While driving today my truck made a noise like a wet soled tennis shoe twisting on a industrial tiled floor coming from what seemed the drivers front wheelwell. Since then the truck pulls HARD left when I use the brakes. I pulled over into a parking lot and climbed under to take a peek. It looked fine. Any ideas???
Sudden Pull to the Left...
- Thread starter Rogue
- Start date
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I would start by pulling the wheel off remove the brake pads and take a look at the pads rotor and caliper, good Idea to take a look at the right (USPS) also
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
Check that you didn't loose a caliper bolt. Otherwise look real hard at the brake caplipers themselves. Is one leaking?
hope your wheel bearings didn't come unseated some how! Just a thought, but have you done a birf job recently? Are you sure you seated them to spec?
I remember you've already had a caliper bolt come loose once before, so I'll assume you checked those specifically. I too would pull everything off an check it individually. Make sure a pad hasn't cracked or something lodged in between the pad and rotor. Call me if you need some help...I've got mine torn apart in the driveway on stands right now.
- Thread starter
- #7
I figured it out. Pulled the truck into a nearby driveway today to jack it up and sheck the wheel bearings. As soon as I got the right side off the ground and wiggled it I knew exactly what the problem was. I managed to get it all apart today and there was some serious carnage in there. The outer wheel bearing was literally shredded. The rollers were everywhere in the grease and the shell of the bearing doesn't look anything like it should. I did a good job.
I don't know exactly what caused this because the axle nut was still in its place holding everything back along with the washer and locknut. I'm confused, but it'll be fixed tomorrow afternoon once I get the grease seal.
I don't know exactly what caused this because the axle nut was still in its place holding everything back along with the washer and locknut. I'm confused, but it'll be fixed tomorrow afternoon once I get the grease seal.
Sounds like the hub was loose.
You'll almost definately have to replace the spindle, they usually get chewed up too bad to re-seat new bearings in these cases. I'd start shopping for a used one. They are pretty steep new ~$250 IIRC
then you know who to call, well before you call them call lhm toy (or stockton or malone or whoever they are now) at the south towne auto mall. the parts guy there was a litlle less clueless than most I have dealt with.
Dave
Dave
<<<<<"the parts guy there was a litlle less clueless than most I have dealt with.">>>>>
:
Two T's and one L.
But wait,.... :whoops: I'm clueless... How did I see that?
:
Two T's and one L.
But wait,.... :whoops: I'm clueless... How did I see that?
I had the same thing happen to me. I'm now awaiting the spindle. Did you use synthetic grease? One of my friend runs a family repair shop. His dad opened it in like 63 after working for the Ford Garage after returning from Korea. I trust his judgement and he looked at it tonight. I was blaming the Redline Grease. He says that I overtightened the wheel bearing and that is what caused it to burn off the grease and screw up the bearing. Unfortunately, it did not screw up the race. It screwed up the spindle. He claims that people commonly do this with synthetic grease. What do you all thinK? I've been using different synthetics for years Amsoil, Mobil 1, and just recently Redline. I never had any problems in my previous Cruisers.
I thought it was the other way around. The synthetic is more likely to cause the bearings to slide instead of roll and a slightly loose bearing was worse than slightly over tightened. Also isn't synthetic less prone to higher temps than regular and less likely to burn.
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
I'm with Landtank on this. I've used Mobil 1 in all 3 of my cruisers with good success. I usually achieve a preload of 10 on my Zebco fish scale which is at the higher limit of the spec. No failures in 70k miles of Cruising. I did have a front wheelbearing go bad at 190k on my FJ60 but it was packed with Valvoline conventional grease. (Admittedly by me, but the bearing was pretty scored when I reinstalled it 
)
Either it was just worn out, or the install was bad. I doubt it was the grease. If I had to bet, it was too loose AND worn out. Glad you and it are basically OK. Spindles can be replaced.
By the way-Make your local parts guy CDan, and do the work youself. That's the only way to make sure it is done right.
)Either it was just worn out, or the install was bad. I doubt it was the grease. If I had to bet, it was too loose AND worn out. Glad you and it are basically OK. Spindles can be replaced.
By the way-Make your local parts guy CDan, and do the work youself. That's the only way to make sure it is done right.
- Thread starter
- #18
The spindle actually looked okay. Most of the rollers from the bearing ended up in the grease cavity inboard of the bearing. A couple managed to squeeze their way up to the adjusting nut and grooved the hub a bit. I am not too worried though as that area usually sees just grease. Maybe I was lucky this time in regards to the expensive part not needing replacement.
For the most part I am finished except for needing to pull the old drive flange studs that I snapped and replace them. At least the truck is moving again though. It has a spot by the curb until mid-next week when it hopefully will be finished for good.
For the most part I am finished except for needing to pull the old drive flange studs that I snapped and replace them. At least the truck is moving again though. It has a spot by the curb until mid-next week when it hopefully will be finished for good.
Both Simon and I used Redline grease on our wheel bearings back in the fall and they have been fine. I've always wanted to go revisit the pre-load but never had the chance to do this. I think it's unfair to blame the grease. I would say too much pre-load.
