Hello All,
Finally found the information I was looking for in the factory shop manual. For some bizarre reason the Ford engineers put that information in the 'Wheels and Tires' section. So, for future reference;
Group 11 - Wheels and Tires
Section 11-10 Wheel Bearings and Spindle Carriers - Front
For those of you that don't have the manual and are contemplating replacing the front wheel bearings, bear the following in mind;
1. You will need 4 bearings (2 for each wheel), plus 2 grease seals (1 for each wheel). [For reference, bearings; SKF FW139, grease seal; SKF 20905]
2. The large lock nut (41mm) behind the dust cover (below strut) is RH thread on the drivers side (blue Nylock nut), and LH thread on passenger side (yellow Nylock nut).
3. The spindle carrier will need to removed from the vehicle - this means unbolting brake caliper and hang it via a wire from the front spring, remove strut pinch bolt, disconnect ball joint, do the same with the tie rod end and unbolt the ABS pick-up.
4. The real challenge will be the above mentioned lock nut - it is tightened to 390 - 450 N-m (288 - 331 ft. lb.), of torque. The manual suggests reversing the wheel nuts and placing the spindle in a vice to do this. Removing it can be done with typical garage tools. Applying torque to spec during reassembly will be the challenge. Like me, I doubt if any of you have a torque wrench with those values. I'll try the local truck repair shop for this step.
5. As with all manufacturers, Ford has a gaggle of special tools to remove and insert the outer bearing races. This is where erring on the side of caution is critical. For installation I may try the 'bearing race in the freezer trick coupled with the spindle in the oven'. Speed (and gloves), will be critical.
6. Pack the bearings well with a good quality bearing grease and don't over do it - not much room exists for excess grease in the spindle cavity. You don't want the excess squeezing out past the seal onto the brake discs! Don't forget to grease the seal and the surfaces it rides on.
7. Once the spindle nut has been torqued to spec, double check it for smooth operation. If any tight spots exist, remove the nut and double check the inner races, one or both may not have seated properly.
NOTE;
1. These bearings have NO adjustment so the installation procedure (outer bearing races square in the bore and properly seated), is CRITICAL. As well, the torque on the spindle nut is a factor. Too loose or too tight will result in premature failure of the wheel bearings.
2. Ford expects the lock nuts to be replaced during this R & R procedure. I doubt if these are still available at the parts counter. I would suggest using thread locking compound.
Hope it helps.
