78 W150 Wheel Bearings
#2664980
06/12/19 01:12 AM
06/12/19 01:12 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,699 Newport, Mi
Evil Spirit
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Friend just bought a 78 W150 and it has the typical front wheel bearing issues. I remember this being a common issue years ago when I used to have 4x4's. Any good long term fixes for the bearings? Like to stay stock bolt pattern if possible. Thanks
Free advice and worth every penny... Factory trained Slinky rewinder.........
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Re: 78 W150 Wheel Bearings
[Re: Evil Spirit]
#2664981
06/12/19 01:32 AM
06/12/19 01:32 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,525 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
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Regular maintenance on the original style wheel bearings gave them long life, but too many people failed to grease them like they were suppose to do. I think the FSM called for the bearings to be greased every 3,000 miles. you had to pull both front wheels off, line up the zerks with the holes, pump in 2 -3 pumps of grease and put the wheels back on. My boss at the gas station had well over 100K miles on his original bearings on each of his 3 Dodge plow trucks. Greased every 3000-4000 miles and standard offset tires and wheels.
Most guy's that had problems were the ones with the wide offset wheels with monster tires, that never saw a grease gun. They couldn't figure out why the wheel bearings were shot in 50K miles or less. Then after the bearings were shot, they kept driving until the ends of the brake rotors were shot (the bearing inner races ran on the rotor hub). Being the cheap butts they were, most didn't want to but the rotors, so they would throw the new wheel bearings on the wore off rotors and soon the new bearings were shot again. Of course it wasn't their fault, it was all because of Dodges bad bearings. Gene
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Re: 78 W150 Wheel Bearings
[Re: poorboy]
#2665009
06/12/19 07:34 AM
06/12/19 07:34 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,831 east side of Ohio
basketcase
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master
Joined: Sep 2003
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east side of Ohio
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years ago I bought a '79 W150. With in a week the driver's side failed. Replaced them with Timken's, regular greasing, and ran that truck for years with no more issues.
Dave
1981 Dodge D150 360 auto
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Re: 78 W150 Wheel Bearings
[Re: poorboy]
#2665122
06/12/19 12:53 PM
06/12/19 12:53 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,699 Newport, Mi
Evil Spirit
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OP
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Newport, Mi
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Regular maintenance on the original style wheel bearings gave them long life, but too many people failed to grease them like they were suppose to do. I think the FSM called for the bearings to be greased every 3,000 miles. you had to pull both front wheels off, line up the zerks with the holes, pump in 2 -3 pumps of grease and put the wheels back on. It's been a long time since I messed with this generation of front axle hub units, and I'm not remembering a grease fitting. I pulled up pictures with rotors and hubs with an extra hole in the lug area. Is the grease fitting in the area where the spindle bolts to the "knuckle"? If so, does it feed both the inner spindle roller bearing and the hub bearings? And I know we are spoiled by todays sealed unit bearings and synthetic lubricants, but I can see why people would balk at regular maintenance like these apparently required every 3000 miles. But I guess that was at the end of the era of "high maintenance" vehicles, where 3000 mile oil changes were the norm, cars actually still had grease fittings, and the bias ply tires needed 3000 mile rotations to last even 20,000 miles. With todays lubes 5000-7500 miles is more the norm for oil changes, and a tire rotation every other oil change. In this case here - pretty sure a 265/70R16 on a standard centered offset wheel is biggest size tire/wheel it will see. We will probably pull it down far enough to put in new u-joints, spindle/axle bearings/seals - assembling everything with premium synthetic grease. Should cover the bearing issues with a more relaxed maintenance schedule, like every other oil change. Thanks for the replies.
Free advice and worth every penny... Factory trained Slinky rewinder.........
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Re: 78 W150 Wheel Bearings
[Re: Evil Spirit]
#2665125
06/12/19 12:59 PM
06/12/19 12:59 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,806 Central Florida
larrymopar360
Stud Muffin
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Stud Muffin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,806
Central Florida
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While were on the subject, are there zerk fittings on my '79 W150 from the factory also? I need to do this maintenance before there's a problem.
Facts are stubborn things.
