Front Wheel Bearing service....

Whenever the steer axle is jacked up, I like to grab the tire and check for excessive freeplay. Loose bearings generally emit a "clunk" noise, loose kingpins are usually quiet unless they're really bad. Obviously if the hubs are oil bath, keep a eye on the oil level and open the hood to check the brake shoes for oil residue, from leaking wheelseals. Like posters on the other thread said, a temp gun is especially useful for checking sealed hubs. My $.02

 

Drive axle oil doesn't get changed with new oil in the diffs, unless you drain the oil out of the hubs or take em off. Part of the problem is there's about 3 different methods of setting wheel bearings due to different setups. Technicians will mix up the instructions, or better yet not put a dial indicator on to check end play. I had a failure that cost me $3000 (the money was recovered). I only let three people touch my bearings. Me myself and I.

 

I worked at a Freightliner dealership for a bit. No one knew where the dial indicators even were.

 

I just had the front bearings replaced on my truck. The steering gradually got looser(needs a new box anyway) and then the seal started leaking pretty bad. It received new bearings and seals and it steers better than it ever has since Ive had it.

 

Call Microblue @ 704-489-2216

Website: http://www.microblueracing.com/

 

We jack up and do the roll and wiggle test every oil change (15,000 mi). We have a bi-annual where we pull the caps and check end-play, 0.001"- 0.005" is the most common agreed upon spec, but I don't like them as loose as 0.005". We set them to 0.001"-0.003".

Most of our trailers and some tractors have grease or unitized hubs. In that case, we jack it up, spin the wheel and listen closely. A faint clicking noise is a dry bearing. Grease bearings get pulled, checked and repacked or replaced. Unitized get replaced if anything is wrong.

 

I always looked at the seals, when ever the brakes were done, I had the seals replaced. Early bearing failure is either caused by a lack of lubricant or cheap bearings - more likely than not it is the first cause.

 

Best check for wheel bearing condition shown to me from the alignment guy is to jack up wheel spin it fast by hand and place your hand on the brake pot, if any vibration is felt you have a bad bearing. I was amaised at how well this worked and have never missed with it in 12 years.

 

Trying to find a quick solution to my problem, heres the rundown... Getting alot of rain in Il today , stopped for awhile jumped in the tractor for a quick delivery noticed a loud squeaking at low speeds when I stoppped. Could this be due to rain by chance? Or is it time to be concerned.... Any help would be appreciated !