Manual locking hub and wheel bearings

[lhc_cj7]

My son informed me his 96 4x4 was making a grinding sound coming from the front and the ABS light came on. Went for a ride and felt the front swaying when making a turn and heard metal to metal. Crap!!!!! Wheel bearing. Sure enought. The lock nuts had backed out. The ABS sensor was trashed, the rear rotor bearing feel apart and the ribs on the back of the rotor were nicked up.

There are 3 axle spacers right after the snap ring. The outer spacers are metal and the inner feels like very hard cardboard. Anyway that one needs to be replaced. I have checked with all the big part stores with no luck. Also went to the JY yesterday with no luck. Anyone have a source for these spacers?

 

[Hahnsb2]

I've never seen any spacers after the snap ring, there should be a splined washer between the clip and spindle though. And that is why most of us around here torque the outer nut to 200+ ft/lbs so they dont back off like that.

 

[Captain Ledd]

I've seen the spacers, mine have them. Actually my Drivers side could use a few more, but so far no problems. And Hans has never seen any, who knows how necessary the are.

I'd bet it'll be time to hit the junkyards. I doubt any place is going to carry them.

x2 on cranking that outer nut down. They are known problem areas.

 

[budro]

Ive seen what you are talking about. I believe they show up in this pic infront of the locking nuts. They are right behind the splined washer that the snap ring holds back.

 

[canyoncritter]

I have one of the spline washers (axle spacers) sitting in my spare parts bin.

not the "actual" part, I have in the bin,just using pic for ref.

if it will help you pm me, parts free, just pay for shipping the padded envelope I don't have the "c-clip" to go with it though

 

[Captain Ledd]

I think he's talking about the smooth washers that go behind the Splined one?

 

[4x4junkie]

I think he's talking about the smooth washers that go behind the Splined one?

Yeah, in 1995 they changed the design of the splined thrust washer to a 3-piece assembly (I think because they occasionally get ground up against the edge of the spindle).

Maybe LMC truck might have them if a Ford dealer doesn't? I'm not sure of any other sources besides a junkyard. I believe as a last resort you can swap to a single splined washer from a '90-'94 D35 however.

 

[lhc_cj7]

I'm going with a nylon washer I found at Ace Hardware, same ID and thickness too. I trimmed the OD down some. Yeah I'll torque'em to 255.

A new rotor was 105. Comes with races installed.
A new ABS sensor was 122
Bearings and races 45

Well I'm gonna try and reuse the rotor, I found the ABS sensor at the JY from a 93 explorer ($10) . About 12" too short but since the original was trashed I spliced in the length needed and see what happens. I will replace both bearings and races. I might be able to get out of this for under $75. We'll see.

Thanks for the help.

 

[dennis461]

count the teeth

I'm going with a nylon washer I found at Ace Hardware, same ID and thickness too. I trimmed the OD down some. Yeah I'll torque'em to 255.

A new rotor was 105. Comes with races installed.
A new ABS sensor was 122
Bearings and races 45

Well I'm gonna try and reuse the rotor, I found the ABS sensor at the JY from a 93 explorer ($10) . About 12" too short but since the original was trashed I spliced in the length needed and see what happens. I will replace both bearings and races. I might be able to get out of this for under $75. We'll see.

Thanks for the help.

Make sure the ABS sensor did not knock off any of the teeth on the hub, other wise the ABS will de-activate.
When my bearings died, one of the teeth got kock off.

 

[lhc_cj7]

Update: Back together and running fine.

I used the new rotor, all the teeth had been ground down some and wasn't sure the ABS sensor would pick up the movement with such a big gap. The spliced harness is working out great. It did take 3 attempts to get the bearing seal in without trashing it. Once I remembered I had this big thing off to the side (press) the 3rd seal went in nice and easy. I've had that press for almost a year now and that's the first time I used it.

Rotor = 110
Bearings = 45
Harness = 10
Seals (3) = 15
Nylon washer = 2