4x4 Front wheel bearing adjustment

[Batman]

This is on a K1500. I really need to get a better service manual for this truck, all I have is the haynes one and I don't know how much to trust it. Does anyone know if the adustment procedure is correct?

Tighten to 60ft-lb while spinning tire
Back off 1/2 turn
Tighten to 30-35ft-lb while spinning tire
Back off 3/8 turn
Tighten until lockwasher engages
Tighten locknut to 80-125ft-lb

Seems reasonable to seat the bearings in and such, does anyone have a better procedure?

[ckhd]

I'm at work and don't have the book in front of me, but the factory service manuals are very similar, if not the same.

By the way, I have tried 'other' methods, like the 'tighten it unitl it stops spinning, then back of X amount' and it never works right. Using a torque wrench is the ONLY way to properly adjust the bearings.

[72swbcamo]

Here are the instructions from the SKF, Torque Specification Guide, Front and Rear Axel Nut Torque Specifications for FWD and RWD Vehicles.
1970 - 72 K10, K1500, 4WD Pickup.
Thighen adjusting nut to 50 ft-lbs / 68 Nm while turning hub. Back off and retighten to 35 ft-lbs / 47 Nm. back off 1/4 max. Holes in washer must align with tang in slot in spindle. Tighten locknut to 50 ft-lbs / 68 Nm. End play should be .001 0.010".
I used this procedure for my front end. I am not on the road yet but everything seened OK.
This manual is downloadable from the enternet. I think I Googled: SKF Torque specs to find it. Good luck.

[Batman]

Cool...thanks for the tip on the torque manual. The only difference between that and the procedure I have is the locknut torque....That probably doesn't matter much since it just has to hold the adjust nut in place, and the washer won't let it spin anyway.

Thanks!

[Burt4x4]

Yup!
I have done this for years and years
First nut needs to get tightend to 50ftlbs while turning the rotor, I like to go slow and spin the wheel to make sure the bearing seats properly.I even take a dead blow and lightly pound on it while turning just as an added precaution. Once I get at least 50ftlbs of torque I back it off then re-torque to 35ftlbs. Next is to slide in the washer that has the holes, one hole slides over the tit on the nut. Never tighten the nut to fit the tit into a hole. Take note of were the nearest hole is counter clockwise and turn the nut to the nearest hole.
The second nut gets torqued to 50ftlbs.
At this point I spin and check for up/down wobble..there should be no wobble and the spin should feel free not stiff.
Yer done

[Batman]

Just got done with this job yesterday. I have to get a bearing packer before I do this again, I forgot what a mess it is packing bearings. The torque wrench was definitely the way to go. Thanks!