87 Front bearings,what do I need?

[RustedRanger]

My front wheels have a lot of play and I think I might need new wheel bearings. It has 147,000 mi. I know I need the special socket for the spindle nuts but looking online at the parts stores I see several different bearings/kits. What bearings do I need? The inner,outer and thrust bearing and seals? Should I get everything and take back what I don't need? The wheels have lots of play but spin smoothly and don't make any noise. I don't have access to an inch pound torque wrench and the manual says the inner nut should be torqued to 35 ft lbs then backed off 1/4 turn the tightened to 16 in lbs. Would that be finger tight? Hand tight? Is it dangerous to keep driving it? I know bad bearings can hurt the spindle and I don't want and can't afford that. Thanks.
P.S. The wheels will move almost an inch back and forth. I have Autozone,Advance and Orielly's near me, do they have the right socket?

 

[mht95ranger]

I would not drive it. You might want to see if the spindle nut worked its way loose. If so go to the parts house and see if they rent a socket and torque wrench to tighten them up til you have time to replace them.

 

[rmodel65]

you have to do a rolling torque and spin the wheel while doing this(requires a beam type torgue wrench) i just always snug it down back off of it and snug it up with my fingers also still while spinning

 

[AllanD]

Play in the bearings does NOT indicate a need for new bearings, it does indicate a need to propely preload the bearings.

IF the bearings actually need to be replaced replace the inner cup by discarding the rotor that it is pressed into.

Of all the stupid things I've seen people do, one of the worst is to
replace the bearing cups in a used set of rotors.

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[RustedRanger]

I don't understand. Are you saying that if the bearings are bad to get new rotors? Are the bearing "cups" the same thing as races? Iv'e replaced the races when putting in new bearings before on several cars and never had any trouble. My rotors are fine and I can't afford new ones.

 

[mht95ranger]

I also don't understand?? Why should I replace the rotors at $150 each when I need to replace my wheel bearings? I am very new to this hobby of working on my 4x4 truck.
Thanks David

 

[4x4junkie]

Replace the races. They can be tapped out with a hammer & punch and the new ones tapped in the same way, just like you would any other set of races (takes just a few minutes).
If the rotor does not have anything at all wrong with it, I think one of the stupidest things would be to just throw it out.

 

[RustedRanger]

I already have the bearings and seals and they were cheap at Oriellys. I have had a lot of cars but just 2 4x4s. I have a done the races several times and don't see much difference than a car rotor. I think it has had new rotors in the past cause its got 147,000 and they are still thick. I think who ever changed them didn't get them tight enough and its probably been driven this way for a long time. Its not noticeable driving it but only when you jack it up and shake the wheel itself. I will check the old bearings though and re-use them if they are not shot.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

A bearing that is set up too tightly will wreck a bearing long before a bearing that is loose, unless its so loose the wheel falls off that is.

And no, you don't need new rotors if they aren't warped, grooved or worn down past spec. Tap out the old bearing race and install new ones.

 

[RustedRanger]

Yesterday I took it all apart and the bearings had been replaced......but....they were way loose. It probably only took 30 ft lbs to break loose the outer nuts. The bearings were still good and the spindles werent groved so I cleaned everything repacked the bearings and it is good to go So now I can take the new bearings back. If you need new ones they are cheap at Oriellys,$27 total after tax for the four bearings.