Vinni
I didn't do it
I took off after work from Del Rio last Wednesday for T-day in Houston at about 1600hrs. I went the back way through Rocksprings/Mountain Home to I-10 as apposed to through Hwy 90 to I-10 (seems to be a faster route to me).
Anyway, the girlfriend claimed she could hear something ticking from the front end of the X almost the entire way; however, i could not hear it. Once we got into San Antonio while travelling next to the barrier wall on I-10, I could then hear the ticking she was talking about comming from the front. Once i got through San Antonio-almost to Sequin (spelling) i found myself fighting my steering slightly. I pulled off the road to investigate and could see nothing that appeared out of whack. i got back on the road and all of the sudden had a grinding sound comming from the front and the brakes were throbbing along with the ABS light comming on. Upon investigation, i discovered the driver's side brake rotor rubbing on the brake calliper brace - NOT GOOD.
I managed to linp the truck into a gas station with good lighting and called a friend in Shertzville (Geff) and another friend that owns Maximum Altitude (Joey). Joey fadvised me that i had thrown a bearing in the hub assembly and would be a 5-6 job with hand tools. He also gave me the cell number of his mechanic - a Ford tech from a San Antonio dealership. Geff hopped on the road and picked up a hub in Universal City ($204) and made his way to me with a floor jack, jackstands, breaker bar, ad few other special tools he thought we may need for the job.
Once Geff arrived - we proceeded to pull off the wheel, caliper, rotor and locking assembly. The hub is mounted to the spindle by 4 studs/nuts (accessible from inside) and the hub pulled off the axle faily easily. Once removed, we discovered the biggest problem - the new hub did NOT come with a new set of mounting studs - we had to extract the OEM studs with a breakerbar and vise grips - took about 1.5 hours to extract all 4 - 1/3 turn at a time. Once we put the truck back together (almost 0100hrs now) all seemed great and i hit the road to complete the drive to H-town.
About an hour went by at 80mph and truck began to vibrate vigorously while climbing in order to maintain speed - i knew this one - cloged fuel filter in the bowl due to veggie blend diesel. No problem, keep a filter in the truck. i pulled off the road, popped the hood, and the filter bowl lid would NOT budge. Apparently, some of the veggie blend had got under the lid last time i changed the filter and set up to a glue of sorts virtually fusing the lid to the bowl. I worked a knife all the way around the bowl and eventually got it to budge after an hour or so of sitting on my batteries. I changed out the filter - put the lid back on - closed the hood and started the truck again. I was running rough; however. i figured it was due to some trash in the fuel lines and it would work out of the system. Took off down the road at about 50mph (now 0400hrs - on the road for 12hrs for a 6hr drive). The truck died...
Due to frustration now, i called USAA Roadside Assistance for a tow into Sealy, TX and my dad for a ride in Houston. Once the tow truck appeared on site, with his lights i noticed a HUGE puddle under truck. I popped the hood again and noticed the entire motor was covered in fuel - obviously did not have a good seal on the lid fo the filter bowl. I loosened the lid and tightened it back down - turned on the key - sprayed out the side. I took the lid off, examined the lid seal for cracks and/or trash - re-assembled - key on - same thing. Loaded the ruck on the flat bed transporter and rode into Houston with pops.
Friday i went back out to Sealy, TX to either fix the X or get it to a mechanic. On the way i stopped at O'Riellys and picked up ahouse brand filter (came with a new lid and seals for $30). Got to the truck and drained the fuel bowl - took off the lid - removed the new filter and disovered the old o-ring fromt he bad filter was int he bottom of the bowl - this explaines why the lid would not seal down. I cleaned out the bowl with carb cleaner and drained with pump diesel. Placed in the new filter, seals and lid. Turned on the key - no leak. Started the truck with a tad of Either (not advised). It ran rough for a few minutes to work out the trash and then began to run fine. Took it immediately to the Chevron and put in .5qt of Tranny fluid and 20gal diesel int he tank and made my way to the house.
All in all, i was on the road for almost 14hrs in effort to get home for Turkey Day and performed some major mechanical work in gas station parking lot (1st time). Moral of the story - a hub assembly can be changed out in about 1.5hrs IF you purchace a new set of studs with the new hub. Additionally, eventhough it had never happened before, ensure the o-ring from the old fuel filter is not in the bottom of the bowl before you put int he new one. This will ensure the filter is able to seat down properly in orer to allow the lid to seal down appropriately.
