Installing front wheel bearings?
#1
Installing front wheel bearings?
Hey everyone, I've got to replace my front wheel bearings (inner & outer). I was wondering how hard it is to do this. And any help on as how to do it would be awesome! I already have all the bearings & stuff, just need a little info on putting them on! THANKS!!!
Brenton
Brenton
#2
Alright. It's cake. I'll walk you through it. I do it everyday so I'm reliable I promise.
1. Jack the front up and remove the front wheels. It's easiest if you leave the steering wheel unlocked so you can turn the wheels.
2. Remove the caliper bracket mounting bolts from behind. They are an 18 or 19 mm bolts I believe. They will probably be tight since they have a sealer on them from the factory. If you do this you won't have to take the caliper off of the bracket and it saves a few minutes.
3. Remove the dustcap from the center of the rotor. There is a special tool for it that nobody has. Personally I just use a hammer and hit down on one side of it with a small chisel or screwdriver and once you get one side of it up you'll be able to pry it off.
4. Take a pair of dikes and remove the cotter pins. Pull the castle nut off and then take a pair of decent sized pliers and unscrew the nut. The outer wheel bearing and the washer will then come off.
5. Take the nut and put it back on the end of the spindle. Your rotor will be laying there on the spindle. If you pull the rotor off you'll feel it catch the nut. Yank on the rotor then twist it and yank it again. Twist and yank until the inner bearing and dust seal come off. You might not know what I'm talking about but once you get this far you'll figure it out.
6. Clean the old grease off the spindle and pack the new bearings good.
7. Put the inner wheel bearing inside the rotor and put the dust seal on it and take a hammer and work your way around it and hammer it back on straight.
8. Put a nice layer of grease on the spindle and put the rotor/inner bearing on. Now take the outer bearing and the washer and put them back on inside the rotor. Take the nut and put it back on so it all holds in place.
9. Take pliers (not a socket) and tighten the nut until it's snug. If it's too loose you'll feel the rotor wobbling and if it's too tight the rotor will bind. Pliers make it almost idiotproof so you can't overtighten it.
10. Put the castle nut and a new cotter pin in. Hammer the dust cap back on until the lip is flush all the way around.
11. Slide the caliper bracket/caliper back on the rotor. Tighten the 2 bolts on it nice and tight (80 lb/ft or so).
12. Reinstall the wheel and pull up and down/side to side on the wheel to make sure it's nice and tight. Repeat on the other side. Just don't forget even if you didn't move the brake pads pump your brakes first.
It's really, really easy. I'd say 2 hours tops if it's your first time.
=john=
1. Jack the front up and remove the front wheels. It's easiest if you leave the steering wheel unlocked so you can turn the wheels.
2. Remove the caliper bracket mounting bolts from behind. They are an 18 or 19 mm bolts I believe. They will probably be tight since they have a sealer on them from the factory. If you do this you won't have to take the caliper off of the bracket and it saves a few minutes.
3. Remove the dustcap from the center of the rotor. There is a special tool for it that nobody has. Personally I just use a hammer and hit down on one side of it with a small chisel or screwdriver and once you get one side of it up you'll be able to pry it off.
4. Take a pair of dikes and remove the cotter pins. Pull the castle nut off and then take a pair of decent sized pliers and unscrew the nut. The outer wheel bearing and the washer will then come off.
5. Take the nut and put it back on the end of the spindle. Your rotor will be laying there on the spindle. If you pull the rotor off you'll feel it catch the nut. Yank on the rotor then twist it and yank it again. Twist and yank until the inner bearing and dust seal come off. You might not know what I'm talking about but once you get this far you'll figure it out.
6. Clean the old grease off the spindle and pack the new bearings good.
7. Put the inner wheel bearing inside the rotor and put the dust seal on it and take a hammer and work your way around it and hammer it back on straight.
8. Put a nice layer of grease on the spindle and put the rotor/inner bearing on. Now take the outer bearing and the washer and put them back on inside the rotor. Take the nut and put it back on so it all holds in place.
9. Take pliers (not a socket) and tighten the nut until it's snug. If it's too loose you'll feel the rotor wobbling and if it's too tight the rotor will bind. Pliers make it almost idiotproof so you can't overtighten it.
10. Put the castle nut and a new cotter pin in. Hammer the dust cap back on until the lip is flush all the way around.
11. Slide the caliper bracket/caliper back on the rotor. Tighten the 2 bolts on it nice and tight (80 lb/ft or so).
12. Reinstall the wheel and pull up and down/side to side on the wheel to make sure it's nice and tight. Repeat on the other side. Just don't forget even if you didn't move the brake pads pump your brakes first.
It's really, really easy. I'd say 2 hours tops if it's your first time.
=john=
The following users liked this post:
cflick (07-14-2020)
#3
Originally Posted by 67cobain94
9. Take pliers (not a socket) and tighten the nut until it's snug. If it's too loose you'll feel the rotor wobbling and if it's too tight the rotor will bind. Pliers make it almost idiotproof so you can't overtighten it.
10. Put the castle nut and a new cotter pin in. Hammer the dust cap back on until the lip is flush all the way around.
11. Slide the caliper bracket/caliper back on the rotor. Tighten the 2 bolts on it nice and tight (80 lb/ft or so).
12. Reinstall the wheel and pull up and down/side to side on the wheel to make sure it's nice and tight. Repeat on the other side. Just don't forget even if you didn't move the brake pads pump your brakes first.
It's really, really easy. I'd say 2 hours tops if it's your first time.
=john=
10. Put the castle nut and a new cotter pin in. Hammer the dust cap back on until the lip is flush all the way around.
11. Slide the caliper bracket/caliper back on the rotor. Tighten the 2 bolts on it nice and tight (80 lb/ft or so).
12. Reinstall the wheel and pull up and down/side to side on the wheel to make sure it's nice and tight. Repeat on the other side. Just don't forget even if you didn't move the brake pads pump your brakes first.
It's really, really easy. I'd say 2 hours tops if it's your first time.
=john=
only thing i suggest, it makes things workin easier.. by some latex gloves, that way when you need clean hands for something pull the gloves off, and you don't have to kill time wiping grease off your hands....
#4
#5
#8
#9
Does anyone have pics or a microfiche to look at on this project? I recently replaced my left side bearings and the wheel is wobbling slightly. I have only driven it down the road a couple hundred feet. I took it apart 2 months ago and just now put back together. Maybe I put the parts on wrong.....I couldn't remember exactly how the washers went back on..........mine does not have castle nuts or cotter pins, but rather a spindle lock nut. It is a 1996 4WD. Thanks!
#11
#12
Originally Posted by EdGe_wannabe
Yea, I don't have the same suspension anymore, but I did get it done. Remember Evan that was when you were down last year for New Years & we were working on my truck. I think that's when it was. When we shot Nate w. the roman candles.
Brenton
Brenton
haha BIG NATE..oh yea i guess i was there..dern i even helped
#13
So does anyone know which specifcally work with a 2001 Ford Ranger 2.3L rwd?
I am here:
2001 FORD RANGER Wheel Bearing
But as far as inner and outer. The Timken have all different sizes... NO clue which to get?
Any help would greatly be apprecaited!
Thanks,
-Nigel
I am here:
2001 FORD RANGER Wheel Bearing
But as far as inner and outer. The Timken have all different sizes... NO clue which to get?
Any help would greatly be apprecaited!
Thanks,
-Nigel
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post