I will be greasing my front wheel bearings soon. From what I have heard, the nut is not to be put on too tight. Is it hand tight? Are there torque specs? Is there anything else I should be aware of when doing this?
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I put them on Tight! I tighten them until the wheel feels drag when turned, and then back it off until it JUST comes free. Then I grab the rotor at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock and rock it back and forth to try to feel for any play. If it is zero, I'am good! DON'T worry about when the bearing gets hot or warm it will expand and cause binding; in my 35 years of adjusting front bearings this way, THAT has NEVER happened. Your steering response will be greatly improved. Good-Luck with it! Marlin.
Depends on your car. Early cars got a one-time-use-only front wheel bearing nut. It get put on, then staked with a cold-chisel into a groove in the spindle. Removing it breaks out the staked section I think in mid-73, Ford or the factory went to a std type nut with a cotter pin. Some early cars have been modified with a drill hole in the spindles for a later nut, but not all of them. First check to see what you have: no cotter pin= a new nut if you disturb it.
That explains why the cotter pin hole in my '72 is not drilled straight.