Going to inspect a 98 5.0 AWD...q's

[Christobal]

It is claimed to have burned the left front wheel bearing. That is a unit bearing correct? Cannot be test driven as normal, so if the wheel bearing 'burned' seriously enough to overheat that tire causing it to fail, what else will be in the crossfire.... Im thinking outer CV, the bearing, possibly the spindle itself and brake caliper due to seals overheating...says there's no brake fluid on the ground but wheel is still usuable, just needs new tire. Spare is on that corner now.

If I pick wheels up off the ground individually will that AWD system let me rotate each wheel independently?

If I do look, I will try to cold start....put it in gear, try to torque stall it a bit to make sure the trans/awd diff isn't loose or freewheeling. What else would you check for and consider?

Can these be run just rear or front wheel drive without issue? How difficult to disengage front drive by unbolting driveshaft etc.?


Thanks

Chris

 

[koda2000]

i won't buy anything i couldn't test drive, especially and AWD. to many possible problems that would be easily eliminated by a test drive.

front wheel bearing assemblies are a common problem and easy enough to repair/replace. good ones are not too expensive (personally i like Timken). as you'd replace the entire assembly, it doesn't matter how trashed the old one was. i suppose it's possible the CV shaft could have been damaged, but if the outer boot looks ok it's probably ok. personally i wouldn't do one bearing assembly without doing the other side and replacing the axle seals in the dif.

not a good idea to run without the front drive shaft on the AWD. some say it will overheat and damage the viscous coupling. most AWD's that have had their front drive shafts removed are because there is something wrong with the t-case/center dif. also, removing the front d/s causes the vehicle to slowly creep/drift away when in PARK.