wheel bearings/hub kit

johnboy1 · May 12, 2009

so it seems to be time to replace the wheel bearings on my 01 dodge 4x. the right front is starting to make a little noise and after driving for a while the hub gets warm.

major downside is the price. napa wants around $490, shucks said there is one for about $320 and another for about $400. ouch. ABS is an exspensive bastard

so hopefully i can make it the rest of the week without it seizing up on me.

anyone ever done this before? may need some help and im willing to bring beer! looks like i need some special socket for the knuckle to hub bolts. anyone know what socket is needed? i can ask my Snap-On guy if he has one on friday.

Lucky Jeff · May 12, 2009

johnboy said:
so it seems to be time to replace the wheel bearings on my 01 dodge 4x. the right front is starting to make a little noise and after driving for a while the hub gets warm.

major downside is the price. napa wants around $490, shucks said there is one for about $320 and another for about $400. ouch. ABS is an exspensive bastard

so hopefully i can make it the rest of the week without it seizing up on me.

anyone ever done this before? may need some help and im willing to bring beer! looks like i need some special socket for the knuckle to hub bolts. anyone know what socket is needed? i can ask my Snap-On guy if he has one on friday.

haven't done it yet because mine hasn't acted up.. But I would do the axle shaft u-joints while you're in there.

zukkev · May 12, 2009

No special socket needed for the hub-to-knuckle bolts....It's really easy to do the unit bearing; just be VERY careful when re-installing the axles thru the seals if you pull the axles to do ujoints, or you'll be tearing it apart again to replace 'em---We usually just recommend doing new inner axle seals at the same time as axle joints....

nevada · May 12, 2009

start spraying it with penetrating oil now. do it several times a day.

zukkev · May 12, 2009

Just take the bolts out, then thread them in part way (4-5 turns, then air hammer on the center of the heads---this will get the hub off easily....if they don't just come off.

Lucky Jeff · May 12, 2009

I had to beat the hell out of mine on the Jeep.. there is no way my Dodge will be any easier.. And not too many shade tree mechanics have air hammers :haha:

3casedtoy · May 12, 2009

damn too bad you need the ones with ABS in them, I just took the ones off my 98 and they are in nice shape. I'm making a hub conversion for my truck.

nevada · May 12, 2009

get them from www.rockauto.com

Nuzzy · May 12, 2009

nevada said:
get them from www.rockauto.com

I was gonna say this same thing. Rock auto has them way cheaper than anywhere else I found. I think mine was about $250 or so from there.

johnboy1 · May 13, 2009

Lucky Jeff said:
haven't done it yet because mine hasn't acted up.. But I would do the axle shaft u-joints while you're in there.

i would do the u-joints but dont have the extra cash to.

zukkev said:
No special socket needed for the hub-to-knuckle bolts....It's really easy to do the unit bearing; just be VERY careful when re-installing the axles thru the seals if you pull the axles to do ujoints, or you'll be tearing it apart again to replace 'em---We usually just recommend doing new inner axle seals at the same time as axle joints....

yeah the seal on my passenger sider is starting to leak so ill just take care of that when i do the u-joint.

nevada said:
start spraying it with penetrating oil now. do it several times a day.

hopefully they wont be too much of a PITA especially since my truck spent 7 years in hawaii, that red dirt crap is like concrete.

Lucky Jeff said:
I had to beat the hell out of mine on the Jeep.. there is no way my Dodge will be any easier.. And not too many shade tree mechanics have air hammers :haha:

that i do not have, hell i dont even have an air compressor!

3casedtoy said:
damn too bad you need the ones with ABS in them, I just took the ones off my 98 and they are in nice shape. I'm making a hub conversion for my truck.

i would love to do that eventually.

nevada said:
get them from www.rockauto.com

awesome! i think i may have to order from them. way cheaper. hell i can get next day air for less than the highest shucks price. and they would take at least 3 days to get it in.

nevada · May 13, 2009

prepare for it to be stuck.

and have u changed those seals before? that can be quite a job.

johnboy1 · May 13, 2009

no ive never done big axle seals. done them plenty of times on toy axles though.

nevada · May 13, 2009

johnboy said:
no ive never done big axle seals. done them plenty of times on toy axles though.

different, alot different.
youve got to drop the carrier out. and then u have like a 8" space to try to get the seal lined up straight, and drive it in.