BD's 2000 Explorer Limited

[BrianDye]

Question for you guys!

I found a used billette grill for a "95" dirt cheap, will it fit a 2000? (I notice most ads say 95-98 and then 99-01)

 

[Joe Dirt]

Yes, the years coincide with the front bumper change, probably for the lower grille.

 

[BrianDye]

Yea this is just the upper (For now, as I can get it for like 1/3rd the price of the lower)

 

[Joe Dirt]

I think the years are just carryovers on the ad macro though, since it matters on the lowers. Grilles are the same though...

 

[BrianDye]

Wonderful, now my bearings sound toasted.

Give me your opinion, 2 mornings now when I've taken off (Cold start, 7am) there has been an awful screeching coming from the front drivers side but shortly goes away, and then turns to pretty bad groaning and I can feel it like grinding. Weird thing is is that it's intermittent, I'll hit a bump and it comes back grinding terribly, then goes away. I thought it was the passenger side, but it seems now like it's the drivers side or both. From what I've found online, I'm looking at replacing both front hubs right? I found a writeup and I'm confident I can do it BUT it's so damn cold and as soon as I get out of class, I gotta goto work.

I found the Timken hubs at autozone for like 190$ a piece which brought a tear to my eye, Advance has "National" for like 210$ each, I found a seller "DetroitAxle" on eBay who sells 2 for 92$ with a 1 year warranty but I need these NOW.

 

[Joe Dirt]

No- the Detroit Axle parts are cheap Chinese parts. I emailed him to ask about those a while ago and he wouldn't answer me what country they come from. Forget the warranty, you still lose 2-4 days+ if you have to swap and exchange them.

Order them from Rock Auto- Timken bearings for $110 each.

Yours are most likely toast, especially if original.

 

[BrianDye]

Bearings? Don't I just need the whole hub assy? I would really like to get them done today or tomorrow, it's a good 8-9 mile drive to school and back then work and back, would I be okay til then taking it easy If I ordered them on RA?

 

[Glen4X4]

Yes Brian you need the whole hub assembly.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Those are the whole assembly at RA- sorry, nomenclature- I just call them that.

They do have a fast shipping option, and it'll still be way less than the cheaper stuff.

Will they be ok? Dunno. Only you know how violent they shake and vibrate. I'd think yes, but the truck is under you. Not really worried about killing the bearing as it's going to be replaced anyway. If you get them tomorrow, I wouldn't worry if it was my truck.

 

[BrianDye]

Honestly, theres no vibrations in the wheel or anything, and no wheel shaking, just the groaning. Im ordering them right now, im gonna do 2-3 day shipping, I work wednesday & thursday so hopefully theyre here friday.

Im gonna have to take it to work today and school tomorrow but ill take the LS wednesday and thursday. Thanks again Joe for savin me a ton of dough!

 

[BrianDye]

Uh-oh...I just noticed something, this one: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1119335

Same one as AutoZone showed me (Same part #), is saying 4WD instead of AWD. Other ones on there say AWD/4WD

Is there any difference? They all look just about the damn same...

 

[BrianDye]

$250.88
1-Goodyear Gatorback Belt
2-Timken SP450200 Axle Bearing and Hub Assembly
2-3 Day Shipping=$18.88

Woot woot!

 

[Glen4X4]

4WD and AWD use the same axles so they use the same hub bearing.

 

[Joe Dirt]

^ what he said ^

 

[CDW6212R]

Do visually check to be sure the axle CV joints are intact, the rubber boots. Those would make awful noises if the boots get torn and the grease is tossed out. The axles you can get locally for $70 or so each.

If someone ever hears about where the hubs are made, I need to contact an actual builder. I need hubs with longer ARP studs installed at the time of manufacture. You cannot R&R the studs without prying on the bearings, which is bad for them. Thanks if anyone hears of any way to contact the builders. Regards,

 

[BrianDye]

4WD and AWD use the same axles so they use the same hub bearing.

I thought so, but seeing some Hubs saying AWD, 4WD and some only saying 4WD or AWD threw me off.

Cant wait to tackle these F'ers! Im honestly considerin throwin some new rotors on there, id like to go drilled and slotted, but I wanna upgrade my lines to the braided steel stuff, I hear that makes a world of a difference alone.

 

[Glen4X4]

It's understandable. And you may or may not have a choice but to replace the rotors since some get rusted fast and sometimes the only way to remove them is to beat the snot out of them.

 

[BrianDye]

Damn I didnt know that, I might just be replacing them with stock ones then, I dont feel like ordering online, I cannot wait (Literally) any longer todo these bearings. I parked the Expo til Friday, today on the way home from school the noises were god-awful. Grinding, groaning, even sounded like crushing! I took my 9 mile drive home at about 24 MPH with the flashers on. First time ive ever had to use flashers in my life.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Yeah, sounds like they're way gone now.

Here's a scary thought...

...I hope it's the bearings!

 

[Glen4X4]

Hey no guarantee that the rotors are seized to the bearings just keep that in the back of your mind that you may or may not have to replace them at the time of the hub change.