Dana Axle Front Wheel Bearing Service

We recommend the following procedure for wheel bearing service on the Dana 25 & 27 axles.

Remove the front wheels.
Remove the front axle drive flanges (or freewheeling hubs, if used). There are many styles of freewheeling hubs and all remove a little differently than others. Some designs have an outer cover that can be moved to gain access to a snap ring that retains the axle in the main hub body. This type requires removal of the snap ring before the hub can be taken off the axle. The hubs or drive flanges must be removed to gain access to the wheel bearing nuts.
Bend back the lock tab that safeties the outer lock nut and remove the nut using a wheel bearing nut wrench (image, right. Available separately). Remove the lock plate. Remove the inner adjusting nut using the wheel bearing nut wrench. Remove the backup washer. Remove the hub and brake drum assembly.
Check to see if the new seals are the correct size. If so, proceed to step #5.
Remove the old grease seal and inner wheel bearing. Wash all old grease from bearings and hubs. Clean the spindles also. When dry, remove any residual oil from the friction surface of the brake drum or rotor using alcohol or similar solvent and a clean rag.
Using a grease approved by it's manufacturer for wheel bearing use, pack the cavity in the hub with about 1/2" of grease. If a bearing packing device is available use it to force grease into the bearing cones. If not, use your fingers to work the new grease into the bearing cones. Put 1/16" thick layer of grease on the bearing races in the hubs.
With the hubs laying "inside up", place the inner bearings in the hubs. Install the new grease seals with the sealing lip towards the inner bearing. Use a short piece of 2"x4" or similar flat material to protect the seal when installing. The seal should be driven in flush with the end of the hub. Rub a light coat of grease on the lip of the seal. The drums are now ready to install.
Rub a thin coat of grease on the seal shoulder of the spindle and install the hub. It is good practice to re-install the hub on the same side it was removed from due to the brake lining being "worn in" to fit the drum. Install the outer wheel bearing. Install the backup washer.
Install the inner nut and adjust as follows: Using the wheel bearing nut wrench, by hand, turn the inner nut against the outer bearing while rotating the drum to seat the bearings and displace the grease. Turn the wrench hand tight only while rotating the drum. Stop rotating the drum. Back the nut off 1/6 of a turn (one flat of the nut). NOTE: While this may seem too loose it usually works out just about right as the locknut, when tightened, takes up clearance in the threads and results in the clearance required for tapered roller bearing. Install the lockplate. Install the locknut and tighten to approximately 30 foot pounds. Bend the lockplate over one of the flats of the locknut.
Reinstall the hubs or drive flanges using new gaskets.