I bought 2001 ranger 4x4 5spd 4.0 xlt last year 128.000 miles on it new tranny and clutch motor strong ,,It had a pulling and grinding problem when applying the brakes took to Les schwab tire store ,they replaced the front rotors and new brakes all the way around ,It seemed ok but there was still a little squeak coming from the right front ,the more I drove it the louder it has become ,,So I take it back they happly do a warranty work and come back to me it has a bent hub ,I asked is it safe to drive ,yes he says ,, Whats your thoughts and where do I find a new one , Thank you ,,Robert

 

I wouldnt drive it too much if it were me. I am replacing them as well amongst other things. I have a guy that can hook you up with Centric hubs, bestr deal around as well. Shoot me a PM and I will get you his info

 

Robert, I just replaced the front rotors and brakes on my 1997 Ford Ranger and I got the rotor/hubs from NAPA...I did some research about a hub for your 2001 and NAPA has rotor/hub assy's for your truck also...they have the hub assy too...It's confusing to me why they replaced the rotors only and not the hubs...if they did it the right way, they would have replaced the rotor/hub as one...what exactly did they state they replaced??? If they didn't repack the bearings that could be where your noise is coming from...I don't see how the hub could be bent...let me know exactly what they did and if they repacked the bearings...

 

01 do not have the traditional hubs, they use a unitized bearing, totally different than your 97.

If the pressed in "hub" of the unit bearing is bent, gotta replace the whole deal....pretty easy to DIY, part should run about 180-250 depending on make/where you get it.

 

Thanks for enlightening me...I hope he gets his fixed because driving with that being bent sounds dangerous...especially in the front....

 

I think the pressed in thing your referring to is called the "race"...the bearing rides in this...my rotors luckily came with this pressed in already...

 

No, on some cars you do press out the hub to replace the wheel bearing, but it is not a caged bearing and race, it's a pressed in bearing with the hub pressed into that....hope that makes sense.

The Ranger and trucks in general use a whole unitized setup that is bolted to the knuckle.....WAY easier than the stupid car setup as you have to either have a $$ tool to do it on car or pull the whole knuckle off the car.

 

Yeah...it makes sense...but my rotors and brake pads were easy to replace...why is my setup stupid?

 

Thanks all for your help and emails about this ,So if I understand this right ,,The hubs unit on my 2001 4x4 Ranger is a non repair-able and has to be replaced with a new ones,, because,,, even if it wasnt bent,, they canot change the bearings out for new ones,,some thing about the way the bearings are pressed in to the hubs ,Now that is stupid !!!!!!The older rigs are better that you can replace a bearing if it goes out ,these you have to replace the hub,,Is that correct,,,,,,,Robert

 

yes the hub is a sealed unit. not hard to replace at all. you can get 2 on rock auto for like 250 is i think. mine as well do both at the same time.

 

entire assembly has to be replaced. the hub/bearing assembly is what holds your wheel on. I'd be careful driving it since you have a live axle set up.

You don't want yours getting moderately close to this once it starts getting bad

 

Hey that's what mine was doing the other day!!

 

Wirelessly posted

^ cuz your tires are stupid wide

 

could have been the previous 70,000 lifted miles as it was a stock hub? feel pretty confident it wasnt done in the last 500 miles but thanks for pointing out that i have nice beautiful wide tires

 

WOO HOO ,,,I finally got to order my new hubs for my Ranger today ,It hurt but I feel The extra money was well spent ,I bought the timken ones from Rock Auto,,,Thanks for all the help and pm offers ,,Here's where my pain starts had to sell my RC Hasbro *****'s jeep I custom built it from a Axial ax10 & Hasbro GI JOE Jeep ,,,The jeep sold high thou ,,happy about that ,,,4door

 

New hubs are on and it drives alot better,,,,,But has anone else found that they front knuckle seals were shot and letting water and mud go into the bearings from the front axle ,The axle seals that go in the knuckle were just hanging there on mine,had to replace both sides ,this should make the bearings last longer I hope..4door