Front Suspension
Wheel Bearing and Wheel Hub
Removal
All vehicles
1. Remove the wheel and tire. For additional information, refer to Wheels and Tires.
Vehicles with ABS
2. Unclip the wheel speed sensor harness from the frame.
3. Remove the 2 wheel speed sensor harness bolts.
4. Remove the wheel speed sensor harness-to-wheel knuckle bolt.
Vehicles with Dual Rear Wheels (DRW)
5. Remove and discard the 8 wheel extension nuts and the wheel extension.
All vehicles
6. NOTICE: Do not allow the caliper to hang from the brake hose or damage to the hose can occur.
Remove the 2 brake caliper anchor plate bolts and position the brake caliper aside.
- Support the brake caliper using mechanic's wire.
7. Index-mark and remove the brake disc.
8. NOTICE: The service replacement kit includes 2 O-ring seals; one for testing the hublock assembly and one for reassembly into the wheel hub. DO NOT REUSE O-RING SEALS or hublock failure may occur.
NOTE: Due to the fit of the splines, the hublock will be difficult to remove. Lifting or lightly prying (with a small bar) on the axle U-joint will ease removal. When prying on the cap/hub flange, work around the flange to uniformly withdraw the hublock.
NOTE: Always check the vacuum leak rate of the wheel end assembly when repairing or diagnosing the axle, wheel end or hublock performance.
Remove the hublock.
- Loosen each screw 1 to 2 turns.
- Gently pry on the hublock cap edge to release gasket adhesion.
- Remove and discard the screws.
- While lifting/jiggling the axle U-joint, pull or uniformly pry the hublock from the wheel bearing and wheel hub.
9. Remove the axle shaft snap ring.
10. NOTE: The wheel bearing and wheel hub assembly is a slip-fit design and should not require a puller to remove it.
Remove the 4 wheel hub nuts and the wheel hub.
- Discard the nuts.
11. If necessary, remove the brake disc shield.
Vehicles with ABS
12. Remove the wheel speed sensor bolt and position the sensor aside.
All vehicles
13. Remove and discard the wheel bearing and wheel hub O-ring seal.
14. Position the wheel bearing and wheel hub in a vise with protective caps and remove the 4 studs using 2 mounting nuts.
Installation
All vehicles
1. Position the wheel bearing and wheel hub in a vise with protective caps and install the 4 studs using 2 mounting nuts.
2. NOTE: Any time the wheel bearing and wheel hub are removed for any reason, a new O-ring seal must be installed. Failure to do so can cause a vacuum leak and loss of Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) operations.
Install a new wheel bearing and wheel hub O-ring seal.
Vehicles with ABS
3. Position the wheel speed sensor and install the bolt.
- Tighten to 18 Nm (159 lb-in).
All vehicles
4. If removed, position the brake disc shield.
5. NOTE: Apply a coat of grease to the O-ring area of the wheel bearing and wheel hub before installation.
Position the wheel bearing and wheel hub and install the 4 new nuts.
- Tighten to 180 Nm (133 lb-ft).
All vehicles
6. Install the axle shaft snap ring.
7. NOTE: Any time the hublock is removed, a new O-ring seal must be installed. Failure to do so can cause a vacuum leak and loss of 4WD functions.
Install a new hublock O-ring seal.
8. NOTICE: The service replacement kit includes 2 O-ring seals; one for testing the hublock assembly and one for reassembly into the wheel hub. DO NOT REUSE O-RING SEALS or hublock failure may occur.
NOTE: Always check the vacuum leak rate of the wheel end assembly when repairing or diagnosing the axle, wheel end or hublock performance.
Install a new hublock gasket, then install the hublock in the following sequence.
1. Rotate the hublock dial clockwise to the lock position. Apply the specified grease to the inner and outer splines.
2. Insert the hublock into the wheel hub while slowly turning the wheel hub to align the splines. Lift/jiggle the axle U-joint while pushing the hublock into the wheel hub.
9. Install new hublock screws. Rotate the dial to the counterclockwise position (free/auto) and confirm that the wheel hub turns free of the axle shaft.
- Tighten to 6 Nm (53 lb-in).
10. NOTICE: Make sure that the wheel hub and brake disc mounting surfaces are clean and free of foreign material or excessive runout and/or vibration may occur.
Position the brake disc onto the wheel hub noting the position of the index mark.
11. Position the brake caliper and anchor plate assembly and install the bolts.
- F-250 and F-350, tighten to 225 Nm (166 lb-ft).
- F-450 and F-550, tighten to 400 Nm (295 lb-ft).
Vehicles with DRW
12. Position the wheel extension and install the new nuts.
- Tighten to 176 Nm (130 lb-ft).
Vehicles with ABS
13. Install the wheel speed sensor harness-to-wheel knuckle bolt.
- Tighten to 15 Nm (133 lb-in).
14. Install the 2 wheel speed sensor harness-to-axle bolts.
- Tighten to 15 Nm (133 lb-in).
15. Connect the wheel speed sensor harness to the frame.