front wheel bearing problem...

[tweek]

i have an '87 k5 with a 10 bolt front end and auto hubs...that needed the front wheel bearings replaced (the bearings started to make noise), got all new parts (including the adjuster nut, because the pin was sheared off), used a Haynes book for the torque settings, drove the truck about 40 miles and both hubs were red hot

pulled everything back apart and everything looked good
drove the truck about 10 miles and again the hubs were hot

i did a search and it looks like i did everything right

any ideas why the might be so hot?

thanks for any help

 

[camiswelding]

Please tell us what you are torquing them to...... haynes is usally right but lets compare....

if the rotor and hub drag then you have them too tight probably

 

[tweek]

haynes first has you setting the adjusting nut at 50 ft/lbs then has you backing off 90 degrees (to seat the bearing i guess), then they have you torquing them to 35 ft/lbs then backing of 3/8ths of a turn.......

then set the indexing ring in place........making sure to engage the pin

then torquing the lock nut to 186 ft/lbs


does this sound correct?


my Ford buddy says this sounds very high????? for torquing a bearing.....


thanks again........

 

[88K5Jimmy]

One thing to think about....

Make sure your auto locking hubs are actually disengaged when you are driving it. I have heard several stories of aut locking hubs that didn't unlock.

 

[tweek]

they didn't feel engaged, in the morning i will check to see if the hubs are still engaged and to see if both front calipers might be dragging other than that i'm lost

thanks for the advice

 

[87BrnRsd]

Those torque specs are exactly right on the money. Try jacking up the front of the truck and spinning the tires by hand. If they snag or are hard to turn, then something is wrong. They should turn freely. Im just curious, did you pack the bearings with lots of grease? I always try to pack them with as much as possible before I put them in.
-Harrison

 

[surpip]

One thing to think about....

Make sure your auto locking hubs are actually disengaged when you are driving it. I have heard several stories of aut locking hubs that didn't unlock.

I dont see what this would have to do with making the hubs hot?

 

[88K5Jimmy]

Maybe if the hubs didn't unlock and when he drove the truck 40mi on the highway there's a possibility for the hubs to get really hot.

 

[surpip]

mabye, but i dont think so
my thought is somthing is up with the bearings, or they were not packed right

 

[tweek]

yup the bearings were packed full with grease.......i used a bearing packer and they were full............


went back over my procedure and i screwed up........


when i went to back off 3/8ths of a turn i was only backing off like a quarter


i screwed up

and all is well in k5 land again, and thanks for all of the help guys....