I want to check the play in the front wheel bearings on my '92 F150 4x4. I've got the good shop manual and I was able to disassemble the hub as far as the bearing locknut, but I can't get the thing to turn. I'm using a spanner socket I got at Advance Auto (seems to fit ok), but even with a 12" breaker bar I can't get the locknut to budge. I'm afraid to crank on it too hard because I don't want to break it.

The manual mentions applying inward pressure while turning the locknut, but when pressing in on the locknut, I can't feel any inward movement. Could that be a problem?

Rich
'92 F150 Flareside 4x4
'68 Mustang fastback

 

Not sure either of these are your problem, but here are two suggestions:

1) There is a 'splined spacer' (thick washer) that is held on the spindle with a heavy-duty C-clip. This will prevent the nut from coming off. The manual makes it seem obvious, but when I did mine, I thought those parts were missing (or not on my model/year) and I ended up cracking the spacer when I tried to remove the nut.

2) The torque on that nut is about 90 ft/lbs, so you might want to use a bigger tool.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

 

Does your truck have manual or auto hubs? There is a difference.