I would like to do the hub thing but $2k is a little steep. I have 70k on the truck now and I am thinking about doing the front wheel bearings before they strand me on the road. I will then keep the factory ones that have not failed and cary them as spares along with the tools needed to change them if one does fail. I have done them on my Jeep and the truck seems to be the same only bigger. If there is no rust problem they arn't that hard to do, if you have the tools. Just a guess here, 8 lug nuts, 2 caliper bolts, 1 bearing nut, 4 knuckle bolts. Bearing slides out, axel stays in. I might be in la la land about no rust so that's why the pre-failure attack. Good idea?

 

They WILL be rusted in but the power steering works very well if you alternate sides and be patient, they come out slow. Any slght crack in the seam is progress and anti-sieze will cure it for the next time.
A front bearing will rarely leave you completely stranded but the first change is a b***h, after the anti-sieze they will push out almost by hand.

If you really are concerned with being stranded, I would remove them at home where you have the facilities, clean, anti-sieze and regrease through the ABS sensor and drive them to death and keep a new one for emergency.
JMHO.

Cya

 

Did anyone ever figure out what kind of grease to use in the hub?

 

Well, If you are that worried about them failing.. I would spend the 1700 bucks just for the piece of mind.... If you start carrying all the tools around to change a front hub bearing that seems a little crazy to me... Don't forget the big tools like, jack stands, floor jack. Trust me, It is worth the money... Your gonna have at least 600-750 in new hub bearings... And you better do the u-joints too... So.. It is a simple answer if you ask me...

 

Don't think I havn't thought about and planned on the hub kit but the bucks for it is the thing. I love the truck even with all the problems and DC. With stock rims and no hard winters or water crossing the factory bearings should go a long time but due to their design when they go they are gone. The inner and outer bearings are very close. So what kind of bearing greese to shove down the hole? I am guessing a syn wheel bearing type. BTW, are you sure the greese will get to the bearings? Thought it was a sealed unit.

 

Plus I hear of sooooooooo many problems with these trucks other than the drive train I just wonder how long the thing will last.

 

I'm not sure, i've just heard on here (DTR) that someone was successful in doing so...will it get into the bearings, I have no idea...so far i've just chaulked up the high price of maintence on these things as the cost of owing one.....