First, turn the rear wheel lug nuts to a loose condition, lift the rear of the vehicle, providing jackstands and position the front wheels, and take off the rear wheels. For models with disc brakes-first of all, the brake caliper with the disc is to be removed, for models equipped with drum brakes-the brake drum is to be removed. Subsequently unscrew the retaining ring and key from the end of the axle housing while the adjusting nut can be removed by a special socket. Remove the hub assembly pulling it straight up on the axle tube and take the oil seal off the back of the hub. To disassemble the hub further, strike with hammer and a long bar or drift punch to knock out the inner bearing, cup and oil seal and to remove newly inserted retaining ring knock out the outer bearing cup from the hub. Remove the old sealing compound from the seal bore of the hub and to clean the bearings, hub as well as the axle tube using solvent, although there should be no bristles from the brush stuck in the bearing rollers. Wipe the bearings with polluted solvent, then rinse the bearings with brake system cleaner, and the solvent will dry fast. Look for signs of wear on the bearings and where they mount on the axle tube flange and to the truck frame; cracks, wear, and damage on the bearings, axle tube flange, studs, and hub splines. The bearings and the point of contact of axle tube with the axle should be lubricated with wheel bearing grease, although the usage of grease pencil is prohibited. The process of reassembling of the hub is the reversal of the disassembly process here the new bearing cups should be done with the help of the proper size bearing driver. Check that the axle housing oil deflector is properly positioned; place the hub assembly on the axle tube being careful not to damage the oil seals. Place the adjusting nut and turn the bearings and the hub by trying to rotate the bearings, then using a torque wrench tighten the adjusting nut to 50 ft-lbs then turn the adjusting nut 1/4 turn anticlockwise then tighten again by hand only. Ensure the nominated slot of the nut matches with the key way of the spindle, place key in place followed by the retainring key in the end of the spindle. Though the hub assembly could be periodically rotated to test for play or lash between the hub and spindle, there is no preload or freeplay. Last but not the least, it is installing the axleshaft and then lowering the vehicle again.
