Front Hub Setup

[timmytooth]

I am replacing the front rotors and wheel bearings on my 89 Festo. I have the Haynes manual but it doesn't give the wheel bearing preload specs. Does anyone know what they might be?

[oldgrezmonke]

the preload is not in the manual because the bearings have to be pressed off and on . a good automotive machine shop will have the information.

[gdawgs]

It's not in the Haynes manual, but I have an older Chilton manual that does have it. Unfortunately, I believe it's at my parents' house, so I'm not much help tonight. Maybe someone else has it.

An auto shop may have the information, but they will not be able to get hold of the parts(preload spacers) because they haven't been made for a long time.

The job isn't that hard, but can be time consuming. Once you get the new bearings in, you tighten down axle, then check the preload. If it's too tight, you are supposed to put in a thicker spacer. Too loose = thinner spacer. Since you can't get the spacers, you have to either machine down your existing spacer if you don't have enough preload, or make a shim if you have too much preload. When I did mine, I could barely turn the wheel once I got it assembled, so I added a couple shims. It's been quite a while since I did it, but I'd guess that I had to add about .015' - .020".

[Kraig]

Per the Ford Festiva factory manual the rotating torque should be 2.2 - 10.4 LB-IN. The original spacers start at .2474" through .2794" in .0016" increments. It says an increase in thickness of one increment should increase the running torque by 0.2-0.4 lb-in. Hope this helps you.