Bad bearings = unable to align???

[Charlie's_93EB]

Well i got everything lifted 3" BL and 2" suspension the 33"

I went to get an alignment, so i just lifted it and the parking lot was full so i parked it in the ditch out in front of the shop, do you see were this is going, Well i dropped the drivers side front wheel off the culvert in the deepest part of the ditch, oh did i say that my limited slip was/is not working so i am a 4x4 with 2 open diffs... So I get stuck and hop out before I f-up too bad the level gauge said 15* but the door hit the ground and the guys are starting to take note and watch me so I lock the hubs and jump in hit the 4x4 and 4low but forgot to put in neutral so it was only in 4 high but with a little gas and a left and right turn I was out. In my favor I took out the rear sway bar long ago, and the front was still out from the lift.

But they said that my bearings were toast and they could not align b/c it.

Is this true?

I had them replaced 25,000-30,000 ago for $250 from another shop they say $260, keep in mind those are the hardest miles driven on road, off road, dirt, sand, mud, water, rock, clay, airborne, landing you name it.

I Found this thread and it seem ez. http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122696

I got two sets of seals, $2.88 each, $18.50 each for the bearings i still got employee discount 15% so it was little less, even thuo i never worked at discount auto haha

What kind brand of grease should one use??

i think i should just paypal glacier directly

 

[Maniak]

I use marine grade synthetic bearing lube or if I'm out I use Mobile 1 synthetic grease and I regrease them everytime I do brakes or when I can't remember when I did it last (which seems to be more often as I get older )

~Makr

 

[n0c7]

I used the local partstore "Wheel Bearing Lubricant" its green and it seemed to work well. I've also used it with my tie rods on another car, and a few little jobs. It really all seems the same to me.

 

[Tony H]

Are you sure the Bearings ARE bad?
They have to be way bad for them not to align the car. If you Jack the tire off the ground is there play Up and Down as well as side to side?
Maybe the Spindle nut is loose. Hard to believe bearings would go that quick with even the cheapest grade Bearing Grease.

 

[Charlie's_93EB]

ya i was telling my dad that and he said it was quick even for me. but there is a lot of wobble, you do not need to jack it up to feel the looseness i hope it is the nut but we soon will find out. I said before i got the bearnings i read a thread here and read the Hayens i need a inner and outer bearing right well i was looking at the set i got and and i do not think that come apart i think i need a whole set for inner and outer is this right?? Are the inner and outer the same size?

 

[Tony H]

Check the Nut first. I'm betting the nut backed off. Especially with the way the 'X' spindle nut works. If the Nut is loose, take the outer bearing out and eyeball it to see if you scored it or the RACE in the hub. They may be fine.

Inner and Outer bearings are almost never the same size. I'm not positive about the 'X'.
Many time you can tap out the Inner Seal from the Hub but it's best to buy the part so if you screw it up you aren't looking for a way back to the Parts Place.

 

[RangerX]

Check the ball joints. I've had shops not do an alignment because of worn ball joints.

 

[EMG7895]

Inner and outer are the same, if they are bad they are pretty easy and cheap to replace them, $12 a piece for timkens and $3-4 for a new seal.

 

[Charlie's_93EB]

well i strated with the driver side, the wheel did not wobble to start.

Wheel off
caliper off
snap ring
spacer
nut
key washer
nut with nipple
outter bearing
rotor

no key like in the the thread i linked here

punched out the cap, cleaned everything really good, and then hands, inspected the bearings greassed the new ones put them in the rotor put RTV on the seal and in, greassed the other set

put everything in reverse order.

But the pass side Yes it was only a loose inner nut i put the new ones in anyway.

the timkens are on the drivers side and the fedral?? (Dad has heard of them) anyway are in the pass side

and i have two sets of bearnigs

i did not replace the races they were perfect.

saved $200

 

[EMG7895]

Federal is federal mogul, same company that makes moog ball joints.

 

[Charlie's_93EB]

Federal is federal mogul, same company that makes moog ball joints.

so i take it they are quality?

 

[EMG7895]

Not as good as timkens, but not compete crap, they're middle of the road bearings.
Edit: With any brand chances are one is going to go bad or be defective, the inner timken on one of my wheels had a catastrophic failure after about 5000 miles and when I brought it in they parts store replaced both bearings, the rotor, pad and caliper free, I just had to pay for the seal.