Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting wheel bearing issues

MAIN QUESTION--how do i know if entire hub needs to be replaced or not?

I researched this alot on the forums and posted about it months ago when my passenger side bearing went.

My mechanic now tells me that the drivers side is bad. The car vibrates heavy under the drivers side and i even blew the speaker there from increasing the volume over the past few weeks, Mechanic again tells me whole hub should be changed.

I read different views on this.
Can I just replace the wheel bearing?
and it is the same setup zetec and duratec?
I have a 98 zetec

thanks

D

Thats because its easy for your mechanic to replace the complete hub. Should be able to replace just the bearing and I like to put in a new snap-ring as well...sometimes the old one is rusted in pretty good. You need to press the old bearing out, and the new one in...and you need the right size cups or you could destroy the bearing.

For reference:

the bearing is about $60.00 from a dealer.
the HUB is about 225.00 from a Dealer. (comes with bearing pressed already.

From Steve at Tousley ford, they are 165.00 shipped (HUB)

From Stazi, they are $50.00 until supplies run out. (complete hub)

You can replace a hub (since it will not require pressing a bearing in/out) in about 40 minutes or an hour.


To answer your question: If the bearing goes out and spins within the hub,. it can eat away at the hub itself, enlarging the inner diameter (ID) of the hub, making the new bearing not fit as tightly, causing it to go bad quickly.

Also, re-using the Axle nut afterwards can and WILL cause incredibly fast failure to the bearing and hub. It is a ONE TIME USE NUT, regardless of what "this or that" guy says or did.

Tighten the axle nut to 214 FOOT pounds of torque, as that will also cause premature failure.


Ray

thanks guys.
I have rode on the bad bearing for way too miles and will just replace the entire hub...gonna try to do with a buddy and save the 2.5 hours at the shop

45 minutes if you are lucky on your own (no trouble getting ball joint off etc)

There is a how to under duratec maintenance FAQ for hub removal..

Ray