Spindle Bearings

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

B Series Pickups

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
2. Remove the drive flange.
3. Remove the brake caliper. Support the caliper aside with rope or mechanics wire; do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose.
4. Remove the snapring and spacer. Remove the set bolts and bearing set plate.
5. Remove the bearing locknut using a suitable removal tool. Remove the hub and rotor without letting the washer and bearing fall.
6. Remove the dust cover.
7. Disconnect the tie rod end from the knuckle. Disconnect the stabilizer bar and the lower shock mount.
8. Support the lower control arm with a jack. Remove the lower ball joint nut and separate the knuckle from the lower arm using a suitable tool.
9. Remove the upper ball joint nut and separate the knuckle from the lower arm using a suitable tool.
10. Lower the lower control arm and remove the knuckle.
11. Inspect the knuckle, hub and bearings for wear and or damage. Replace components, as necessary.
12. Remove the oil seal and the bearing inner race from the knuckle. Using a suitable drift, remove the bearing outer race by tapping lightly with a hammer.
13. Using a slide hammer, remove the needle bearing from the knuckle.
14. Mark the position of the disc brake rotor on the hub, then remove the bolts and disassemble the rotor and hub.
15. Remove the oil seal and the bearing inner race from the hub. Using a suitable drift, remove the bearing outer race by tapping lightly with a hammer.

    To install:

16. Press a new needle bearing into the knuckle using a suitable driver.
17. After installing the inner bearing into the knuckle, press in a new oil seal. Apply wheel bearing grease to the oil seal lip.
18. Press fit the outer side bearing outer race, then the inner side bearing outer race, into the hub using suitable drivers. Press in a new oil seal until it is flush with the hub end surface. Apply wheel bearing grease to the seal lip.
19. Align the matching marks of the hub and brake rotor and tighten the mounting bolts to 40–51 ft. lbs. (54–69 Nm).
20. Liberally apply high temperature wheel bearing grease to the inside of the hub. Install the outer bearing race and washer in the hub.
21. Insert the halfshaft into the knuckle and install the nut for the lower ball joint. Tighten the nut by hand.
22. Raise the lower control arm with the jack until the upper ball joint is connected to the knuckle. Install the nut and tighten by hand.
23. Tighten the upper ball joint nut to 22–38 ft. lbs. (29–51 Nm) and the lower ball joint nut to 87–116 ft. lbs. (118–157 Nm). Install new cotter pins.
24. Connect the tie rod end to the knuckle, tighten the nut to 23–43 ft. lbs. (44–59 Nm) and install a new cotter pin.
25. Install the dust cover to the knuckle and tighten to 14–19 ft. lbs. (19–26 Nm).
26. After loosely installing the lower shock absorber mount, install the stabilizer bar.
27. Install the hub and rotor assembly, then adjust the bearing preload as follows:
    1. Tighten the locknut, then turn the hub and rotor 2–3 times to seat the bearing.
    2. Loosen the locknut so they can be turned by hand.
    3. Attach a suitable pull scale to a wheel lug bolt and measure the frictional forces. The preload is the frictional force plus 1.3–2.6 lbs.
    4. Tighten the locknut until the preload is as specified.
    5. Install the bearing set plate using 2 bolts. Tighten the bolts to 43–61 inch lbs. (5–7 Nm).
    6. Coat the spacer with grease and install it. Install a new snapring.
28. Install the remaining components in the reverse of removal.

MPV

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
2. Remove and discard the locknut from the end of the halfshaft.
3. Remove the brake caliper and disc brake rotor. Support the caliper aside with rope or mechanics wire; do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose.
4. Remove the cotter pin and nut and, using a suitable tool, disconnect the tie rod end from the knuckle.
5. Remove the cotter pin and loosen the lower ball joint nut. Separate the lower arm from the knuckle using a suitable tool.
6. Remove the knuckle-to-strut bolts and nuts and remove the knuckle/hub assembly from the vehicle.
7. Pry out the inner oil seal from the knuckle.
8. Position the knuckle/hub assembly in a press and, using a suitable driver, press the hub from the knuckle.

   NOTE: If the inner bearing race remains on the hub, position the hub in a vise, secured by the flange. Move the race away from the hub using a hammer and chisel, then position the hub in a press and press the race off of the hub.

9. Pry out the outer oil seal from the knuckle.
10. Remove the retaining ring and position the knuckle in a press. Using a suitable driver, press the wheel bearing from the knuckle.
11. If necessary, mark the position of the dust shield on the knuckle and remove the dust shield, using a hammer and chisel. Do not reuse the dust cover, if removed.

    To install:

12. If the dust cover was removed, mark the new cover in the same place as the old was marked during removal. Align the cover and knuckle marks and press the cover onto the knuckle.
13. Press a new wheel bearing into the knuckle, using a suitable driver. Install the retaining ring and a new outer seal. Apply grease to the seal lip.
14. Press the hub into the knuckle, using a suitable driver. Install a new inner seal and lubricate the seal lip with grease.
15. Install the remiaing components in the reverse of removal.

