Wheel Bearing - Press-In Rear

Replace the press-in rear wheel bearing on a 2011-2014 Ford F-150 4WD with 5.0L Coyote V8 by removing the axle shaft, pressing out the old bearing, and pressing in a new bearing assembly.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear wheel bearing assembly (press-in type) × 1 — Timken SET45 or equivalent
• Rear axle seal × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Axle nut cotter pin or stake nut × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Differential cover gasket or RTV gasket maker × 1 — Motorcraft RTV or pre-cut gasket

Fluids

• Motorcraft 75W-140 Synthetic Gear Oil — 2.5 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Chock front wheels securely
3. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground, but do not remove
4. Raise rear of vehicle and support on jack stands at frame rails
5. Remove rear wheel on affected side
6. Place drain pan under differential cover
7. Verify you have a new bearing, seal, and axle nut hardware before beginning

Procedure

1. 1

   Drain differential fluid
   Remove all differential cover bolts and carefully pry cover away from housing using a pry bar. Allow all gear oil to drain into pan. Remove cover completely and inspect for metal shavings or debris. Clean mating surfaces thoroughly with wire brush and brake cleaner.
   Torque spec

   Differential Cover Bolts35 Nm (26 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Remove ABS wheel speed sensor
   Locate the ABS wheel speed sensor on the rear axle housing near the backing plate. Remove the single sensor bolt and carefully pull sensor straight out of housing. Route sensor wire out of the way and secure to prevent damage. Do not allow sensor to hang by wire.
   ⚠ABS sensor is fragile. Do not strike or bend the sensor tip. Clean any metallic debris from sensor tip before reinstallation.
   Torque spec

   ABS Sensor Bolt14 Nm (10 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Remove axle nut and retainer
   Remove cotter pin from axle nut (if equipped) or remove staking from nut. Use 36mm socket and breaker bar to remove axle nut. This nut is torqued to 250 Nm and will require significant force. Remove the axle nut retainer plate behind the nut.
   ⚠Use a 6-point socket to prevent rounding the axle nut. Apply penetrating oil if nut is corroded.
   Torque spec

   Axle Nut250 Nm (184 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Remove brake caliper and rotor
   Remove brake caliper mounting bolts and hang caliper from suspension using wire or bungee cord. Do not let caliper hang by brake hose. Slide brake rotor off hub. If rotor is stuck, use penetrating oil and dead blow hammer to free it.
   ⚠Do not allow brake caliper to hang by the brake hose as this can damage the hose internally.
5. 5

   Remove hub and backing plate assembly
   Remove the four hub bolts from the rear of the axle flange that secure the hub and backing plate assembly. Carefully pull the hub assembly off the axle shaft. If stuck, use gentle tapping with dead blow hammer. Remove backing plate and set aside with brake assembly attached.
   ℹ️Mark the orientation of the backing plate for proper reinstallation.
   Torque spec

   Hub Bolts127 Nm (94 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Extract axle shaft from housing
   From inside the differential housing, push the axle shaft inward slightly to disengage the C-clip retainer from the axle shaft groove. Rotate differential if necessary to access C-clip through differential opening. Remove C-clip from axle shaft. Carefully pull axle shaft out of housing using slide hammer with axle puller attachment if necessary.
   ⚠Do not damage the axle seal during removal. Take care not to score the axle shaft surface.
7. 7

   Remove old axle seal
   Using seal puller or pry bar, carefully remove the old axle seal from the axle tube. Clean the seal bore thoroughly with brake cleaner and inspect for damage or scoring.
   ⚠Do not damage the seal bore surface. Any scratches or gouges can cause the new seal to leak.
8. 8

   Press out old bearing from hub
   Take the hub assembly to hydraulic press. Support hub on press blocks, ensuring hub is fully supported around outer edge. Using appropriate bearing race driver or press tooling, press old bearing out of hub from the back side. Clean hub bore thoroughly and inspect for cracks, damage, or excessive wear.
   ⚠️Wear safety glasses when using hydraulic press. Bearing components can fracture and project debris during pressing operations.
   ⚠Support hub properly to prevent distortion. Never press against the wheel studs.
9. 9