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Re: 78 W150 Wheel Bearings
[Re: buildanother]
#2665185
06/12/19 03:07 PM
06/12/19 03:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,525 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
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I Live Here
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Freeport IL USA
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Most folks did not know of the grease fittings in bearing retainer so they jut ran em until they became a problem. They were at 9 or 3 clock position through rotor when factory installed. The ones I recall servicing came in a matched set with spacer for the 2 bearings and all. All still available separately, but matched sets had 2 bearings, 2 cones and spacer. Yep. that is the way all 3 of my boss' Dodges were, as well as all my 75 to about 81 or 82, unless you got the factory hub that locked and unlocked (not the aftermarket kit). Those had different bearing set ups. I believe all those years of running my Dodge 4x4 trucks, I remember replacing the bearings on one truck I bought used and abused. I also installed the matching bearing sets. I had a buddy that was a Chevy guy, but for some reason, he always rand Dodge 4x4 trucks. He really had a dislike for the Dodge bearing set up. He always installed the lock out hub set up from the 3/4 ton Chevy trucks on the Dodges when the bearing toasted out. I don't know what was involved with the process, but he sure swapped them out pretty quickly, always said it was cheaper then the Dodge bearings. I'm not sure I believed him though. Gene
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Re: 78 W150 Wheel Bearings
[Re: buildanother]
#2665244
06/12/19 06:18 PM
06/12/19 06:18 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,806 Central Florida
larrymopar360
Stud Muffin
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Stud Muffin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,806
Central Florida
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I need to get on this. I read it when I first got my truck, then got so busy on re-gasketing engine and many other projects, and it slipped my mind!
Facts are stubborn things.
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Re: 78 W150 Wheel Bearings
[Re: buildanother]
#2665482
06/13/19 12:15 PM
06/13/19 12:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,699 Newport, Mi
Evil Spirit
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Most folks did not know of the grease fittings in bearing retainer so they jut ran em until they became a problem. They were at 9 or 3 clock position through rotor when factory installed. The ones I recall servicing came in a matched set with spacer for the 2 bearings and all. All still available separately, but matched sets had 2 bearings, 2 cones and spacer. I've seen references to a "spacer". Where does it go, and what does it do?
Free advice and worth every penny... Factory trained Slinky rewinder.........
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Re: 78 W150 Wheel Bearings
[Re: buildanother]
#2665697
06/14/19 01:57 AM
06/14/19 01:57 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,699 Newport, Mi
Evil Spirit
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Goes between the two bearing "Cones" as they fit into knuckle. Kind of assembled together and put in together as assembly. If you can find shop man etc, it will show it. Looks like the spacer sets bearing preload. I watched this video and got reminded why I avoided working on these! Just shows rotor replacement, but it shows some of the reasons why people avoided taking these jobs on. A lot more labor complicated than the typical front 4x4 spindle/bearing set-up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=kOQPQfKAuHU
Free advice and worth every penny... Factory trained Slinky rewinder.........
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Re: 78 W150 Wheel Bearings
[Re: Evil Spirit]
#2665797
06/14/19 11:54 AM
06/14/19 11:54 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,406 UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN...
NITROUSN
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Goes between the two bearing "Cones" as they fit into knuckle. Kind of assembled together and put in together as assembly. If you can find shop man etc, it will show it. Looks like the spacer sets bearing preload. I watched this video and got reminded why I avoided working on these! Just shows rotor replacement, but it shows some of the reasons why people avoided taking these jobs on. A lot more labor complicated than the typical front 4x4 spindle/bearing set-up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=kOQPQfKAuHU That video is not the way its done period.
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Re: 78 W150 Wheel Bearings
[Re: NITROUSN]
#2665977
06/14/19 08:29 PM
06/14/19 08:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,525 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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Goes between the two bearing "Cones" as they fit into knuckle. Kind of assembled together and put in together as assembly. If you can find shop man etc, it will show it. Looks like the spacer sets bearing preload. I watched this video and got reminded why I avoided working on these! Just shows rotor replacement, but it shows some of the reasons why people avoided taking these jobs on. A lot more labor complicated than the typical front 4x4 spindle/bearing set-up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=kOQPQfKAuHU That video is not the way its done period. That sure is the hard way to do the job. I couldn't watch the whole video, when he said they never pull the 5 bolts, I knew that was some BS! Gene
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Re: 78 W150 Wheel Bearings
[Re: poorboy]
#2666029
06/14/19 10:19 PM
06/14/19 10:19 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,699 Newport, Mi
Evil Spirit
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I've seen bearing "kits" with 2 cones, 2 tapered roller bearings, and a spacer that appears to be sized the cones diameter.
I also see kits with the same 2 cones, 2 bearings, and a spacer that is wider and the size of the bearings inner race.
I guess dis-assembly will tell me what kit to buy.
Looks to me that these a basically the original "unit bearings", where a housing, bearings, and hub are installed as a unit.
The way I see this - install the bearings, cones, spacer and seal in the (bolt on) housing, press the axle flange hub/rotor into it, and bolt the assembly on, accessing the bolts thru the extra hole in the hub/rotor. I see premium synthetic grease being our best friend here. LOL
I can see that keeping a close eye on brake pads is a must, to avoid pulling this cluster apart for rotor service.
