Guide: Replacing a 2004 - 2008 Ford F-150 Wheel Bearing & Hub

Summary:

• Wheel bearings are essential for safely and comfortably steering, accelerating, and braking your F-150 since they bear the forces created during these driving maneuvers.
• For this job, you’ll need a jack and jack stands, a lug wrench or impact wrench, a socket set and ratchet, a torque wrench, a brake caliper hanger or bungee cord, a hammer, a cloth, pliers, threadlocker, and a new wheel bearing and hub assembly that matches your truck’s model year.
• The steps you’ll need to follow, in order, are: jacking up your truck and removing the wheel, removing the brakes, removing the hub assembly, installing the new bearing, putting the hub assembly back on, replacing the ABS sensor and brakes, replacing the wheel, taking the truck off the stand. Read on for details on each step and a video showing you the process.

Ford F-150s are the most popular trucks in America, mixing classic styling with serious towing and load capabilities. But you’ll need to replace the wheel bearings and other wear components on your F-150 periodically to keep it performing the way you’ve come to expect.

Replacing Your 2004-2008 Ford F-150 Wheel Bearing? This is the part you need!

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Once you purchase reliable F-150 wheel bearings for your truck’s model year, we’re here to help you install them by yourself. Use the guide and images below to get specific instructions for each critical step in the process of replacing your truck’s wheel bearings so you can keep using it the way it was meant to be used.

Why Is Replacing Your Wheel Bearings Important?

Wheel bearings keep the wheels in your Ford turning smoothly as you accelerate, steer, and brake—but these maneuvers create a lot of force and friction, so bearings don’t last forever. That’s why you’ll need to replace them on a regular basis.

Sealed bearings can last up to 100,000 miles before needing replacements, but you may want to take them out and put new ones in at around 85,000 miles if you experience any of these common signs of a wheel bearing problem before then.

What You’ll Need to Start

Here’s what you’ll need to replace the wheel bearing and hub on your 2004-2008 Ford F-150 by yourself:

• A new wheel bearing and hub assembly for your truck
• 2005 - 2008 Ford F150 wheel bearing & hub assembly
• 2004 - 2005 Ford F150 wheel bearing & hub assembly
• A jack and jack stands
• Lug wrench or impact wrench
• Socket set and ratchet
• Torque wrench
• Brake caliper hanger or wire
• Hammer
• A cloth
• Pliers
• Threadlocker

Via How to Automotive on YouTube.

Step 1: Jack Up Your Truck & Remove the Wheel

Start by loosening the lug nuts on your truck by ¾ of a turn each—this will prevent your wheel from spinning when you take them off later.

Using a jack stand, raise your truck off the ground and support it on stands. Then remove the lug nuts completely and tap the tire from behind with a hammer to remove the tire.

Via How to Automotive on YouTube.

Step 2: Remove the Brakes

Your next step is to remove the brake calipers. You don’t actually need to remove the caliper bolts to do this on a 6th generation F-150—just remove the inner bolts with an 18mm socket and then slide the caliper off. Hang it out of the way on a bungee cord or other suitable hanger, then slip the rotor off and set it aside. Finally, slip the ABS sensor cable out and unhook it from the electrical connector near your truck’s body.

Via How to Automotive on YouTube.

Step 3: Remove the Hub Assembly

Remove the dust cap from your wheel, along with the axle nut underneath. Then use an 18mm socket to remove the four bolts holding your hub assembly in place.

Use a large hammer wrapped in a cloth to tap the hub from behind and drive the bearing away from the spindle until it pops out.

Via How to Automotive on YouTube.

Step 4: Install the New Bearing & Hub Assembly

Clean out any dirt or debris inside the hub with a rag, then use some threadlocker to prevent the bolts from coming out once the new bearing is on. Then slide the new bearing and hub into place and start the axle nut.

Start the bolts from the back of the new hub, then tighten them in a criss-cross pattern. Torque them 148 lb-ft for a 2005 F-150 (this figure should be similar for other sixth-generation F-150 trucks but consult your owner’s manual if yours is from a different model year to be sure).

Via How to Automotive on YouTube.

Step 5: Reinstall the ABS Harness

Tighten the axle nut until it’s snug and then replace the axle cap. Next, replace the ABS sensor by rerouting it through the grommets and plugging it back into the connector.

Via How to Automotive on YouTube.

Step 6: Put the Brakes Back On

Slip the rotor back on and start a single lug nut to hold it in place. Then put the caliper and brake pads back on, making sure the brake hose doesn’t become twisted during the process. Use some more threadlocker here on the caliper bolts while tightening them to 148 lb-ft each.

Step 7: Replace the Wheel

Finally, put your wheel back on and tighten the lug nuts. You’ll want to use the owner’s manual for your specific model year to find the exact torque specs here, since they can differ from one year to the next. If you’re using aftermarket rims, you’ll want to look at the information for that specific product instead. Torque the lug nuts in a criss-cross pattern to make sure they go on evenly, then lower the truck to the ground. Congratulations, you’re all done!

Video Walkthrough

Want to see the steps above in action? Check out this video we found that shows you the whole process for replacing the wheel bearing and hub assembly on a 2004-2008 Ford F-150:

Keep Your F-150 Safe & Comfortable to Drive

Thanks to the information above and our high-quality aftermarket parts, you should have everything you need to successfully replace the wheel bearing in your 2004-2008 F-150. For more information about anything we sell or to speak with a member of our team who can answer your questions, reach out to us here and learn more.