broke the 100K mark ... any advice?

[fastcougar]

My wife just broke the 100K mark in our 1996 4.0 OHV Explorere Sport 4x4 Any advice on how I might get another 100K with few problems? I religously change the oil every 3K. Only problem that we have ever had was rebuilding the tranny at 87K. Other than that, there is an annoying hum cumming from the driver's side wheel ... I think that the hub is shot ... how hard is it to replace the bearings in the hub? Is it even possible, or are they pressed in? If so, any idea on the cost of a brand new hub? I would rather tackle that first and keep the fingers crossed that it is not the front cv joint! Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[mdrut]

Change all your fluids and filters, ALL OF THEM..It will cost you about a $100 bucks if you do it yourself..I do mine every year..At this point, 130,000 miles w/no tranny or engine work..Also, grease the front wheel bearings and have the brake system flushed..The bearings in the front are NOT pressed, with the correct tools, I changed and greased my bearings in under 45 min...Good Luck
BTW...You can ask any of the other Fl. Members, I'm not easy on my rig, I bought it for 4x4 action and that's what I use it for..LOL

 

[aldive]

Stay on yop of fluid changes; my last two trucks went over 200k , the last one went 350k.

Good luck....

 

[SteveVB]

sealed hubs?

I thought the hubs in the 95 and later models are sealed units that you just replace when they go bad. I have an early model so I dont know for sure- late model guys how about it??

 

[FitzMatt]

100,000 on a '96? WOW! Did you drive to Hawaii a couple times??? I have a '92 with 90,000...

 

[jimbo74]

my 94 only has >92000

 

[adambone]

I just broke 100,000 miles in my 98 XLT. What took you so long? : ) Anyway, my advice is going to sound a little repetative: keep up the usual maintence and maintain fluid levels(!) constantly. I've changed my oil religously every 3,000 miles and always had my mechanic check everything over carefully. As of yet (knock on wood), I've had no problems whatsoever with the engine.

 

[fastcougar]

Aside from the bearing hum that the front hub has been making for the last 40K miles, everything on the truck runs great, with one exception. Starting last summer, the truck will sometimes make a very loud "moosing" noise when ideling. It sounds like a very loud high pitched fog horn ... don't know how else to describe it. It runs great though and we simply ignore it as it comes and goes and seems to be related to heat/humidity. I think that it may be the harmonic dampener, but I am unsure.

Originally posted by FitzMatt
100,000 on a '96? WOW! Did you drive to Hawaii a couple times??? I have a '92 with 90,000...

HEHE ... No, got the truck in Feb of 96 ... that summer, the wife (girlfriend at the time) and I drove cross country. We ended up in Moab and when off roading in Arches National Park ... ended up going back for our honeymoon (without the explorer though). I LOVE that place ... southern Utah is beautiful! When we got back, the tally was like 6500+ miles in 18 days The rest of the miles are from me living 205 miles from her (wife) between 96 and late 98 ... when we where still dating/engaged. I would put at least 500 miles a weekend on the truck for a solid 2 years

About the bearings ... if they are not pressed, what tools would be required for the job? I have the Chilton's manual, so any advice that may be lacking in there is greatly appreciated.