I replaced my front hub assembly (driver's side) on my 2002 Sable yesterday evening. I wanted to share with you my experience...The job was much more intensive than I had expected. I had intended on a bunch of pics to share with you but once I got sweating, greasy, and angry...the cell phone stayed on the work bench!:o
I decided to spend the extra money and purchase the Motorcraft assembly. I heard too much negative press on the AZ and Advance home brands to risk it. Timken and Moog were around $70...so, I went all in and purchased the hub below for $100 from Ford.
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My goal was to remove the bearing without separating the ball joint. The limiting factor is your ability to get a 3/8 extension and 15mm socket on the top bolt. My replacement struts nixed this. The new strut seems to ride much lower in the cinch cup than OEM and I couldn't seem to find the room. My first solution was to remove the Cinch bolt and pound the spindle down off the strut. This did work but my bearing was hopelessly seized in the spindle housing. No amount of pounding, chiseling, cussing would allow it to come out.
So...I separated the ball joint, removed the tie rod and Sway bar link to allow the CV shaft to pull out from the entire assembly. From there I put some serious impact onto the hub assembly from behind until it popped out. Alas, Babylon!
Re-assembly was easy. I cleaned myself up and took this snapshot. Victory!
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A few observations...
1. Do not underestimate the difficulty in removing the old hub from the spindle. This was a BIG deal for me...and has left me scarred for life! My Gen 4 has led a comfy life parked in the garage and has very little rust or corrosion. If it can happen to me...it can happen to you!
2. I am blown away at how quiet my ride is now. I knew my old bearing was bad because of the vibrating whirr and the buzzing on my hands while driving...but now I realize, before it got that bad, how noisy the bearing was up until this point. I had always assumed the noise was from my tires...guess not. My ride is so smooth and quiet I can now hear new noises that I didn't know I had! There was that much difference from old, to new.
3. My big worry is the condition of the ball joint boot. I tried to be careful when separating it not to tear the boot but...
4. If I ever have to do the other side I will do it by separating the ball joint. I don't see how it would be possible to remove the old hub without the needed space to pound it out. Sure an air chisel would help but...ugh...
Thanks for listening...
Joe
I decided to spend the extra money and purchase the Motorcraft assembly. I heard too much negative press on the AZ and Advance home brands to risk it. Timken and Moog were around $70...so, I went all in and purchased the hub below for $100 from Ford.
My goal was to remove the bearing without separating the ball joint. The limiting factor is your ability to get a 3/8 extension and 15mm socket on the top bolt. My replacement struts nixed this. The new strut seems to ride much lower in the cinch cup than OEM and I couldn't seem to find the room. My first solution was to remove the Cinch bolt and pound the spindle down off the strut. This did work but my bearing was hopelessly seized in the spindle housing. No amount of pounding, chiseling, cussing would allow it to come out.
So...I separated the ball joint, removed the tie rod and Sway bar link to allow the CV shaft to pull out from the entire assembly. From there I put some serious impact onto the hub assembly from behind until it popped out. Alas, Babylon!
Re-assembly was easy. I cleaned myself up and took this snapshot. Victory!
A few observations...
1. Do not underestimate the difficulty in removing the old hub from the spindle. This was a BIG deal for me...and has left me scarred for life! My Gen 4 has led a comfy life parked in the garage and has very little rust or corrosion. If it can happen to me...it can happen to you!
2. I am blown away at how quiet my ride is now. I knew my old bearing was bad because of the vibrating whirr and the buzzing on my hands while driving...but now I realize, before it got that bad, how noisy the bearing was up until this point. I had always assumed the noise was from my tires...guess not. My ride is so smooth and quiet I can now hear new noises that I didn't know I had! There was that much difference from old, to new.
3. My big worry is the condition of the ball joint boot. I tried to be careful when separating it not to tear the boot but...
4. If I ever have to do the other side I will do it by separating the ball joint. I don't see how it would be possible to remove the old hub without the needed space to pound it out. Sure an air chisel would help but...ugh...
Thanks for listening...
Joe
