There are four bearings for the front end. Two smaller and two bigger (inner and outer).

You can try re-packing the bearings first, if they are too far worn then you will have to replace the bearings and the races.

You will need a 54mm socket (or 2 1/8" works fine) to remove the nuts holding the hub onto the spindle.

Remove the hub and caliper then you can loosen the 54mm nuts (and locking washer), remove the outer bearing and pull the entire hub off.

Then you can pull the inner oil seal and then pull out the inner bearing. Inspect them for any discolouring (this is bad!), if they are in good shape clean them off and pack them full of your grease of choice.

If you are unsure of the proper way to pack wheel bearings search youtube for instructionals.

Once you have gotten the bearings full of clean grease, slip in the inner bearing (pack some more grease in there too) then install the inner oil seal.

Then you can slide it onto the spindle. Install the outer bearing to get everything in place and slide in the gold washer. Then you can start to torque the bearings.

If you are really unsure of yourself a torque wrench is ideal, but you can get it by hand with trial and error.

Tighten the first nut down tight (I think you need to get it somwhere in the range of 40ft lbs), spin the wheel forward and backwards a bunch of times, tighten the nut back up to 40ft lbs, then loosen the nut. Repeat this a few times (to seat everything), then snug the inner nut to around 33ft lbs, install the locking washer and snug the outer 54mm nut up tight.

Make sure everything spins easily, you don't want to cook the bearings. If its too tight, back off the inner 54 mm nut, if its too loose (play) tighten it up a bit.

Check your wheels periodically after this, just as a first timer you want to be sure

The first time it can be a little intimidating but its easy. Ive done it a few times. If you wheel your truck I recomend packing the bearings every year. 90k seems way to long!

Also, feel free to go with good aftermarket parts. I did!

 

Awesome! Thanks a lot Jayota - I'll report back how it goes. (sorry for the late reply, I was out of town for a week..)

 

See if you can get hold of a towrque wrench someplace. It can be done without one but if you've never done them before I would recommend using the torque wrench. You might be able to borrow one from the local parts store.

 

If forgot to mention, I have a 2wd, so I think there's one less nut than what Jayota described.

Anyway, this ended up being super easy. I videotaped it and I'll try to edit it together for Youtube to help any other newbies like myself. The blind leading the blind....

I found a torque wrench (at the parts store - I didn't realize some places lend those..), but ended up just tightening the nuts by hand, according to the resistance on the wheel. Didn't replace the bearings, they looked fine, and just repacked them. The nuts were a bit loose when I took the whole thing apart - probably just needed a little tightening, but I'm glad I took it apart and repacked.

And now, the vibrations are gone at 75mph and I can take her up to 90!! (for a few seconds at a time..)


Thanks dudes!