Hub & Bearing Assembly 95-01 (I think)

[A1cntrler]

I know this thread is pretty old, and I probably should not be reviving it, but I just wanted to say thanks for the detailed info on here. I have had a problem with cupping on the inside of my tires. Rotating them and having them aligned did not seem to fix it. I bought new tires thinking that the Bridgestone Dueler Revos were the problem. I bought some GoodYear Forteras to try them out (noise in the cab of my '01 Sport Trac drove me crazy on a 2000 mile trip we just returned from) The installer showed me that my lower ball joints were shot on both sides. I had the ST in the dealer for some work just before we left making sure all was good. Checked out ok there, but at CarQuest (where I go the get my tires installed) there was so much slop in them. They were able to replace both lower ball joints, align the ST, mount and balance the new tires. All for the low low price of 460 bucks. (Seems a lot lower than others on the mysporttrac.com are paying for the ball joints). After all that was done the installer told me that the front pass. side bearing was going bad. After driving it home with the noisy bearing in it, I felt so unsafe thinking about driving through the mountains in PA at 75-80 mph on the freeway. Turning to the left brought total silence at all speeds, so the bearing is the culprit. I contemplated taking it to the shop to get it fixed, but read that if I can change the oil/replace brakes I should be able to do this. Took me a little over 1.5 hrs. The hub assembly is definately not cheap! Thanks! This site will be on my daily checks now to read in the forums....

 

[jwrezz]

Glad to be of service!! And good job on the DIY job!

 

[stretch]

Welcome to the site! Don't worry about reviving an old thread, if it helps you out, that's what it's hear for. Sounds like you got a really good price at $460. Definately stick around, you probably be able to save and learn alot more.

 

[ssjrsw]

When?

Even if there is no noise at what point should these be changed. I am asking because living in Central America it is not possibile just to run down the street and find the correct parts so I want to fix things before they are a problem.

I have a 98 XLT 4x4 4 door with 123,000 (hard) miles on it. It was brought here from the east coast with about 65,000 and the roads here are like being off road in the states. I do a lot of travel in Costa Rica and the roads have so many potholes and (bad) patches you can not even tell what was the original pavement, in places it would be better drinving on the side of the road.

I have a friend coming in so I am thinking of getting a set, what do you think? Also how can you tell if the are original do they have a Ford P/N on them? I hate to replace a newer set but since many other things have never been changed I doubt these have unless they failed.

 

[Rodeo Joe]

Even if there is no noise at what point should these be changed.

I'm wondering the same thing myself. Almost 130K miles now, I'm thinking of getting a set and just change them in the spring.

Joe

 

[jwrezz]

Just from this thread alone I've seen that 100k is a good life for these pups. Get em & hold em till your current ones start showing signs. I had abs noises and abs lite coming on before the hubs themselves started making noises. If they all wear this way, that'll give you some warning so you can get ready to put one or both of them in. Good luck...

 

[OneWheelBiting]

I just bought a replacement hub but I may not need it. The noise I hear is a squeaking that is constant in relation to the speed I am travelling....any help...Call me at 671 653 8544 anytime if you know something about these damn 95 exploders...
Keith

 

[jwrezz]

U Joints, front axles, or hubs is my guess.

 

[toddious]

what makes you think it is not the wheel bearing/hub? if it is a light scratching, almost like that of low brake pads, i'd say it is probably still the culpret. i've changed both of mine, and it is actually quite simple. you might give it a shot just to see. if it doesn't fix it, at least you've got a new hub assembly. todd.

 

[jahna]

Wheel Bearing

Im getting some noise from the front end, and im 99% sure it is the wheel bearing but im not sure which side it is coming from it sounds like the drivers side but im not positive. When turning right the noise goes away so would that be the driverside bearing?

I had the one side replaced 10k ago. I gusse 190k aint to bad for a bearing
Mechanic charged $250 for the bearing and to grinde down the rotor but I also bought a set of Brigestone Destination AT's from him too so total bill was like $700ish


Thanks in advance

 

[toddious]

Im getting some noise from the front end, and im 99% sure it is the wheel bearing but im not sure which side it is coming from it sounds like the drivers side but im not positive. When turning right the noise goes away so would that be the driverside bearing?

I had the one side replaced 10k ago. I gusse 190k aint to bad for a bearing
Mechanic charged $250 for the bearing and to grinde down the rotor but I also bought a set of Brigestone Destination AT's from him too so total bill was like $700ish


Thanks in advance

If you jack the tires off the ground, and then push/pull on the wheel, you should be able to tell easily. A bad hub assembly tends to have a lot of give to it, whereas a good one is rock solid. This is how I deduced my problem. Hope it helps, Todd.

 

[BouExplorerTwice]

nut size & torque

Just changed my brake rotors on 2000 4 x 2.

Nut size on mine was 1 1/16" or 27mm.

Torque (from Ford shop manual) was listed at 20 ft-lb, loosen
half a turn, then retighten to 17 ft-lb; pretty low.

 

[abritincanada]

this is a fantastic write up..i have a question that needs a fast answer please....am i missing some thing trying to get my cv shaft out of the front diff..passenger side....i have her stripped down but just cant get that thing to slide off..if thats what it is meant to do....i am running outa time because i need this baby back up and running sunday night latest.....i see according to many that thiers just slipped out with a little pull..my thing dont want to play....its a 95 4x4 limited
thanks guys..waiting in anticipation

 

[abritincanada]

ok have the cv shaft free...but..my knuckles dont appear to bend enough to get her out.....any ideas please if i and how do i remove the lower ball joint..will it need new one

 

[jwrezz]

I seem to remember having to have the suspension at full droop, loosening and removing the pin at top of knuckle, and then prying the upper control arm up w/ a long bar.

 

[abritincanada]

Good morning..

well here's a stroke of luck...i just started working on her again this fine sunday morning and after doing some more trawling around i found that it was ok to hit it with a hammer, out she came.....i was concerned about causing any damage to the lower ball joint because i do not need to replace them and i could not c how it was put together
i guess that a few years of dirt and grime must have made it hard to release...but with a 10lb hammer and some lub just as u replied it dropped out of place....thanks for the reply

 

[jwrezz]

Yeah, my first time took a bottle of seafoam lube, and a ton of whacks w/ the BFH. Then the pry bar popped it right out. No ball joint removal necessary. Good job!

 

[abritincanada]

the post i followed with pics on here shows that u can bend the joint out of the bearing on passenger side .....but...me being me...this just would not happen...if i had known i could have beat it of last night i could have saved some 6 hours work...but it was fun in a manly sort of way....i guess the ladies would not understand that..lol

thanks for getting back to me though..hope things are looking safe where you are

 

[jwrezz]

Thanx, we were lucky in two ways. 1) We were on vacation in the Shenandoah valley in Virginia so it avoided us except for some hi winds and some rain, but not the brunt of the storm. 2)Our house in NJ has power, and no limbs down according to my neighbors, so we are very lucky as much of the area is w/out power and lots of downed trees.

 

[abritincanada]

i have a engineer face book friend lives in virginia beach..he has been ok so far....but i guess ok means you are still lucky enough to have your house standing when it hits....hope you all come out the other side of it ok....here in saskatoon this morning we have a nice sunday....about 26c......sorry....anyways heads up and stay safe