Installation

1. Apply grease to wheel bearing outer races, then using a suitable drift, drive outer races into front hub.
2. Pack inner and outer bearings with suitable grease. Apply grease to oil seal lip.
3. Evenly coat inner wall of front hub with grease.
4. Position inner bearing and oil seal on hub, then install oil seal using tool No. MB990985 or equivalent.

Fig. 23 Exploded view of front axle hub:

5. If removed, install brake disc on front hub, Fig. 23, tightening attaching bolts alternately and evenly to 36-44 ft. lbs. After assembling, check brake disc runout. Brake disc runout should not exceed .006 inch.
6. Carefully install front hub on steering knuckle spindle.
7. Install outer bearing on spindle, then install and torque spindle nut to 94-145 ft. lbs. Loosen spindle nut and retighten to 18 ft. lbs., then back-off and install lock washer. If hole in lock washer is not aligned with hole in spindle nut, then nut may be loosened up to an additional 20° to obtain proper alignment.

Fig. 14 Checking Front Hub Assembly Bearing Adjustment:

8. Measure force required to rotate front hub, using a suitable spring scale, Fig. 29. The force required to rotate front hub assembly should be between .9-3.1 lbs. on Pickup or .9-4.1 lbs. on Montero. If not within specifications, readjust bearings as described in step 7.
9. Apply grease to inner surface of freewheeling hub body assembly.
10. Apply semi-dry sealant to front hub surface to which the freewheeling hub body assembly is attached.
11. Install freewheeling hub body assembly on front hub, then torque attaching bolts to 36-43 ft. lbs.
12. Install freewheeling hub cover. Torque attaching screws to 7-10 ft. lbs., if equipped with manual freewheeling hubs.
13. Install brake caliper assembly.