I have a 1989 Ford F150 with manual locking 4wd hubs. I recently pulled the rotors off to have them turned and replaced brake bads and hoses but after reinstalling everything something with the hub assembly doesn't seem right. While driving it randomly pulls to the right, and while turning there is a lot of noise coming from the wheels now almost like they are rubbing against something but when driving straight the sound isnt there. Could the bearing seals not be seated properly? Or what could be happening?

Also repacked the wheel bearings and replaced the inner bearing seal, also not sure if the ring that pushes into the spring has to be turned a certain way or not, I tried them a few ways but the problem was still there.
Thanks ahead of time for any help.

 

Better get a manual or a friend that has done it before and recheck your work. I think its your only option. I wouldnt drive it like that...

 

Certainly recommend going back in to have a look ASAP. Agree with Kubb about not driving it.

Some thoughts are -
* the inner seal wasn't up on its sealing surface when the wheel bearing nut was torqued down.
* the bearings aren't torqued down properly.
* a foreign object has gotten in there somehow, or perhaps the 4WD locking mechanism has a problem.
* Caliper isn't seated / retained properly.
* The rotor turning area does not go the full width of the pad, allowing the pad to rub on resulting ridges - typically at the inner radius of the rotor.
Or it could be something else - just recommend having a look.

Been a while since I've done the seals, but IIRC, there's really only one way they can go.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

 

I took apart the hubs again today finally (was on weight restriction from surgury couldnt work for a week) couldn't find anything that wasn't supposed to be in there, no metal shavings, looked like maybe the caliper could have been seated improperly

anyone know where I could find a manual for something like this? I have tried looking at diagrams online but havent had much luck finding a good one.

 

Haynes has a good manual, as far as the rubbing, check the dust shield.

 

Make sure the caliper itself is not sticking out. Once they get rusty don't always retract right. About all I can see being the problem when you talking about it pulling. Making noise though, sometimes that little clip that sits along the rotor edge gets bent and rubs. Sometimes too, that dust shield will rub on the rim and make a racket. Other hand that not much else. These are almost the simplest of hub/ rotors to work on. Except for the whole pressed on rotor to the hub thing. By now most likely you can strip and put back in less than 1 hr. Unless of course you sieze the bearing to the spindle, or like my kid did. Cross thread the spindle nuts. Don't ask, as I have no idea how he did that!!!

 

Steve has a good point, make sure the calipers are floating, you should be able to move them by hand.

 

I think I got it fixed today, heading for a test drive here soon. I pulled the caliper off, and had no problem turning the rotors by hand, got a C clamp and pushed the piston back into the caliper a bit and then reinstalled the calipers, had enough room then to get everything back together in a better position and now with the calipers back on I can still turn the rotors by hand.

 

Ok, I lied. Test drove it and the vibration is still there. Not sure what the he** is going on with it now. I have taken it apart probably 5 or 6 times now, still to no avail. I think I'm going to try some new calipers next, not sure what to even try so I figure I will start there. What caused me to rebuild everything in the first place was a brake pad coming loose causing the piston to come out against the rotors and me losing all braking power. So I figure maybe something with the caliper.

 

When you pull it apart again. I'm betting you will find the caliper stuck out. That is if it it still pulling. just a vibration could be anything. a bad tire/wheel, a u-joint.