   Press new bearing into hub
   Place new bearing assembly in freezer for 30 minutes prior to installation to aid fit. Place hub on press with bore facing up. Align new bearing squarely in hub bore. Using bearing race installer that contacts ONLY the outer race, press bearing into hub until fully seated. Bearing should be flush or slightly below the hub face. Verify bearing rotates smoothly after installation.
   ⚠️Press only on the outer bearing race. Pressing on inner race or bearing cage will destroy the bearing.
   ⚠Ensure bearing is pressed in straight. Cocked bearing installation will damage both bearing and hub.
10. 10

    Install new axle seal
    Coat outer edge of new axle seal with small amount of gear oil. Using seal driver or appropriately sized socket that contacts only the outer edge of seal, drive seal into axle tube until flush with housing end. Coat seal lip with gear oil before axle installation.
    ⚠Do not drive seal in crooked. Ensure seal driver is square to housing to prevent seal damage.
11. 11

    Install axle shaft
    Carefully slide axle shaft into housing, taking care not to damage new seal lip. Rotate axle as needed to align splines with differential side gear. Push axle fully inward and install C-clip retainer into groove on axle shaft end. Pull axle outward to verify C-clip is properly engaged.
    ⚠Protect seal lip during axle installation. Consider wrapping axle splines with electrical tape to prevent seal damage.
12. 12

    Install hub assembly and backing plate
    Position backing plate onto axle housing in original orientation. Slide hub assembly with new bearing onto axle shaft, aligning with backing plate and axle flange. Install four hub bolts and torque to specification in a cross pattern.
    Torque spec

    Hub Bolts127 Nm (94 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Install brake rotor, caliper, and axle nut
    Install brake rotor onto hub. Reinstall brake caliper and torque mounting bolts to specification. Install axle nut retainer plate and new axle nut. Torque axle nut to specification. Install new cotter pin through nut and axle shaft hole, or stake nut per manufacturer specification.
    ⚠Never reuse old cotter pin or rely on previously staked nut. Axle nut failure can result in wheel separation.
    Torque spec

    Axle Nut250 Nm (184 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Reinstall ABS sensor
    Clean ABS sensor tip and bore with brake cleaner. Apply thin coat of dielectric grease to sensor O-ring. Insert sensor into housing and install mounting bolt. Torque to specification.
    Torque spec

    ABS Sensor Bolt14 Nm (10 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Install differential cover and refill
    Clean differential cover and housing mating surfaces completely. Install new gasket or apply thin bead of RTV sealant to cover. Install cover and torque bolts in cross pattern to specification. Allow RTV to cure per manufacturer instructions if used. Fill differential with Motorcraft 75W-140 synthetic gear oil until fluid reaches bottom of fill hole (approximately 2.5 quarts). Install fill plug.
    ℹ️If using RTV, wait 30 minutes before filling with gear oil to allow proper cure.
    Torque spec

    Differential Cover Bolts35 Nm (26 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Install wheel and hand-tighten lug nuts in star pattern
2. Lower vehicle until tire just touches ground to prevent rotation
3. Torque wheel lug nuts to specification in star pattern
4. Lower vehicle completely and remove jack stands
5. Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify no abnormal noises or vibrations
6. Recheck differential fluid level after test drive and top off if necessary

Verification

• Verify wheel rotates smoothly without binding or excessive play
• Check for axial play in hub by attempting to move rotor in and out - should be minimal movement only
• Verify no gear oil leaks from axle seal or differential cover after test drive
• Confirm ABS warning light does not illuminate after test drive
• Listen for bearing noise during test drive - properly installed bearing should be silent
• Verify axle nut is properly secured with cotter pin or staking

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