That being said, here's a *general overview* of the process. This is not a complete guide, and specific steps may vary depending on the year and model of your F-250. Always consult a repair manual specific to your vehicle's year and model for detailed instructions and torque specifications.
Tools and Materials You'll Likely Need:
* Repair Manual: Absolutely essential for your specific truck's year and model.
* Jack and Jack Stands: Securely support the truck.
* Wheel Chocks: For added safety.
* Lug Wrench: To remove the wheels.
* Torque Wrench: Crucial for proper tightening.
* Hub Nut Socket: Often oversized and may require a breaker bar.
* Bearing Press: Essential for pressing the old bearings out and the new ones in. Improvising can damage the hub.
* Slide Hammer (or similar tool): May be needed to help remove bearings.
* Penetrating Oil: To loosen stubborn nuts and bolts.
* New Hub Assembly (or individual bearings and seals): Buying a pre-assembled hub is often easier.
* Grease: High-quality wheel bearing grease.
* Clean rags and shop towels.
* Safety Glasses and Gloves.
General Steps (Highly Simplified):
1. Safety First: Park on a level surface, engage the parking brake, and use wheel chocks.
2. Disconnect the Battery: To prevent electrical shorts.
3. Remove the Wheel: Remove the lug nuts and wheel.
4. Disconnect Brake Caliper: Remove the caliper and secure it safely out of the way. You may need to compress the caliper piston.
5. Remove Rotor: Remove the brake rotor.
6. Disconnect ABS Sensor (if applicable): Carefully disconnect the ABS sensor wire.
7. Remove the Hub Nut: This is often very tight; use penetrating oil and a breaker bar if necessary.
8. Remove the Axle Nut: This may be under the hub.
9. Separate the Hub and Spindle: This usually requires removing several bolts. This is where things get tricky; the process will vary depending on the design.
10. Press Out the Old Bearing(s): This requires a bearing press to avoid damaging the hub.
11. Install the New Bearing(s): Again, a bearing press is critical for proper installation.
12. Reassemble: Carefully reassemble everything in the reverse order, ensuring all components are properly seated and lubricated.
13. Torque Everything: Use your torque wrench to tighten all bolts and nuts to the manufacturer's specifications (found in your repair manual).
14. Reconnect Brake Caliper and Rotor: Make sure the caliper is properly secured.
15. Reinstall the Wheel: Tighten lug nuts to the proper torque.
16. Test Drive: After a short test drive, recheck the lug nuts for tightness.
Important Considerations:
* ABS Sensors: Be extremely careful with the ABS sensor; damaging it can be costly.
* Torque Specifications: Following the correct torque specifications is critical to prevent premature bearing failure and other damage.
* Pre-Assembled Hubs: Consider replacing the entire hub assembly instead of individual bearings and seals for simplicity and potentially improved reliability.
This is a highly simplified overview. Again, consult a repair manual specific to your vehicle and consider seeking professional help if you lack the experience or tools. Improperly installed wheel bearings can be extremely dangerous.
