Rebuilding the right-front wheel area

[justin_b31]

So, my story goes like this: Friday night my relatively newly driving 16 year old daughter is taking her 2 siblings (my other two children) to their moms just around 2300hrs.

At some point during the drive my son in the passenger seat tells her that there's a tire problem because of the shuddering of the whole truck, but daughter in her infinite wisdom claims it was the engine shaking.

Well, shortly thereafter the right-front wheel comes flying off at highway speeds and the truck drops (obviously). The truck grinds to a controlled stop and over to the side of the road. (I reinforce slow controlled movements with her at any opportunity in emergencies) I'm happy all went well without further incident except for fixing the truck.

The rotor is toast, it has a flat spot that cuts into about 1/3 of the diameter. The plastic cam assembly and c-clip are done for. I did recover the 4x4 auto hub, but the wheel is MIA; just can't find it.

So, through this miracle of not losing all my kids in one schwoop, I'm think this can be fixed for less than the cost of a cheap-o replacement vehicle.

I have a parts list from Rock Auto, but I am not 100% if this is everything less a wheel and auto hub cam assembly (may do manual hub conversion) from a jy.

Any feedback is appreciated!

1993 Ford Ex pushrod

Brake/Wheel Hub : Rotor
RAYBESTOS Part # 6326R {#106326, 6326} Outside Diameter 10.28" / 5 Bolt Holes Professional Grade Front; RWD B

Brake/Wheel Hub : Spindle Nut Retainer
DORMAN Part # 615073 {#1673324, 3173401, 374536S, 390622S, 4026468200, 6150731, J3173401} 20; Thread Size; 3/4"-16&M20"-1.0; Hex Size: 1-1/16" & 27mm

Brake/Wheel Hub : Spindle Washer
DORMAN Part # 618053 {#E3TZ3B459A} Inside Dia: 1"-1/2"; Outside Dia.: 2-3/16"; Thickness: 1/8" 4WD; Lock Washer; w/Manual Lock Hubs; 3.45 & 4.10 Ratio

Brake/Wheel Hub : Wheel Bearing
TIMKEN Part # SET2 Qty 1 Required Per Wheel, 3/4" bore Wheel Race Front Outer; RWD B

TIMKEN Part # SET6 Qty 1 Required Per Wheel; Includes Timken #LM67048 and Timken #LM67010 Front Inner; RWD

Wheel Lug Nuts
WAGNER Part # BD61281 Wheel Lug Nut Standard Open Nut; Zinc; 9/16" Wheel Nut Length; Front Standard Open Nut; Zinc; 9/16" Wheel Nut Length; Rear

CORTECO Part # 16619 Oil Pan Set MOLDED RUBBER X ENG CODE C

Spindle Bearing and Seal Kit
TIMKEN Part # SBK4 Dana/Spicer 35IFS Axle; Opt. Kit = Brg B2110, Seals 722108 & 722109, & Ring; Front; 4WD

AUTOSPECIALTY / KELSEY-HAYES Part # HB85076 Front Brake Hose; RIGHT

 

[colintrax]

What caused the wheel to come off? Did the lug nuts just fall off?

 

[IAmTodd]

Glad to hear everyone is ok. What caused the wheel to come off?

Wheel bearings are wrong, you need SET37 x2

Not sure where the 'Spindle Nut Retainer' goes. I don't remember pulling anything like that when I removed my auto hubs.

EDIT- Also, you spindle washer is for manual hub trucks. Check to see if you front rotor needs the tone ring for ABS as well. The rotor you selected doesn't seem to have it. Not sure when 4WABS went into effect.

 

[justin_b31]

The lugs worked their way off. The studs are flat where the wheel wobbled back and forth but I haven't found a cause for the lugs to come off other than the safety and emissions was done in August. This was the last time the wheels came off for service and the likely time that the lugs were not torqued right.

Since it's been so long, I don't believe that I can prove negligence

The truck does have ABS and the rotor does have the ring. The images show the rotor with lug bolts installed, but I'm pretty sure the inner bearing and seal are not included in the cost.

 

[justin_b31]

Wheel bearings are wrong, you need SET37 x2

Okay TIMKEN Part # SET37 Front Outer; 4WD

I suspect this bearing set is for installation on the rotor? Is this the same for the ABS side too?

Thanks again!

