Do what your comfortable with jp, but you can most definitely road the truck with a bad one. I wouldn't do so if it was loose, but they usually don't fail that way. I've seen folks go an amazingly long time with bad wheel bearings lol. But yea, do what your most comfortable with buddy. The 98 has some majical bearings up front, still original. I don't know what Ford used back then, back they're still doing just fine.

 

Thank yall for the guidance. I went with better napa hub and am having it put on for me while I'm doing some office work.

I know they usually don't blow apart but if it failed I would more than likely have a totalled truck and I honestly cant afford a replacement at the moment, or not the replacement I want. Lol

I would be sick to my stomach if it wore these new tires wrong because I waited.

I think sometimes I worry too much but I am 90% sure these are factory with 260k so if I stay lucky the truck will fall apart before the new hub goes.

 

White, didn't you do the u-joints on the truck or expy ? I know one of you guys ran across bad replacements, and had to swap them out again. I think that you wasn't it? They arnen't bad on the truck, from what I can tell, but I have one that is rusting strangely...doesn't look right. I better swap them out, is there a particular replacement to stay away from ?

 

Jbrew, I went with zerkless moogs that were the extra strength line with no issues yet.

 

I'm not sure about failure of sub-par units, Brew, but Spicer would be my recommended go-to. (Napa U-joints are made by DANA who also build the Spicer pieces, but I'm not sure if they're made to the same specs.)

..

 

Yes Brew, that was me. I originally bought National's at O'Reilly. They were lifetime, so when they went bad, I took them back and got their "equivalent". BS "equivalent". They were junk.... the first set I got was missing needle bearings. Finally got some that had all the needles, then installed them. The cup seals were plasticy feeling. They made noise right outta the chute. So I went and got Neapco's from the driveline shop I use. They have been perfect since. I think I've got pics somewhere.....

I went to GRS (the driveline shop) asking for Spicer. He told me the Neapco's are heavier duty, and the same price. SO I went with what he suggested.

 

You can just SEE the difference - pretty self explanatory. The seal for the Neapco is not nearly as exposed to the elements, plus it has a double lip. In the top pic, you can see the missing needles from the originals Oreilly replacements.

 

Perfect!

What a PITA that was...sucked.

The Neapco's look much better, HD in comparison. The joints you had problems with look like the average u-joints from the past. Well, that's what I remember them looking like, going way back lol. The Neapco's definitely look much better built. They said better than Spicer as well....it's a no brainer then.

Thanks White!

 

I'll have to check those out as well...zerk-less huh, and Moogs. Worth looking into. Thanks jp!

Spicer is good name brand, definitely trust worthy. I have to believe the info white shared from the drive-line shop at this point. That's what they do.

Thanks Ohio!

 

My NAPA uses Precision brand joints.

Neapco is Ford's oem joint. Neapco also makes Ford's driveshafts.

Brew on the booster, yes more volume is essential. I'm not pulling anything this winter, so spring works for my booster swap. lol

Whitey...that block looks in good shape. How does the lifter support mount holes look?