Wheel Hub: Service and Repair

REMOVAL

1. Raise and support vehicle and remove front wheel.
2. Remove nut tab and the driveshaft locknut. When loosening nut, lock hub by applying brakes.
3. Remove cotter pin and nut from tie rod end and, using tool 490118850C or equivalent, separate tie rod end from knuckle. If it is difficult to separate, tap knuckle and ball joint with hammer.
4. Remove caliper assembly, leaving hose attached, and suspend out of way.
5. Remove clamp bolt and nut and push lower arm downward to separate knuckle and ball joint.
6. Remove shock absorber to knuckle attaching bolts.
7. Separate front hub and knuckle from driveshaft. If driveshaft cannot be separated from front hub, use tool 490839425C or equivalent. Be careful not to damage oil seal.

DISASSEMBLY

1. Using tools 49G030725 and 49G030727, or equivalents, remove wheel hub.
2. Scribe alignment marks on disc plate and wheel hub and separate plate and hub.
3. Using tools 49B092372 and 49F401366A, or equivalents, and a suitable press, remove outer bearing inner race. Hold hub to prevent it from falling.
4. Remove outer oil seal from front hub.
5. Using tool 49FT01361 or equivalent and a suitable press, remove bearing outer race. Do not remove bearing unless necessary. Remove race gradually and carefully.

INSPECTION

1. Check for abnormal wear, damage or seizure of bearing, replacing as necessary. Replace bearing as a set (inner and outer races).
2. Check knuckle for cracks or damage and the bearing bore for scoring or rust, replacing as necessary.
3. Check for damaged dust cover or poor fit with knuckle, replacing as necessary.
4. Check hub for damage, bearing bore for scoring or rust and oil seal contact surface for wear, replacing as necessary.

ASSEMBLY

Assemble in reverse order of disassembly, noting the following:
1. Use pipe with I.D.-O.D. of 3.19-3.35 inches (81-85 mm) and hammer to press fit dust cover.
2. Align match marks when assembling disc plate and wheel hub and torque bolts to 33-40 ft.lbs.
3. Use piece of pipe with O.D. of 2.56-2.64 inches (65-67 mm) and suitable press to against wheel bearing outer race to press bearing into knuckle. Press in until edge of race contacts knuckle.
4. Adjust bearing preload as follows:
a. Insert bearing and spacer into knuckle and attach tool 49B001727 or equivalent. Use removed spacer.
b. Measure bearing preload after torquing spacer selector to 145 ft.lbs. Torque in steps of 36.2 ft.lbs. Bearing preload is 2.17-10.42 inch lbs. When measured at caliper mounting hole of knuckle preload should be .53-2.55 lbs. for 13 inch wheel or .48-2.35 lbs. for 14 inch wheel.

Fig. 8 Spacer selection chart:

c. If preload is not within specification, adjust by selecting replacement spacer from chart, Fig. 8. Increase spacer thickness when the preload is too high and decrease it when preload is too low. When spacer is changed by one rank, preload changes 1.7-3.5 inch lb. Marking is stamped on outer periphery of spacer.
5. Using plastic hammer, install outer oil seal so that it is flush with knuckle. Use new oil seal and apply grease to lip of seal.
6. Using hammer and tool 49B001795 or equivalent, drive in oil seal so that it is flush with knuckle. Use new oil seal and apply grease to lip of seal.
7. When press fitting wheel hub into knuckle (with bearing and oil seal), use tool 49B001727 or equivalent and suitable press, pressing with a force of 5500 lbs.

INSTALLATION

Reverse removal procedure to install, noting the following:
1. Mount front hub and knuckle to driveshaft, then mount knuckle to lower arm ball joint and shock absorber, torquing shock absorber bolts to 69-86 ft.lbs. and the lower arm ball joint bolt to 32-40 ft.lbs.
2. Torque caliper attaching bolts to 29-36 ft.lbs.
3. Using new driveshaft locknut, torque to 116-174 ft.lbs. and securely stake into groove. Do not use pointed tool for staking and ensure wheel hub turns freely by hand.
4. Torque tie rod end to 22-33 ft.lbs. and install new cotter pin.
5. Torque lug nuts to 65-87 ft.lbs.