[edit] i think i get the way rock auto describes the parts now...RWD is 2x4, it is all getting clearer. To me RWD / FWD always indicated where the power went so 4x4 was always still RWD

 

[IAmTodd]

For the front end job on one side with 4WABS you need the rotor with the tone ring, again I don't think the one you chose has the tone ring, two SET37 bearings. They are identical inner and outter, and Timken 4250 wheel seal for the new rotor. The spindle rebuild kit is being ambitious as it requires removal of the spindle and axle shaft.

 

[justin_b31]

For the front end job on one side with 4WABS you need the rotor with the tone ring, again I don't think the one you chose has the tone ring, two SET37 bearings. They are identical inner and outter, and Timken 4250 wheel seal for the new rotor. The spindle rebuild kit is being ambitious as it requires removal of the spindle and axle shaft.

I was going to do the spindle because there is a wobble on the axle shaft spline. I figured it should behave more like a CV joint going through a knuckle bearing and just spin.

But then again, because the wheel is actually stabilized by the wheel bearings rotating over the spindle, the end of the axle shaft won't affect tire stability.

Then the wobble isn't too much a concern because it probably seats in the locking hubs anyway and would stop wobbling.

 

[Anime]

Sometimes the axle shafts have a bit of end wobble, sometimes not. So far my research shows that if an axle shaft doesn't wobble that little bit, it's a bad thing because the u-joints have seized or just aren't letting the shaft have the full movement it should.

I'd suggest doing the rotors/brakes/etc for BOTH sides on the front at the same time. It's a really bad idea to just replace the rotor on one side, both for balance as well as even braking performance.

In addition to Rockauto, you might also consider stopping by your local NAPA auto parts if you have one and see if they'll give you shop pricing if you buy that much stuff. NAPA uses the same Raybestos stuff (sometimes branded as Rayloc), or at least they used to. You might wind up saving more over the Rockauto prices and not having the pay the shipping for all that weight.

 

[huntman58]

Anime is right about not doing just one side but do both! Brakes are always done as axel sets not single.

I can tell you an over tight or too many to lose lug nuts will do this. Fist one lets go then another but you notice nothing tell the second one is gone. After that they will start popping tell you get what she had happen a flying tire.

Long time ago does 75 in my first car a hot rod 67 chevell big block. I had my tire pass me on a curve. Then bam the front dropped and I had no control of any thing believe me. It went were it wanted and slowed down how it wanted as it was drum brakes back then and I lost that front one so no brakes. Called dad with a wreaker shopping list and we rebuilt it on the side of the road. No fun I will say that and once it happens to you, you never forget it and never again will a sound or shake be passed off as nothing!

Reason mine happened to tight on the lug nuts and I stress creak a few of them some thing you do not see tell they let go.

 

[justin_b31]

Anime is right about not doing just one side but do both! Brakes are always done as axel sets not single.

I can tell you an over tight or too many to lose lug nuts will do this. Fist one lets go then another but you notice nothing tell the second one is gone. After that they will start popping tell you get what she had happen a flying tire.

Long time ago does 75 in my first car a hot rod 67 chevell big block. I had my tire pass me on a curve. Then bam the front dropped and I had no control of any thing believe me. It went were it wanted and slowed down how it wanted as it was drum brakes back then and I lost that front one so no brakes. Called dad with a wreaker shopping list and we rebuilt it on the side of the road. No fun I will say that and once it happens to you, you never forget it and never again will a sound or shake be passed off as nothing!

Reason mine happened to tight on the lug nuts and I stress creak a few of them some thing you do not see tell they let go.

wow what a crazy story! so over the course of fixing this thing and story-telling, this apparently is not uncommon -for wheels to fly off ... crazy

 

[justin_b31]

just want to shout out and tell you guys thanks for the feedback. Got the Ex rolling again at a much lower price than I initially expected.

Thought I'd throw in some pics while I was at it too. Thanks again!


http://dl.dropbox.com/u/47465736/Exxplorer/2012-10-13 02.46.16.jpg

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/47465736/Exxplorer/2012-10-13 02.47.01.jpg

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/47465736/Exxplorer/2012-10-14 13.54.53.jpg

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/47465736/Exxplorer/2012-10-15 17.13.40.jpg

[EDIT] Man these images are huge, changed the post to show links instead