Front wheel bearings

[victorysail]

My Explorer has almost 60,000Km (36600Miles) on it. According to my dealer, I should have my front bearing re-packed and greased, and my tranny serviced. Everything looks and feels OK to me, should I spend the extra bucks at my next oil change, or is my dealing trying to make an extra buck ?

 

[Rick]

Hmmm... From what I understand the 95+ Explorers have sealed hub assemblies and the bearings can't be repacked or replaced. Someone may want to correct me on that.

Changing the tranny fluid for regular maintenance is a very good idea. You don't want to wait until you feel a problem... By then it's too late.

 

[Jefe]

According to the maintanence log/book that came with the manual, my truck doesn't need to have the tranny serviced until 90,000 miles. I however, change the fluid, etc every 30,000 because I 4x4 a LOT. As far as the wheel bearings, I wouldn't think they'd be needing anything for quite a while more, but I'm not sure.

 

[aldive]

When changing the trans fluid be sure to do a complete change, not just a pan drop change,

Also, I would give some thought to changing to synthetic fluid.

Good luck....

 

[GJarrett]

Originally posted by victorysail
My Explorer has almost 60,00Km (36600Miles) on it. According to my dealer, I should have my front bearing re-packed and greased, and my tranny serviced. Everything looks and feels OK to me, should I spend the extra bucks at my next oil change, or is my dealing trying to make an extra buck ?

Your dealer is trying to make an extra buck. The tranny service is okay and reasonable, but "...front bearing re-packed and greased" is pure BS. As Rick supposed, your front bearing is part of a sealed hub assembly unit and cannot be serviced or greased. It must be completely replaced at a cost of $250+ for the assembly (plus labor) = $$$.

Unless you have been blasting your Explorer crosscountry on Baja races or hitting your steering knuckles with sledgehammers in your spare time, there is no way on earth you need to worry about your front hub assemblies for a long time and a lot more miles. I've got 75,000 miles on mine, have abused it and fourwheeled very hard, and only just now had to replace one of the hubs (the other is still in great shape).

Your dealer is either so incompetent that it doesn't know what parts your Explorer has, or so dishonest that it tries to sell you a service that doesn't exist. In either case I would never go back to them. Find another place to get your service done. For the tranny you can go somewhere else and think about a full tranny flush and switch to synthetics. Then you won't have to worry about it for another 100,000 miles.

 

[Robert]

Is there a fully synthetic, Mercon V compatible transmission fluid? The three different brands I found, were all a synthetic blend. I went with the Quakerstate 4x4 Mercon V synthetic blend fluid.

 

[aldive]

I run Mobil 1 ATF and have for 50k miles.

 

[Fischer]

bearing and hub assy pricey

These are sealed bearings so they are not serviceable. If you replace them the entire Hub/bearing assembly has to be replaced. It doesn't sound too difficult to do yourself if you don't have time constraints and a good set of tools.
It is not cheap by any means. Ford here in Colo Springs wanted 350+ just to grease my dust seals!!!

I took my 95 XLT into the 4x4 shop today to have one of the hub assy/bearings replaced. The part alone will run you over $250 for one side.

I was hearing a whirring and feeling a vibration in the front end. I only have 68,000 miles on mins so I assume that it is someting to keep an eye/ear on.

If you would like to do it yourself I have a few questions concerning this application and one of these great helpers was kind enough to walk me through it in one of the responces I recieved. Look for Fischer and something concerning bearings...

Cheers Bro and good luck. It sucks to blow that much money, especially when you didn't need to....
:smoke:

 

[Brian8]

I jusat recently had to replace my drivers side one. The place I go to the part alone cost me around $300.00..

 

[victorysail]

Thanks folks, for all the advices. Apparently the previous service rep. was new and was reading a Ford Canada pamphlet on scheduled maintenence. There was a service advice on "inspecting and servicing the front bearings if applicable at 60,000Km." This is NOT applicable to the Explorer. His service manager has been advised.
I''ll do some investigating on synthetic tranny fluid to see if it is worthwhile. Meanwhile, we have snow here in Calgary today and at -15C, my Explorer is real handy going up the slopes.

