Wheel bearings - Ford Forums

clarkie5304 · 02-14-2006, 00:03

I just replaced the wheel bearings in my 88 bronco on both sides. I started smelling the smell of burnt grease and it was coming from my left front. I replaced the bearings again thinking I might have a mismatched set. The new ones are doing the exact same thing. The caliper is brand new and is not sticking. The spindle looks to be in good condition. When I feel the hub after driving and it is smoking it is cool to the touch. It is not hot at all. I have no idea what is going on. Does anyone have an Idea of what might be going on? Thanks

miesk5 · 02-14-2006, 09:45

yo C!
3 guesses:
did you replace the grease seal w/a new seal?
over-lubed hubs would do this too
torqued the bearings backed-off to specs?

clarkie5304 · 02-14-2006, 21:46

yeah I replaced the grease seal, Properly greased the bearings, and I torqued them correctly and backed them off the 2 specs.....That's why I am confused as to what is goin on because those are all things I thought of but knew I had done already. Only thing I can think of is there is some grease on the brake drum but wouldn't that have burned off by now if I replaced them on Saturday? Thanks

miesk5 · 02-15-2006, 11:59

ok,
One thing first, did you mean to write "brake rotor or pads", instead of drums?
I've seen grease stay-on for longer than that in the past; it gets a pad saturated; the grease melts down and until it is dissipated or cleaned will seep down from where it gets spread (leading edge of pad for example).
Hope it's this simple!