Need some '89 front Hub R&R Tips

[RonPorter]

Goitta do the brake job, and I bought new hubs (plus related nuts, etc) to do while I was at it.

Actually never had to do SHO hubs before (well, did axle pulls on a Gen 3 tranny R&R n87-9 years ago, but I don't remember the details).

Checked the Shop Manual last night, talked about pulling off the axle with the knuckle unbolted, then pulling the hub from the knuckle with another puller.

Is it typical to just pull it out with the knuckle on the car (for the fronts)?

Rears don't look like any big deal...or are they?

 

[St Louis SHO]

Whoops. Remove spindle, have pressed.

 

[Shoaz]

Yeah, just remove the knuckle/hub as an assembly, then head to the press.

It's a tedious job, but pretty straightforward.

 

[rbruso]

I've always done hubs with the spindle off the car. I don't see how (without special tools) you'd be able to generate enough force to get the hub out of the spindle then back in again.

Pull the spindle off the car. The hub presses out of the bearing from the back. After pulling the retaining ring (inside snap ring, back of the spindle) the bearing presses out from the front. It's a bit of juggling and requires some pieces of scrap steel to get the press square to the bearing being pressed, but it's not too big of a pain if you've done it before. Installation is the reverse, and try to support the bearing from the back as you press the new hub in.

Rears on an '89 are a cake walk. Just a pair of tapered roller bearings. The hub is held on with a castle nut with a cotter pin through it. Pull and reassemble as if you were working on front hubs for just about any rear drive car.

And **** the sliders on the rear calipers. Twice

 

[RonPorter]

Thanks for the info, guys!!

It took me awhile to find REAR hubs for an '89 (getting quite rare), and fronts were easy to get. All four with bearings in them.

Basically, when my mechanic went through the car last year after I bought it, he mentioned that the LR was getting shaky. 13K miles later, it's still OK, but I'll do the rears along with the brakes this week.

In looking at available time before I leave for KY for work next Monday, then on to the Convention from KY next week Sunday, I'll take a pass on replacing the front hubs at this point. Brakes and a few other minor things are more of a priority.

BUT.....I will take them with me, in case VIR brings up an issue that I didn't know I had!!

Hey, my (bought new) original 220K '89 that is now half-rust and sitting in Tim Pavlik's garage (awaiting parting out then the junkyard) still has all four original hubs & bearings.

 

[NORMAN]

Hey, my (bought new) original 220K '89 that is now half-rust and sitting in Tim Pavlik's garage (awaiting parting out then the junkyard) still has all four original hubs & bearings.

That's pretty good! I wonder what Scott aka SDPatt have done for his bearings over the years. Is he still driving his high mileage white '90 or '91?

My light titanium '89 I picked up from SHOSpazz92 has 201k now. I noticed in the maintenance receipts folder that the rear bearings were re-packed at Ford dealership a few years ago. I think it was at around 150k or so.

The fronts are still original, but they started to squeak a little bit recently. It is only when driving between 10-15mph. The noise got more noticeable with the wider and heavier TD 17" wheels I put on.

I guess around 200k give or take a few k is the norm for these bearings especially the fronts. I've had to do the fronts a couple of times over the years with some of my other SHOs I've had before.

PS: Thanks for the heads-up on the rear hubs availability. I have two '89's, so I'll make a mental note to keep the rears off of it when and if I do scrap it after I salvage the low mileage 3.2L drivetrain out of it.

 

[RonPorter]

I guess around 200k give or take a few k is the norm for these bearings especially the fronts. I've had to do the fronts a couple of times over the years with some of my other SHOs I've had before.

PS: Thanks for the heads-up on the rear hubs availability. I have two '89's, so I'll make a mental note to keep the rears off of it when and if I do scrap it after I salvage the low mileage 3.2L drivetrain out of it.

Yerp, save those hubs. I bought a new pair, seemingly the last two available anywhere I looked. Dealer in TX showed 5 in stock, and I was gong to buy all 5, but only 2 were on the shelf.

Hopefully the hubs on the car now aren't tore up, as I will save them for spares. Bearings & seals appear to be readily available.

Other than the '89 SHO, probably about no one ordered rear discs on the '86 - '89 SLOs.

 

[SHORANGERBIRD]

i can find you some more Ron....:type:

 

[RonPorter]

i can find you some more Ron....:type:

Again, I appreciate your help on finding the two I have!!

I'm set for now, but there WILL be folks that will need them. I could probably stockpile a couple more (dunno if you are interested in doing that), but there will be a need for the foreseeable future for other '89 folks.

 

[pjtoledo]

don't forget Sables, a better chance of rear discs on them.
it's been a while, but I think the rear hubs on my 'ol 87 wah-goon were the same as an 89 SHO. they were double tapers for sure, just can't remember exactly what they looked like when seperated from the wagon drums.

Perry

 

[RonPorter]

don't forget Sables, a better chance of rear discs on them.
it's been a while, but I think the rear hubs on my 'ol 87 wah-goon were the same as an 89 SHO. they were double tapers for sure, just can't remember exactly what they looked like when seperated from the wagon drums.

Perry

I tend to doubt it. If the hubs for the drums were the same (since probably 99% of the '86 - '89 SLOs and Sables were non-abs with drums), I'm sure that parts stores would still carry them.

 

[SHORANGERBIRD]

I tend to doubt it. If the hubs for the drums were the same (since probably 99% of the '86 - '89 SLOs and Sables were non-abs with drums), I'm sure that parts stores would still carry them.

correct Ron. they were different....