Wheel Bearing question

[Caymen]

This is driving me nuts and I just have to know the answer.

Tried replacing the wheel bearing on the 2006 Mountaineer. Everything came apart without a hitch. I removed the hub bolts and noticed the hub has been siliconed into place. It looks like someone put RTV silicone (the crap used for differential covers) onto the flange and possibly the other part that goes into the knuckle and tightened everything up.

Is this of OEM design or did some idiot think this was a good idea when they replaced it using inferior parts?

If this is OEM design, how do I get it apart? If it isn't, anyone got any suggestions?

Please advise ASAP. I am pissed off right now!


Tom

 

[Caymen]

I know what today is and this is not a joke either.


Tom

 

[Caymen]

Is everyone out playing April Fools jokes on people or are we all at church.

Please let me know if this is the way it comes from the factory.


Tom

 

[vipersinu2]

front or rear bearings

 

[Caymen]

Front drivers side.


Tom

 

[edwx]

This problem is typical on the previous generation explorers. There is a sticky on replacing the front bearings on the Gen III forum, and you will read how everyone got them detached by various methods. My Gen IV is an early one, and I'm assuming that mine will be glued on also. Please let me know how you make out.

 

[Caymen]

I know how to do the job. I want to know did Ford glue them on or did some 'tard think he was "sealing everything"?


Tom

 

[Explorer_PL]

I did it I think 4 times in the front on my 06 with 132k miles. The first one was the toughest, and as I recall it was glued with some RTV s**t from the factory. When you have the hub puller on it and the 3 bolts removed, just use it as a leverage, and it will come off. The whole job is about an hour.

 

[Caymen]

I ended up having to pull the knuckle to remove the hub. In the process of that, I ended up ruining the lower ball joint. So I ended up replacing that too. That was really simple.

What should have been a 20 minute job took me multiple hours.

Whomever thought RTV sealant was a good idea should be publicly executed.


Tom

 

[Explorer_PL]

I feel your pain. Just last week I offered to replace the hub-bearing on my friend's Equinox with 138k miles. It should have been an hour job, 4 13mm bolts from behind the knuckle, it took us 4 hours. It was seized to the knuckle, but also the CV shaft was seized inside the hub. Took us 3 hub pullers (2 broke), PB blaster, small sledge hammer, and lots of f*** words.

 

[nleipziger]

Well just spent 2 hours doing one hub! I shouldn't have been that difficult but the hub was siliconed and rusted. Tomorrow is the other one. Now for dinner!

 

[Caymen]

Yea, I think the general concensus is that it came that way from the factory.

Silicone was a bad idea. It works good in ***** ;-), but not good for wheel bearings.


Tom

 

[nleipziger]

Well Tom, I just don't know what to say about that..... LOL

 

[letsrace]

well , what do you do ...? just keep cranking on the puller...? i just tryed to do mine drivers side. gave up and put it back together... couldn't brake it loose.. thinking the frigging sealent is the problem.... do i just get larger wrench and keep cranking...?
wondering if the bearing is stuck or if its the sealent. i tryed to put a large pipe wrench on it to spin it to brake the sealant loose ... didn't budge.. very frustrating.
any ideas...? i even tryed heating the knuckle.. though i don'[t think i got it that hot.
thanks in advance..

 

[edwx]

Check the wheel bearing sticky on the 2002-2005 forum. They used various methods to break the glue loose. It was a common problem on the previous generation X's.

 

[letsrace]

ok thanks will check it out.

 

[vipersinu2]

my wheel bearings were siliconed in . A couple of hits with a 5 lbs hammer and it fell right out.

 

[letsrace]

my wheel bearings were siliconed in . A couple of hits with a 5 lbs hammer and it fell right out.

thanks.. after reading your post , thats what i did. just gave it a few light wacks and it came off. just had to be patient with the puller to get it off the splines.. going down the street to get some antiseize. in case if have to do this again.... LOL went to get the PB blaster and forgot the antiseize.
my wife is at work... so i have to ride my bike.....