Rear wheel bearing repeated problems

[lizardking228]

Hi everyone. Great site, been reading for years to help me with my '03 Explorer. But now I have a problem I haven't seen before.

About a month ago I had my rear differential completely replaced on my 2wd 2003 Explorer with 130k miles. Two weeks later my original rear drivers side wheel bearing went bad and started grinding. So I replaced that (using a thread on this forum), and it went fine. A week later my original rear passenger side wheel bearing went bad and started grinding. So I replaced that, but immediately after replacing it (within driving 500-100 feet at 30-40 mph), the same rear passenger bearing started grinding and tearing itself up. It was completely ground up after driving a few thousand feet. So, I replaced it again, and again when I got up to 30-40 mph the bearing immediately went bad and ground up. I torqued the axle nut to 203 foot/lbs on both sides. The bearings were pressed by a well known reputable shop. What could be causing this?

 

[HiImBrian]

Hi everyone. Great site, been reading for years to help me with my '03 Explorer. But now I have a problem I haven't seen before.

About a month ago I had my rear differential completely replaced on my 2wd 2003 Explorer with 130k miles. Two weeks later my original rear drivers side wheel bearing went bad and started grinding. So I replaced that (using a thread on this forum), and it went fine. A week later my original rear passenger side wheel bearing went bad and started grinding. So I replaced that, but immediately after replacing it (within driving 500-100 feet at 30-40 mph), the same rear passenger bearing started grinding and tearing itself up. It was completely ground up after driving a few thousand feet. So, I replaced it again, and again when I got up to 30-40 mph the bearing immediately went bad and ground up. I torqued the axle nut to 203 foot/lbs on both sides. The bearings were pressed by a well known reputable shop. What could be causing this?

Skip replacing the bearing and just replace the entire hub assembly. Timken on rockauto.com for about $150...

 

[lizardking228]

Sorry I should have stated that I used a new hub along with the new bearing each time. I and yes it was Timken. Amazon had the assembly for 117

 

[HiImBrian]

Sorry I should have stated that I used a new hub along with the new bearing each time. I and yes it was Timken. Amazon had the assembly for 117

Did you put new bearings into a new hub? Don't understand why you'd need a reputable shop to press anything???

 

[thepotroast]

Did you put new bearings into a new hub? Don't understand why you'd need a reputable shop to press anything???

The rear wheel bearing and hub assembly come as a separate unit and have to be pressed. The fronts on the other hand are a complete assembled unit.

 

[1Bad04]

Make sure that whoever is pressing the hub in uses a stop on the back side of the bearing. They need to have something solid for the bearing to sit on when pressing the hub in.

 

[lizardking228]

Thanks. I think I'll have to take it somewhere else to have it pressed.

 

[thepotroast]

Thanks. I think I'll have to take it somewhere else to have it pressed.

I would have to agree and err on the thought that the shop you have taken two rear bearing assemblies to press and install did not do them correctly. Unfortunately. :thumbdwn: