Five0hFox

Hey guys, I picked up complete spindles for my 5 lug conversion, including brakes. However, the outside of the hub is awfully rusty. How can I tell if it's still good to use? I'm assuming checking for play in the bearings but how? If they're good I'd like to wire wheel them and paint to save $100.

Also, is there any way to test the caliper to see if it's good before putting it on the car? Or do I just have to install it to test? I'm going to paint the calipers red so preferably I'd like to not have to install them and then remove them again to paint.

Five0hFox

No one knows how to tell if a hub is good or not....?

Tony71502

Make sure the caliper pistons are not damaged (cracked or chipped), paint them your color, and install them. If they are seized or start leaking when you test them... then they are junk.

I'm pretty sure the sn-95 hubs and bearings are an assembly. If the bearings are bad then the hub needs replaced(almost positive but IDK). Don't paint the hub face, use a good deal of anti-sieze. Do not paint the spindle where the hub goes on(refer to pic).

Here's how much anti-sieze Ford gives you from the factory. Straight outta Michigan.

Five0hFox

Thanks for the reply. Visually the calipers look fine. I guess I'll just paint then test.

And you're right, the bearings are non-serviceable and if they're bad then it needs replaced. Yeah, I taped that part off when painting the spindles.

Does Anyone know of a way to tell if the hub bad though? It's off the spindle right now if that makes a difference. I guess if there's play in it? I assume there should be none?

Boss_Hotrod

You can air check the calipers but You need to put something between them (where the rotor goes) or else you'll shoot the piston out of the caliper and have to rebuild it.

ITALIANO66669

if the hubs spin smoothly and freely and have no play they should be good,the real way to tell is to get them on the car and go down the road,if you hear a buzzing sound youve got a bad bearing.

Tony71502

Assuming everything else on the car is good and doesn't cause noise...

Five0hFox

Boss, on the air check just use an air nozzle and spray it in the brake line? (it's disconnected and off the car with no fluid in the caliper ATM) how much psi?

How free should the hubs spin? They turn free but if I grab a lug and spin it it doesn't even spin one rotation as if it's gummed up, but it does seem like thick grease. One seems like it might have a hair of play in it, it's hard to tell. Might just get new, with how rusty the rotors were it was probably sitting a good few years.

And tony, thanks for the pictures. I see you used bolts for your dust shield, I was going to try to find some rivits for mine but I might go that route.

Also, what kind of lubricant should be used on the pin and bolt that holds the caliper to the bracket?

Boss_Hotrod

No more than 50 psi. Higher pressure will make the piston shoot out faster.

Tony71502

I didn't want to use rivets in case I plan on removing the dust shields with ease.

I used cheese head bolts which have a lower profile than normal hex head ones.