Vehicle is an '85 F-250 4x4 w/ Dana 50 front axle. Took it out over the weekend to go pick up a trailer, when I got home (20-30 mile drive) I noticed there was grease/oil seeping from the passenger side front hub (by the 4wd selector). When I reached down to get a closer look, I discovered the hub was quite hot-- substantially hotter than the other side, but not so hot that you couldn't touch it.
Today, I took the brake & rotor off, and disassembled the hub. Here are the only oddities I've found:
While spinning the tire with the wheel in the air, there is moderate resistance through about 1/3 of wheel spin. You can turn the wheel 2/3 of the way with essentially no effort, then it requires a firm tug to get it through that last 1/3 of rotation. This is with the hub unlocked, so nothing in the drivetrain is turning.
While inspecting the outer tapered bearing, the grease was thin and runny, and there was about 1/8" of wobble between the outer and inner ring. I don't know if this play is normal considering that the grease had thinned and run out of it (presumably due to heat) or if the wobble is indicative of a failed bearing? It shows no heat discoloration or wear of any kind, and makes no noise while turning, but does have that wobble if you grab outer & inner ring with your fingers and rock them back and forth. The other [inner] bearing (that requires removing grease seal for removal) was solid, nice and firm with grease, no issues there. I'm not too familiar with the user serviceable bearings, other than I re-pack them with grease every year or so, which works out to about 5k intervals (don't drive the truck much). Don't know if any amount of play is normal, I'm more used to the sealed variety.
Brakes looked in fine condition. Nice even wear on the pads, no sign of excessive heat, discoloring or cracking of any kind. The rotor is new enough that you can still see the crosshatch pattern on the rotor face-- I replaced it only a few thousand miles ago. Perhaps the slide that the caliper moves on could use some lube, but I noticed nothing out of the ordinary here.
What should I begin with to troubleshoot? Thanks in advance.
Today, I took the brake & rotor off, and disassembled the hub. Here are the only oddities I've found:
While spinning the tire with the wheel in the air, there is moderate resistance through about 1/3 of wheel spin. You can turn the wheel 2/3 of the way with essentially no effort, then it requires a firm tug to get it through that last 1/3 of rotation. This is with the hub unlocked, so nothing in the drivetrain is turning.
While inspecting the outer tapered bearing, the grease was thin and runny, and there was about 1/8" of wobble between the outer and inner ring. I don't know if this play is normal considering that the grease had thinned and run out of it (presumably due to heat) or if the wobble is indicative of a failed bearing? It shows no heat discoloration or wear of any kind, and makes no noise while turning, but does have that wobble if you grab outer & inner ring with your fingers and rock them back and forth. The other [inner] bearing (that requires removing grease seal for removal) was solid, nice and firm with grease, no issues there. I'm not too familiar with the user serviceable bearings, other than I re-pack them with grease every year or so, which works out to about 5k intervals (don't drive the truck much). Don't know if any amount of play is normal, I'm more used to the sealed variety.
Brakes looked in fine condition. Nice even wear on the pads, no sign of excessive heat, discoloring or cracking of any kind. The rotor is new enough that you can still see the crosshatch pattern on the rotor face-- I replaced it only a few thousand miles ago. Perhaps the slide that the caliper moves on could use some lube, but I noticed nothing out of the ordinary here.
What should I begin with to troubleshoot? Thanks in advance.
