Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Suspension/Steering => Topic started by: MexCougar on September 14, 2005, 02:55:50 PM

Title: Wheel Bearings
Post by: MexCougar on September 14, 2005, 02:55:50 PM
How i can get out the front wheel bearings?
How i can diagnose them if they need to be replaced ?
what grease type i need ?

This is because when i am in the city, the car has a "squeak sound" (where is the diccionary ?) when im at 30 Km/h or less. This is random, sometimes i can hear anything and others i can hear very well that sound. I checked the rear drums and the front calipers but no luck. I guess that the wheel bearings is the next point to check.....

Thanks.....

(http://teaca.iespana.es/almacen/Cougar.jpg)
Title: Re: Wheel Bearings
Post by: slamedcat on September 14, 2005, 03:02:14 PM
I personaly have never heard a squeaky wheel bearing. Normaly when they go out the have more of a grinding noise.

To check them just lift the front end, remove the wheel, then spin the rotor.
Title: Re: Wheel Bearings
Post by: mjbtbrd on September 14, 2005, 03:42:30 PM
A bad wheel bearing usually sounds kind of like an airplane.  If you do wish to service or replace them.  Remove the brake caliper bolts and hang calper out of the way.  Pop off the dust cap in center of brake rotor.  Remove cotter pin.  Pull off castle nut cap.  Remove  spindle nut.  Pull off brake rotor.  Pull out outer bearing and washer .  Drive grease seal off back of rotor.  Remove inner bearing.  Reverse to install.  Use wheel bearing grease.  The bearing and race should be replaced as a set and are sold that way usually.
Title: Re: Wheel Bearings
Post by: TerryJ on September 15, 2005, 03:36:55 PM
One other thing, make sure you use "high temp" grease, the rotors cause the spindle to get very hot, using normal grease will just melt out of the spindles.
Title: Re: Wheel Bearings
Post by: EricCoolCats on September 15, 2005, 03:49:28 PM
The squeak could be bad ball joints....
Title: Re: Wheel Bearings
Post by: baxo on September 15, 2005, 04:13:37 PM
Quote from: EricCoolCats
The squeak could be bad ball joints....


I second that.. I had a nasty squeak in my 84 GS.. after changing hte ball bearings the squeak was gone..
Title: Re: Wheel Bearings
Post by: softtouch on September 15, 2005, 04:38:50 PM
Quote from: EricCoolCats
The squeak could be bad ball joints....


I also second the bad ball joints. Thats how my original no grease fitting joints went out. With a squeak.
Title: Re: Wheel Bearings
Post by: Red_LX on September 15, 2005, 09:41:32 PM
My car has a squeak from the front end, but I know it's not the ball joints. I do know it has a broken spring on the driver's side and I'm pretty sure that's it.