs is to squeeze any burrs or debris out of the rollers, but then it must be loosened and only tightened to 47 in-lbs. This is essentially hand tight. These bearings will fail rapidly if they are preloaded. You really just want it to be slop-free with as little preload as possible.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

Appreciate that! Perhaps that's why I got the growl noise then because either the front races weren't all the way in from the factory or perhaps I did something wrong with the bearings... I did this back in 2013, is that something that if too tight they would have failed earlier or would it have been super apparent that they were too tight?

I think I am over thinking it but wanted to make sure. When you mean no slop do you mean so that you can grab the rotor and it doesn't move in and out? I don't have a torque wrench that does inch lbs.. The ft/lbs is no problem at all.

Thanks much!
-Nigel

 

[Rob12345]

replacing front wheel bearings on a 2nd gen 2wd explorer is no different from doing them on any other 2wd vehicle. if you want, you can remove the front brake rotors and take them to someone with a press to have the new races pressed in, but you can do it yourself with a loaner race installation tool. don't replace the bearings w/out installing the new races, or you'll be doing the job again in a few thousand miles.

You'll need:
basic hand tools
new inner and outter wheel bearing sets
new inner bearing seals
paper towels/degreaser
wheel bearing grease suitable for disk brakes
new cotter pins
torque wrench for axle nut (preset 35 ft lbs, final torque 46 inch lbs)
i suggest thread locker for brake caliper bolts

Some people are telling me I need to buy the whole hub. Is that true?