[dmason57]

I noticed some bad shrill noises when turning left. After a 300 mile trip today I jacked up the right side and my wheel has considerable wobble and play. I removed the caliper and rotor and the wheel and hup have a lot of play. There are also silver metal shavings. Have I got bad bearings and maybe worse? The axle shaft has slop in it to where it comes out of right axle. How seriours is this?

Any advice is needed.

 

[Kev]

I believe it sounds like you just crapped a hub assembly, bearings sound shot. I just replaced a set two days ago because of awful grinding noises, couldn't even hear the engine or radio while driving. Look around on the forum for some good hub prices, I paid $204 per assembly for mine but I was in a rush...has to be a better deal out there. This is a DIY job, not difficult and not too time consuming. No special tools needed. All this being true if indeed you have lost a hub/bearing assembly...can't imagine what else would be wrong.

 

[JimTJr]

The HUB is probably all that is bad, the axle has play at the end, there are no bearings on the end of the differential where the axle goes in. Just a dust seal... Not a bad replacement really. You are about half way done with the wheel, rotor and caliper off!

 

[Ggg6]

Powerstrokeshop.com has a nice complete kit including all the seals at a good price. You will most likely need a torch to remove the old bearing studs to reuse them on the new bearing, or buy new studs. A 6 pt 15mm socket and 1/2 inch breaker bar is needed to remove the bearing mount nuts. A 12pt will round them off, and there is not enough room for a ratchet head, thus the breaker bar.
Not to make a job any more complex but this would be a real good time to do ball joints and/or axle u-joints.

 

[Kev]

[ QUOTE ]

You will most likely need a torch to remove the old bearing studs to reuse them on the new bearing, or buy new studs.

[/ QUOTE ]

Amen on the torch. I only needed it for one stud but it still saved the day. The other seven came out with a vice and the old "two nut" method. No torch? Probably could get by with a good application of scoggins piss and they will come out fine...I'm just impatient.

If you buy your hubs from Advance or Auto Zone they DO NOT come with the o-rings...this is complete BS but doesn't change the fact that they aren't there. I accidentally fried one of them with the torch thinking I wouldn't need it...mistake...had to run all over town finding a best fit o-ring. So, save them. I did see a seal for sale on the previously mentioned website, that is probably the one you need; but only if you screw up the old one. Mine had 170k on it and was still good...well until I applied massive heat to it.

 

[Oneof6]

[ QUOTE ]
I noticed some bad shrill noises when turning left. After a 300 mile trip today I jacked up the right side and my wheel has considerable wobble and play. I removed the caliper and rotor and the wheel and hup have a lot of play. There are also silver metal shavings. Have I got bad bearings and maybe worse? The axle shaft has slop in it to where it comes out of right axle. How seriours is this?

Any advice is needed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Serious, fix it right away. You have at least a bad sealed wheel bearing assembly. Could have stub shaft damage depending on how far it went. If you have visible shavings it is likely that the exterior spindle bearing is the culprit and that damaged the stub shaft. You won't know for certain until you take it apart and inspect it. You can find instructions on the removal and replacement of the parts in the forum articles on Ball Joint Removal and Replacement. It is on the level of a DYI project if you have some tools and time.

To each his own but I wouldn't trouble myself with removing the old assembly studs, expecially with a torch. Kinda takes the temper out of a Grade 8 stud. Those are critical connections you really don't want one to come loose or break and the studs hold it all together. I don't like to take the risk for such a cheap part. Studs are about 3 bucks and the nuts a dollar each you are into it that deep. I replaced mine. It is my understanding that some suppliers have a kit that include the o-ring you will need, hub assembly and new studs with nuts as a kit. Have to wait for shipping on an internet order though.
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[dmason57]

Thank for the replys, I am glad to know that at least the axle shaft is suppose to have some play in it.