Front End Noise?

[DangerRanger96]

I have a 96 Ranger 4x4. It has 208,000 miles on it. I just replaced the front wheel bearings in it this spring ( inner and outter ) The past few days, I've been hearing a "clicking" or "ticking" coming from the front end. I pulled the tires, and discovered the rotors were some what loose and had play.

I am wondering how tight I need to torque them down too? AND... how should the grease look ? I figured the clicking was from the bearings being loose??? So, I tightened them up...and it went away. TODAY, its back, and some what louder. Both rotors are snug... what can cause this clicking?

Not enuff grease? Wrong grease? I really could use your guys help with this.

This forum is the best place I've found to get legit answers from smart truck guys. Thanks in advance!

 

[srteach]

Buy new bearings, have someone else tighten them. I think you have tightened them too much. Bearings are very tricky to do correctly. They only need 9-13 INCH/pounds of torque. I have burned a few sets myself.

 

[DangerRanger96]

Is that where the clicking is coming from? I have a torque wrench, just never heard or read the specs. on them before. SO, you CAN over tighten them then?

 

[martin]

You certainly can overtighten them. The correct adjustment is not much over hand tight, the locknuts however are a different story.

 

[curt234]

You want to tighten the nut than back it off a little bit so there is no to very little drag on the bearing.

 

[DangerRanger96]

Thanks guys!

 

[Mutant Pony]

Does it have auto hubs?
The correct way to tighten the wheel bearings is:
Tighten the nut to 20 ft/lbs while spinning the rotor
Loosen the nut while holding the rotor still
Tighten the nut by hand, you may need to TIGHTEN a little to get the pin to line up with a hole.
If it has the ratcheting nuts, Ford says to tighten it 5 clicks.

 

[snake]

Your bearings may have not been packed properly when you installed them last time. You don't just smear grease on them and install- you got to pack 'em.

I use the palm of my hand, put a wad of grease on there, then put your finger through the bearing (other hand). then simply nip at the edge of the grease wad with the bottom edge of the bearing and keep going until you see grease start to poke out of the top. Then rotate the bearing a little and repeat until the entire bearing has grease packed inside. It makes a mess but the method works.