| Author | Message | ||
     Jaime Crusellas (Jaime) Member Username: Jaime Post Number: 243 Registered: 05-2003 |
I was on the way to work on the interstate, doing about 60 in the right lane, when I felt a sudden abrupt pull to the left. I almost went into the next lane. Scared the shit out of me. I did not hit a pothole or any object on the road. After I straightened out, it felt like there was some resistance on the front left wheel. I pulled off into the shoulder and crawled under the truck, and other than a slightly bent track rod and drag link (has been that way for a month or so) I could see nothing wrong. I drove back home about 20 miles or so on back roads, and plan on 'working' from home today. The drive back was normal and I could sense no pulling, weird noises, etc. I'm thinking maybe a wheel bearing? Only other abnormality I have noticed recently has been my brake light going on intermittently. I've noticed that sometimes the brakes seem better after I depress the pedal a second time, so maybe I need to bleed them. But could this have driven the ABS wacky for a second and it somehow decided to activate on the left front wheel? I'm probably going to pull the front wheel off later this morning, I have a spare set of wheel bearings, so I'll change them (108k miles D1). Its just over freezing out, so I'm not looking forward to doing it. Any suggestions as to what might have caused this? Thanks in advance. Jaime | ||
| Geoff 93 RRC (Geoff) Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 243 Registered: 11-2002 |
Sounds like wheel bearing or stuck brake caliper to me. I wouldn't wait on doing the bearings. If its dragging its getting hot and will be harder to get off of the spindle. With the calipers I would clean liberally with brake cleaner on the pistons and then coat them with a film of brake fluid. | ||
| Eugene (Eugene) Member Username: Eugene Post Number: 175 Registered: 02-2003 |
I'm wondering if the brake caliper is stuck. Are your pads wearing evenly? | ||
| Jaime Crusellas (Jaime) Member Username: Jaime Post Number: 244 Registered: 05-2003 |
Geoff, Eugene, Thanks for the suggestions. My thought on the bearings was the same, to take care of them before they seize. However, I have not heard any noise at all. I'll also take a look at the brake caliper and clean as suggested. If the pads are not wearing evenly, I guess thats a sure sign that maybe a piston is sticking. The thing is, I did not use the brakes when the incident occurred... | ||
| Leigh Mikolajczyk (Leigh_m) New Member Username: Leigh_m Post Number: 14 Registered: 01-2004 |
I had to rebuild my caliper as well with un even wear and a pull to the left. I rebuilt the front driver side and the pull went away but I did not experience the abrupt pull that you mentioned. Leigh | ||
| Jaime Crusellas (Jaime) Member Username: Jaime Post Number: 245 Registered: 05-2003 |
Well, it turned out to be the wheel bearing. the dust cap wasn't seated properly, and maybe water got in? Lots of rusty bearing dust under the drive flange. Took about 45 mins to get the big nuts off after a good soaking with PB Blaster, when I took the spacer washer out, I could see that the outer bearings were toast. The problem now is that the bearing race is so tight against the stub axle, that I can't pull the hub off. I've been hittng the back of the hub with a 2 lb hammer, and soaking the bearing race with PB Blaster, but no luck so far. Since its recessed in the hub, I can't get to it with a cutting wheel, and I'm afraid of brutalizing it too much because I don't want to destroy the threads on the stub axle. Any suggestions for getting the damn thing off? I may need to pull a Ron Brown on it. | ||
| Jeff Mclaird (Granitedisco) Member Username: Granitedisco Post Number: 220 Registered: 08-2003 |
Hi Jaime - sorry to hear about the problems - almost the identical thing happened to me - mine just pulled to the right instead of left. It is possible that you also damaged the hub and axle spindle (I think that's the correct name for the part). On mine it ended up welding the inner part of the bearing onto the hub spindle and gouging the hub up pretty bad as well. Ended up replacing both. If I remember when I pulled mine off I used two big crowbars and some judicious hits with a 2lb hammer. I don't have the manual handy but I suspect that the correct way is to use a puller of some sort. Jeff | ||
| Jaime Crusellas (Jaime) Member Username: Jaime Post Number: 246 Registered: 05-2003 |
Hi Jeff, Since the inner part of the bearing is still stuck to the stub axle, I can't tell whether its damaged or not, and the race is still on the hub, so I won't know until I get the hub off whether there is any damage. I tried heating the bearing race (around the stub axle)hoping that it would loosen, but no luck so far. I think I'll let it soak a bit more, and see if I can get a hold of a puller of some sort. Thanks Jaime | ||
| Peter J Blatt (Peteb) Senior Member Username: Peteb Post Number: 329 Registered: 10-2002 |
Jaime, You could have called eather Dean or I, We might have been able to help, I got some good coffee now! so i could have stayed up all night, Give me a call and let me know what is going on, Peter. | ||
| Geoff 93 RRC (Geoff) Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 245 Registered: 11-2002 |
You can get stub axles from any junk yard. Problem with keeping your existing one is that if it has been scored from prying, etc, the new bearings might not slide on and seat properly, and then be difficult to get off again. The tolerances are very tight on purpose. Autozone rents a lot of pullers for free. | ||
| Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) Senior Member Username: Deanbrown3d Post Number: 1437 Registered: 02-2002 |
Yeah Jaime, after fazzios tomorrow, maybe Peter and I can pop over and give some encouragement to the damn thing. We could pick up a puller at fazzios if you want. Tell us what size. Dean | ||
| Jaime Crusellas (Jaime) Member Username: Jaime Post Number: 247 Registered: 05-2003 |
That's good to know Jeff, thanks. Dean, Peter, You guys are going to Fazzios on VALENTINE'S DAY!!!??? Taking the girls with you?? LOL You know I thought this was going to be a simple job at first, or I would have called you. I'll give you an update later today and let you know how I'm making out, and I'll gladly take your 'encouragement' to the bearing! I've tried cursing, pulling, hammer, torch, and no luck. I went to Sears and advance auto and no puller big enough. So last night I bought a couple of small cylindrical grinding stones for this Pfingst flexible shaft tool (its like a dremel on steroids). I'm planning to grind some of the lip off the bearing race that is stuck on the stub axle, and get the rollers out through the opening. The hub should come out then. Of course, then I'll have to cut off the bearing race and see what kind of shape the stub axle is in | ||
| Jaime Crusellas (Jaime) Member Username: Jaime Post Number: 248 Registered: 05-2003 |
Looks like I'm home free! I made close to a half inch hole on the side of the bearing race that was stuck on the stub axle and was able to get the rollers out. Well they didn't look like rollers anymore, more like sqaushed bits of metal! A few were stuck on the race, and I had to bang those hard with a screwdriver and hammer, but they came out as well. Then, the hub came right out. In order to get the race out, I followed Peter's advice and ground a slot across the bearing race. I then put a chisel in the slot, gave it a good whack, and the race very conveniently cracked along the slot. After that, it was a simple matter to remove the race. Luckily, the inner bearing had not seized, but still, it would not come out past the spot where the outer bearing seized on the axle. So I took a fine file, and filed down the minute ridges that had formed where the outer bearing race had seized on the axle. After that, the bearing came off with no problem. The scoring on the stub axle was minimal, and having filed down the little ridges it seems like its still serviceable. The outer races also had not seized on the hub, and it was no problem to get them out. So I'm in a much better frame of mind, and should have no problems completing the job. Thanks for the helpful advice. Jaime |
