Service the front wheel bearings and locking hubs

Symptoms

The fix, step by step

1. Remove the hub, the outer nut, lock washer and inner nut, then pull the rotor and catch the outer bearing.
2. Clean everything, replace bearings and races as pairs, and press the new races in square.
3. Seals come in two sizes (2 1/8 in and 2 5/16 in), so measure the old one first.
4. Pack the bearings fully and tighten the inner nut to 50 ft-lb while turning the rotor to seat them, as the manuals quoted in the Off-Road.com thread say.
5. Then back it off (one owner backs off about 1/6 turn), fit the lock washer and torque the outer locknut to 50 ft-lb and bend the lock-washer lip over it (1981 Jeep factory service manual; the inner nut is set the same way there, 50 ft-lb then back off 1/6 turn), and check end play: the manuals quoted there specify 0.001–0.005 in with a dial indicator.
6. If the six spindle bolts come out, replace the needle bearing inside the spindle too.

Tools & part numbers

• Hub/spindle-nut socket
• torque wrench
• bearing packer (optional)
• race driver or long bolt
• brake cleaner
• high-quality wheel-bearing grease.

Where to buy the parts

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