 

[Fred Garvin]

HEY victorysail

HEY victorysail:

I was forced to pop intoi Zender ford there in Spruce Grove this past summer. They were good to me as it was Friday and a holiday on the following Monday. I needed a thermostat.

They did the job, were reasonable, BUT lost one of the thermostat housing bolts, replaced it with another bolt and several washers. I really got POed when I found this out for myself--they NEVER told me!

Anyway, they paid some of it back when I went out and got an exact replacement bolt.

I love the Canadian Rockies.

 

[GJarrett]

Originally posted by Robert
Is there a fully synthetic, Mercon V compatible transmission fluid?

I am 99% sure that Amsoil has it. Email AgExplorer for help in getting some. I'm going to go full syn in my tranny next spring.

 

[victorysail]

Front Wheel Bearings - Continue

I just happened to read through the Ford Service Guide for the 1997 Explorer again (FCS-12918-97SG). It stated to "Inspect and lubricate front wheel bearings" at the 48,000Km (30,000Miles) and 96,000Km (65,000Miles) service intervals. I understand that these are seal bearings and do not require servicing unless you really run a lot of off-roading. Does anybody know what the Ford Service Guide is talking about ?

 

[redexplr]

do all explorers not need to have the bearing serviced? what about the early models? i have a '91 and the front right sounds like its about to go.

 

[Robert]

Re: Front Wheel Bearings - Continue

Originally posted by victorysail
I just happened to read through the Ford Service Guide for the 1997 Explorer again (FCS-12918-97SG). It stated to "Inspect and lubricate front wheel bearings" at the 48,000Km (30,000Miles) and 96,000Km (65,000Miles) service intervals. I understand that these are seal bearings and do not require servicing unless you really run a lot of off-roading. Does anybody know what the Ford Service Guide is talking about ?

I thought there was a note that said "if applicable". If the note isn't there, it should be since the Ford service manual even states that the bearings are sealed for life and require no maintenance. There are several references to maintaining items that do not require maintenance, things such as grease fittings. From the factory there aren't any. I am pretty sure there is a notation regarding grease fittings also that says "if applicable".

 

[yob_yeknom]

Re: Front Wheel Bearings - Continue

Originally posted by victorysail
I just happened to read through the Ford Service Guide for the 1997 Explorer again (FCS-12918-97SG). It stated to "Inspect and lubricate front wheel bearings" at the 48,000Km (30,000Miles) and 96,000Km (65,000Miles) service intervals. I understand that these are seal bearings and do not require servicing unless you really run a lot of off-roading. Does anybody know what the Ford Service Guide is talking about ?

So in your case you would just inspect them at that interval.
I'm sure that book also relates to 2wd vehicles also, which can be lubricated. So if you had a 2wd you could inspect and lubricate, but since you have a 4wd all you do is just inspect it.

 

[redexplr]

crap im pretty sure mine need "servicing" which means they need replacing!! i get the whirling sound from time to time and the whizzing with a bang! so i can expect to pay a pretty penny for the new unit i guess.
All this after a total cooling system replacement and a engine swap! ugh!! :redexp:

 

[weebo]

The '94 and older front wheel bearings aren't too expensive...I believe I pay about $16 a side for them for my '92. They're not too difficult to change, if you have the right tools and know what you're doing. They hardest part is getting the old bearing races out and then replacing them without scratching them up. Also the autohub can be a pain at times...as I've never been able to find the correct socket to fit the nut...even the ford dealer here told me they didn't offer them.


As for the Tranny service...I'd go ahead and have the filter and tranny fluid changed. Maybe by doing that you'll gain some extra mileage from your tranny, cause we all know that if you own an explorer then your transmission will fail someday. Mine has twice on my "92, but I've got 275k miles on it.

Randy

 

[SCEXPLORER]

hmmm. so does 2wd 97 explorers have servicable bearings or not?

 

[veco g]

don't believe whoever told you guys that 95 & newer explorers front wheel bearings can't be replaced. i did mines last summer on my 97 2wh thay cost about 5.99 per bearing. changed @ 99000 miles