Hot hubs

[Earth1]

I left this exact post on 88's board. Sorry if anyone has already read it.

I took my truck up to a trail to try out the new control arms. I engaged 4H and started up a hill right at the beginning of the trail. After a short distance I started smelling something hot. Hopped out to see what was happening, and there was a faint amount of smoke coming from inside the wheel well (passenger) and my hubs were HOT both sides. My brake warning light just came on a couple of days ago, but I don't think it has anything to do with it because I wasn't using the brakes; I was going uphill. I know something is really wrong and don't know where to start looking. I just replaced the driver's side wheel bearings about 2 months ago, and the hub looked good. The weird thing is, I drove around the block a couple of times in 4wd when I got home and the hubs would not get hot. It seems to only happen when the front is really pulling hard. This one has got me worried a little. Any ideas?

I noticed a hot smell a few months back when I pulled off the road and got stuck in the heavy plowed snow on the side of the road. I was already in 2WD when I pulled off and got stuck. I had to engage 4WD without any running room just to get out. At the time, I thought the hot smell was normal because I was really stuck. It's possible I effed something up then and today just finished the problem.

 

[Precise1]

Well, there are only 3 things that can generate that kind of heat; wheel bearings, hub damage and calipers. You did the bearings (therefore had the hubs apart) and will assume you assembled them correctly... That leaves the calipers... if they are rubbing, they can fry the grease at the bearing.... Try seeing if the calipers are hot also next time. I understand that the check brake light comes on when the fluid is low, ie pad wear=more fluid in the line, equals low fluid.... You either fubared the bearing install or the calipers are dragging. Look in the garage for the sticky about caliper pins... Odds are you have not really damaged things you, but if you let it go, you will be sorry. Good Luck, and update...

 

Bernard

[Mr. Pickles]

You might try to test the calipers if you have a long fairly steep hill nearby, preferrably a few miles long. While going down a hill like this returning from a ski trip, my brakes started acting weird and pulling. Got out, and the hub was super hot, radiating heat out a foot or 2, but then I tried creeping a bit further and everything returned to normal. Soon after, the caliper froze after simply tapping the brakes on the freeway. That sucked! Mind you, I just tapped the brakes once mildly and that's all it took. Mine was a faulty caliper from Midas, but that could probably also be from the pins.

[Earth1]

My internet was down over the weekend. Thanks for the info. I'm going with the brake suggestion first. Don't really want to take the hubs apart again if I don't have to. Seems more likely a brake issue than both hubs (one recently serviced) having problems at the same time. I'll update when I get it in the garage.

[Precise1]

So, what was the issue ??

 

B

[94extreme]

yeah, the calipers or the bearings.. it's not too hard to fubar the bearings if you've never done them before.. not enough grease could be the culprit. to check the calipers, lift the truck and see if the wheels spin freely, if not then the calipers are your problems.