Thanks for the info. Willie
Free advice and worth every penny... Factory trained Slinky rewinder.........
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Re: 78 W150 Wheel Bearings
[Re: Evil Spirit]
#2666478
06/16/19 11:46 AM
06/16/19 11:46 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,406 UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN...
NITROUSN
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I Live Here
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I've seen bearing "kits" with 2 cones, 2 tapered roller bearings, and a spacer that appears to be sized the cones diameter.
I also see kits with the same 2 cones, 2 bearings, and a spacer that is wider and the size of the bearings inner race. [As far as I know there is only one style bearing,cup,spacer.]
I guess dis-assembly will tell me what kit to buy.
Looks to me that these a basically the original "unit bearings", where a housing, bearings, and hub are installed as a unit. [No these never were a unitized bearing. all components]
The way I see this - install the bearings, cones, spacer and seal in the (bolt on) housing, press the axle flange hub/rotor into it, and bolt the assembly on, accessing the bolts thru the extra hole in the hub/rotor. I see premium synthetic grease being our best friend here. LOL [ You are on the right path. Put a new seal in the retainer and install it into the hub. Then press one bearing in place, then cup, spacer, cup and press the other bearing on. There is another 3 piece seal on the axle. That's another subject all on its own. Thin bead of rtv silicone around the knuckle where the retainer fits, install assembly grease fitting facing foreward 3-ocolck right 9-oclock left. Tighten the retainer bolts cris-cross to maybe 30 foot pounds ant torque the axle nut to maybe 150 foot pounds do not back the nut off tighten to the next hole. verify the torque specs I just gave you]
I can see that keeping a close eye on brake pads is a must, to avoid pulling this cluster apart for rotor service. [WELCOME TO Dodges wheel bearing nightmare]
Thanks for the info. Willie
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Re: 78 W150 Wheel Bearings
[Re: NITROUSN]
#2666495
06/16/19 12:40 PM
06/16/19 12:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,699 Newport, Mi
Evil Spirit
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OP
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Newport, Mi
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I've seen bearing "kits" with 2 cones, 2 tapered roller bearings, and a spacer that appears to be sized the cones diameter. I also see kits with the same 2 cones, 2 bearings, and a spacer that is wider and the size of the bearings inner race. [As far as I know there is only one style bearing, cup, spacer.]
It looks to me like the bearing kits for full time hubs have a bearing cup outer diameter of 2.875 and use a spacer between the roller bearings on the axle. The bearing kits for units with factory locking hubs have a bearing cup outer diameter of 3.542 and use a spacer ring between the cups. This info comes from the info charts on Rock Auto parts listings.
Looks to me that these a basically the original "unit bearings", where a housing, bearings, and hub are installed as a unit. [No these never were a unitized bearing. all components]
I realize you need to assemble the unit from individual parts - I just meant you installed the housing, bearings, hub, and rotor as one big unit.
The way I see this - install the bearings, cones, spacer and seal in the (bolt on) housing, press the axle flange hub/rotor into it, and bolt the assembly on, accessing the bolts thru the extra hole in the hub/rotor. I see premium synthetic grease being our best friend here. LOL [ You are on the right path. Put a new seal in the retainer and install it into the hub. Then press one bearing in place, then cup, spacer, cup and press the other bearing on. There is another 3 piece seal on the axle. That's another subject all on its own. Thin bead of rtv silicone around the knuckle where the retainer fits, install assembly grease fitting facing forward 3-o'clock right 9-o'clock left. Tighten the retainer bolts cris-cross to maybe 30 foot pounds ant torque the axle nut to maybe 150 foot pounds do not back the nut off tighten to the next hole. verify the torque specs I just gave you]
Great info - thanks
I can see that keeping a close eye on brake pads is a must, to avoid pulling this cluster apart for rotor service. [WELCOME TO Dodges wheel bearing nightmare]
Thanks for the info. Willie
Free advice and worth every penny... Factory trained Slinky rewinder.........
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Re: 78 W150 Wheel Bearings
[Re: scratchnfotraction]
#2672617
07/01/19 04:41 PM
07/01/19 04:41 PM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487 Florida
scratchnfotraction
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Florida
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when you buy the bearing it comes with the 2 races/bearings/spacer as 1 bearing and fits either side. around 50$ last I did one another 50 for press work.
should be same bearing/retainer for the 8 lug full time bearing hub/rotor as well.
Last edited by scratchnfotraction; 07/01/19 04:44 PM.
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