Front End HELP
 

Greetings, I hope I might get some help in a hurry ---

My most urgent question: Is there a needle bearing in the front hub which requires maintenance?

My 2000 Expy XLT 4.6L 6-code 4x4 has 195K on it and I've owned it since 36K. I've not done hub maintenance outside of pulling them to replace the lower ball joints a few years back.

This year's state safety inspection red-flagged the lower ball joints. While tearing everything down, I found a metal coil spring hanging from the inside of the passenger-side knuckle seal, and I'm worried that the bearings have been eating grit.

I can push grease through the ABS port to clean out the otherwise non-serviceable hub bearings, but is there indeed a needle bearing to pull, inspect and repack or replace? A part number would be great :)

The reason for my urgency is that cold weather is closing in and I have only an open driveway in which to do my work, so it's a do now, or do in 20-degree weather type of situation.

Thank you very much ---

Still trying to figure out the needle bearing question.

But I found the seal, Ford calls it a wheel seal.

http: //bit.ly/1qzqfID
BRS54 wheel seal
Ford PN: F65Z-1S190-AA

As for installation, the shop manual says, "Using Bearing Cup Replacer (T80T-4000-P), Knuckle Seal Replacer (T96T-1175-A) and Threaded Drawbar (T77F-1176-A), install seal until it seats against steering knuckle." Great, special tools needed. Wonder if I can line it up real careful, put a little piece of plywood over it and tap it home with a dead-blow mallet...?

That needle bearing question is driving me nuts. Gonna wear out my welcome at Google. I'm to the point that I'm either going to wipe down everything with clean grease and reassemble the truck, or buy new hubs at $103 a pop. Anyone know the expected service life of a hub, when not off-roading?

I think that you would be better off replacing the hubs with new ones. Most of the time if the seals go bad the bearings ain't far behind. and if you do one then you might consider doing both of them to save you a headache a little later.

Job complete. I replaced hubs, wheel seals, upper arms, lower ball joints, outer tie rods and stabilizer bar links.