94 ranger xlt rwd...going to replace my brakes today and since the truck has 254,000 mi on it will be replacing the wheel bearings/races as well...I understand the whole procedure, however my question is with the tightening procedure...I only have a ft lb torque wrench so after I tighten the adjusting nut to 17 ft lbs while rotating wheel front wards, back off 1/2 turn, I'm supposere-tighten to 20 in lbs...would that be equivalent to a 1/4 turn?

 

i have always tightened wheel bearing by hand , you get the TRU feel

first off . gently tighten the bearings all the way to properly seat them

back off , the slowly rotate the rotor by while tightening the bearings until you feel a little resistance , stop , use your other hand and rotate the rotor and feel for any binding , no binding

the bearings are properly tightened

 

I did this to my truck this weekend. I had a question for everyone. Like the OP said you torque down the bearings to ~20 ft/lbs, but my 1/2" torque wrench only goes down to ~50 ft/lbs. I have a smaller torque wrench that could do 20 ft/lbs, but it is a 3/8" ratchet. So how would I use that with a socket the size of 1" + that would obviously be made for a 1/2" ratchet. I did the same thing and used a smaller breaker bar to tighten them down by hand much like some do with spark plugs (not actually torquing the plugs down to spec). Then I backed it off 1/2 turn and tightened it finger tight just using the socket. It seems like they nut was only on finger tight (as specs say about 2 ft/lbs). But do you all have 1/2" torque ratchets that go down to 20 ft/lbs, and if you didn't how would you achieve that? I have reducers that allow a 1/2" ratchet to use a 3/8" socket, but nothing that would increase in size like no one would use a 3/8" ratchet on a 1/2" socket. Any suggestions of how to overcome this?

 

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-3-8-...dapter/3380292
Theyr'e around, you should be able to get one from your local auto parts store.

 

2wd drive vehicle wheel bearings are to use INCH pound torque wrenches not foot pound

 

Thanks Jeff for posting that. I guess I will have to pick one up. Never knew they existed.