Navajo

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle. Remove the front wheel and tire assemblies.
2. Remove the disc brake caliper and wire it to the frame. Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose.
3. Remove the hub locks, wheel bearings and locknuts.
4. Remove the hub, rotor and outer wheel bearing.
5. Remove the grease seal from the rotor with a seal removal tool. Remove the inner wheel bearing.
6. If the wheel bearings are to be replaced, remove the inner and outer bearing races with a suitable puller or a hammer and brass drift.
7. Remove the nuts retaining the spindle to the steering knuckle. Tap the spindle with a plastic hammer to jar the spindle from the knuckle. Remove the splash shield.
8. On the left side of the vehicle, remove the shaft and joint assembly by pulling the assembly out of the carrier. On the right side of the carrier, remove and discard the clamp from the shaft and joint assembly and the stub shaft. Pull the shaft and joint assembly from the splines of the stub shaft.
9. Place the spindle in a vise on the second step of the spindle. Wrap a shop towel around the spindle or use a brass-jawed vise to protect the spindle.
10. Remove the oil seal and needle bearing from the spindle with a slide hammer and seal remover TOOL–1175–AC or equivalent. If necessary, remove the slinger from the shaft by driving off with a hammer.
11. Remove the cotter pin from the tie rod nut and then remove the nut. Tap on the tie rod stud to free it from the steering arm.
12. Remove the upper ball joint snapring and remove the upper ball joint pinch bolt. Loosen the lower ball joint nut to the end of the stud.
13. Strike the inside of the knuckle near the upper and lower ball joints to break the knuckle loose from the ball joint studs.
14. Remove the camber adjuster sleeve. Note the position of the slot in the camber adjuster so it can be reinstalled in the same position during assembly.
15. Remove the lower ball joint nut. Place the knuckle in a vise and remove the snapring from the bottom ball joint socket, if equipped.
16. Assemble C-frame T74P–4635–C and ball joint remover T83T–3050–A or equivalents on the lower ball joint. Turn the forcing screw clockwise until the lower ball joint is removed from the steering knuckle.
17. Assemble the C-frame and ball joint remover on the upper ball joint and remove in the same manner.

    NOTE: Always remove the lower ball joint first.

    To install:

18. Clean the steering knuckle bore and insert the lower ball joint in the knuckle as straight as possible.
19. Assemble C-frame T74P–4635–C, ball joint installer T83T–3050–A and receiver cup T80T–3010–A3 or equivalents to install the lower ball joint. Turn the forcing screw clockwise until the lower ball joint is firmly seated. Install the snapring on the lower ball joint.

    NOTE: The lower ball joint must always be installed first.

20. Assemble the C-frame, ball joint installer and receiver cup to install the upper ball joint. Turn the forcing screw clockwise until the ball joint is firmly seated.
21. Install the camber adjuster into the support arm, making sure the slot is in the original position.

    NOTE: The torque sequence in Steps 22 and 23 must be followed exactly when securing the knuckle. Excessive knuckle turning effort may result in reduced steering returnability if this procedure is not followed.

22. Install a new nut on the bottom ball joint stud. Tighten the nut to 90 ft. lbs. (122 Nm) minimum, then tighten to align the next slot in the nut with the hole in the stud. Install a new cotter pin.
23. Install the snapring on the upper ball joint stud. Install the upper ball joint pinch bolt and tighten to 48–65 ft. lbs. (65–88 Nm).

    NOTE: The camber adjuster will seat itself into the knuckle at a predetermined position during the tightening sequence. Do not attempt to adjust this position.

24. Clean all dirt and grease from the spindle bearing bore. The bearing bores must be free from nicks and burrs.
25. Place the bearing in the bore with the manufacturers identification facing outward. Drive the bearing into the bore using spindle bearing replacer T80T–4000–S and driver handle T80T–4000–W or equivalents.
26. Install the grease seal in the bearing bore with the lip side of the seal facing towards the tool. Drive the seal in the bore using the same tools as in Step 25. Coat the bearing seal lip with high-temperature lubricant.
27. If removed, press on a new shaft slinger.
28. On the right side of the carrier, install the rubber boot and new keystone clamps on the stub shaft slip yoke. Slide the right shaft and joint assembly into the slip yoke making sure the splines are fully engaged. Slide the boot over the assembly and crimp the keystone clamp using suitable pliers.

    NOTE: The Dana model 35 axle does not have a blind spline, therefore pay special attention to make sure the yoke ears are in phase (in line) during assembly.

29. On the left side of the carrier, slide the shaft and joint assembly through the knuckle and engage the splines on the shaft in the carrier.
30. Install the splash shield and spindle onto the steering knuckle. Install and tighten the spindle nuts to 45 ft. lbs. (61 Nm).
31. If removed, drive the bearing races into the rotor using a suitable driver. Pack the inner and outer wheel bearings and the lip of a new seal with high-temperature wheel bearing grease.
32. Position the inner wheel bearing in the race and install the seal using a seal installer. Install the rotor on the spindle and install the outer wheel bearing in the race.
33. Install the wheel bearing, locknut, thrust bearing, snapring and locking hubs.
34. Install the caliper and the wheel and tire assemblies. Lower the vehicle.