Changing Front wheel bearing

[fullshift]

My front wheel bearing on my 2002 windstar is howling. Had to buy entire front hub bearing assembly. Is there any special tricks to changing? What is the torque spec for the actual drive shaft nut & is there a special procedure to tighten this drive shaft nut?
Thanks.

[jkeaton224]

First, buy a repair manual, Haynes or equivalent. It's a fairly straight forward job. You have to remove the brake caliper, control arms, tie rods, stabilizer bars, etc. Most requiring special tools or a BFH. Then put it all back together and get the front end aligned.

[schadd1971]

whats bfh?

[Airjer_]

Big Flippin Hammer.
Or as I like to call it, the Ford diagnostic tool!

[Ed_Strong]

I belive he was referring to the Break Free Handle.

Easy to use... just wrap it around the "thingamajig" and then pull on the "whatyoumightcallit" untill the "whatsitsname" breaks free.

[schadd1971]

hi I just did this job myself....its not too bad hub spindle nut torque is 157 to 212 thats what the hayes manual said...while the tire is still on ground, loosen hub nut...raise and take wheel off.Next take caliper off and bracket that holds caliper to the steering kuckle. you need to do this to get the rotor off. after the rotor is off, take hub nut off and then take pinch bolt out of bottom ball joint. and open the pinch up a little with a screw driver then take a long pry bar/pipe and pry lower control arm down until the ball joint comes out..then get a three arm puller (you can rent these at autozone, as well as the 30mm socket for the hub nut and a torque ratchet that goes to 200 or 250 ft pds) you need this to push the axle shaft out of the hub.....then you can pull the strut foward and get the axle spindle out. be careful not to over extend the cv joints. now you can get to the three bolts from behind that hold the hub to the knuckle

[schadd1971]

now the hub can be a bit stubborn, I used a cold chisel to wedge in the hub /steering knuckle crack and the hub moved a bit and then got easier and fell out. you may have to clean the opening with wire brush or sand paper to clean it up....then bolt new hub...I used a little lock tight on the bolts... then push spindle into hub and put washer and nut on and start to tighten nut to draw spindle into hub .I drew it up about half way then I slipped ball joint back into place..then it was a matter or reassemble... finish drawing spindle with hub bolt, dont torque final torque until tire is on and on the ground......bolt in ball joint...rotor and caliper bracket.....caliper and tire....any questions??

[schadd1971]

by the way...I torqued my hub in the middle...about 195 ft pds and if you use the same nut ( which is ok) put some lock tight on four or five treads I also was careful not to let the caliper hang ( wire it up to the coil spring) and try to keep the axle on the control arm( not to hang as well as to extend it to far ) I actually wired mine to the control arm so I wouldnt bump it off.kinda cramped down there

[Black_Blade]

Just had this problem diagnosed on my 02...my Haynes manual has nothing on it other than it requires "special expertise to press the hub and bearing from the steering knuckle, this job should be left to a professional mechanic."

No help there!

The mechanic I had take the van for a drive to diagnose it, said it was no big deal to change and I should have no trouble doing it myself, if I want.

[olopezm]

Originally Posted by Black_Blade

Just had this problem diagnosed on my 02...my Haynes manual has nothing on it other than it requires "special expertise to press the hub and bearing from the steering knuckle, this job should be left to a professional mechanic."

No help there!

The mechanic I had take the van for a drive to diagnose it, said it was no big deal to change and I should have no trouble doing it myself, if I want.

All you need is a hub remover/installer, I think you can rent it at autoparts stores, I have uploaded an image showing the procedure.

Best regards,

Oscar.

[olopezm]

This comes straight from the Service Manual:

Install Hub Remover/Installer (T81P-1104-C) and Adapters (T83P-1104-BH1 and T86P- 1104-A1). See Fig. 7 . Support axle shaft. Push CV joint outer shaft until its free of hub, bearing and knuckle assembly. Remove and discard strut-to-steering knuckle bolt. Remove the steering knuckle. Remove and discard 3 hub retaining bolts. Remove wheel hub. Wheel hub is a slip-fit design and should not require a puller to remove.

Installation
CAUTION: Front axle wheel hub retainer nut must be tightened to specification immediately during installation. If retainer is not tightened immediately, nylon lock will set incorrectly, leading to incorrect torque readings and bearing failure. Any front wheel hub retainer that is not immediately tightened to specification or is loosened must be removed and a NEW retainer installed.
1. To install, reverse removal procedure. Position ball stud groove so bolt can be installed without forcing. Install NEW fasteners for all items except brake rotor and caliper.
2. Apply Loctite 242 (WSK-M2G351-A5) to last 5 front wheel axle shaft joint threads prior to installing axle wheel hub retainer nut. Tighten all fasteners to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .

PS. Figure 7 is the same image uploaded in my previous post.

[Black_Blade]

thanks for the info olopezm, I just don't get this remove and discard thing with the various bolts and nuts, in my experience most of the time the bolt are still in fine shape. I seen a youtube video where the guy just used the axle hub retainer nut to draw the unit back together (same one he had removed).

Not sure how lucky I will be finding that exact puller in my town. Hope don't have to buy one, for seen one in Canadian Tire for use on Ford Escort, Probe, Lynx vehicles, but it was almost the cost of the actual bearing!

[olopezm]

Not to worry, you can get creative in case you don't have the puller, I know people who uses a piece of wood and a mallet to take it out (it's not a good idea, you might damage something) as noted in the service manual the hub is a slip-fit design and should not require a puller to remove. So you can give it a try and if things get complicated look for the puller.

Best regards,

Oscar.

[Black_Blade]

Just located a pretty good vid on youtube for a 01 and all he used was a punch and impact gun...prolly left out the torquing for simplicity (I would hope...lol) but sure makes it look simple.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDF74BgYmhw

I imagine any type of bearing grease would be fine to put on the new bearing / knuckle area?

[olopezm]

That looks like it, just make sure you don't push too hard on the spindle and specially MAKE SURE YOU USE THE PROPER TORQUE.

Oscar.