Front right hub has some wiggle

[mephiska]

Hello,

I was changing the shocks on my 94 2WD B3000 and noticed my front passenger wheel hub has some wiggle. After I put the wheel back on tightening up the nuts I noticed the whole thing jiggle a little bit. At first I though the wheel just wasn't on straight, so I pulled the wheel off and found the whole hub was a little loose. What could the problem be there? My first thought is wheel bearings, but maybe something in the suspension linkage is bad?

The front driver side is not loose at all.

Is it something a shadetree mechanic can fix?

Thanks!

 

[4x4junkie]

It could either be wheel bearings or your ball joints. If it's just the rotating hub part that wiggles, it'll be the bearings. If the whole wheel knuckle assembly is loose, then more likely the ball joints.

Either one is a pretty easy fix for an average person with some mechanical knowledge. If you have a manual (Haynes, Chiltons, or similar), there should be good instructions in there on what's needed.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Could just need to adjust the wheel bearing up a bit.

 

[mephiska]

Could just need to adjust the wheel bearing up a bit.

So maybe just tighten up the nut on the hub?

 

[Capt Jay]

Yes.
You might want to take the bearings out and inspect them. If they are OK then re-grease them and replace.

I don't remember when they went from bearings to a sealed bearing unit. If it's the entire unit, it's a throw away and replace.

 

[mephiska]

1994 truck, so thankfully it wasn't a throw away/replace affair. The nut was just loose, that was the cause. Also there was no dust cap over it, so just to be safe I took it all apart and replaced everything in there.

I installed new bearings+races, nut and locking nut and dust cap, then tightened everything down per the Hayes book. No more wiggle and all is well.

That was my first time doing bearings, and it wasn't that bad. Thanks everyone!