Felt i needed to share...
Anyway, the girlfriend claimed she could hear something ticking from the front end of the X almost the entire way; however, i could not hear it. Once we got into San Antonio while travelling next to the barrier wall on I-10, I could then hear the ticking she was talking about comming from the front. Once i got through San Antonio-almost to Sequin (spelling) i found myself fighting my steering slightly. I pulled off the road to investigate and could see nothing that appeared out of whack. i got back on the road and all of the sudden had a grinding sound comming from the front and the brakes were throbbing along with the ABS light comming on. Upon investigation, i discovered the driver's side brake rotor rubbing on the brake calliper brace - NOT GOOD.
I managed to linp the truck into a gas station with good lighting and called a friend in Shertzville (Geff) and another friend that owns Maximum Altitude (Joey). Joey fadvised me that i had thrown a bearing in the hub assembly and would be a 5-6 job with hand tools. He also gave me the cell number of his mechanic - a Ford tech from a San Antonio dealership. Geff hopped on the road and picked up a hub in Universal City ($204) and made his way to me with a floor jack, jackstands, breaker bar, ad few other special tools he thought we may need for the job.
Once Geff arrived - we proceeded to pull off the wheel, caliper, rotor and locking assembly. The hub is mounted to the spindle by 4 studs/nuts (accessible from inside) and the hub pulled off the axle faily easily. Once removed, we discovered the biggest problem - the new hub did NOT come with a new set of mounting studs - we had to extract the OEM studs with a breakerbar and vise grips - took about 1.5 hours to extract all 4 - 1/3 turn at a time. Once we put the truck back together (almost 0100hrs now) all seemed great and i hit the road to complete the drive to H-town.
About an hour went by at 80mph and truck began to vibrate vigorously while climbing in order to maintain speed - i knew this one - cloged fuel filter in the bowl due to veggie blend diesel. No problem, keep a filter in the truck. i pulled off the road, popped the hood, and the filter bowl lid would NOT budge. Apparently, some of the veggie blend had got under the lid last time i changed the filter and set up to a glue of sorts virtually fusing the lid to the bowl. I worked a knife all the way around the bowl and eventually got it to budge after an hour or so of sitting on my batteries. I changed out the filter - put the lid back on - closed the hood and started the truck again. I was running rough; however. i figured it was due to some trash in the fuel lines and it would work out of the system. Took off down the road at about 50mph (now 0400hrs - on the road for 12hrs for a 6hr drive). The truck died...
Due to frustration now, i called USAA Roadside Assistance for a tow into Sealy, TX and my dad for a ride in Houston. Once the tow truck appeared on site, with his lights i noticed a HUGE puddle under truck. I popped the hood again and noticed the entire motor was covered in fuel - obviously did not have a good seal on the lid fo the filter bowl. I loosened the lid and tightened it back down - turned on the key - sprayed out the side. I took the lid off, examined the lid seal for cracks and/or trash - re-assembled - key on - same thing. Loaded the ruck on the flat bed transporter and rode into Houston with pops.
Friday i went back out to Sealy, TX to either fix the X or get it to a mechanic. On the way i stopped at O'Riellys and picked up ahouse brand filter (came with a new lid and seals for $30). Got to the truck and drained the fuel bowl - took off the lid - removed the new filter and disovered the old o-ring fromt he bad filter was int he bottom of the bowl - this explaines why the lid would not seal down. I cleaned out the bowl with carb cleaner and drained with pump diesel. Placed in the new filter, seals and lid. Turned on the key - no leak. Started the truck with a tad of Either (not advised). It ran rough for a few minutes to work out the trash and then began to run fine. Took it immediately to the Chevron and put in .5qt of Tranny fluid and 20gal diesel int he tank and made my way to the house.
All in all, i was on the road for almost 14hrs in effort to get home for Turkey Day and performed some major mechanical work in gas station parking lot (1st time). Moral of the story - a hub assembly can be changed out in about 1.5hrs IF you purchace a new set of studs with the new hub. Additionally, eventhough it had never happened before, ensure the o-ring from the old fuel filter is not in the bottom of the bowl before you put int he new one. This will ensure the filter is able to seat down properly in orer to allow the lid to seal down appropriately.
Felt i needed to share...
