Hello, I just finished replacing all the brake hardware on my 1954 3100 truck, bled brakes , adjusted and drove around the block. I heard a squealing when turning. Pulled back in garage and noticed both hub dust covers are gone, and hubs hot. Jacked up, and noticed the hubs are loose. After removing the left tire and kotter pin, I could rotate the castle nut almost a 1/4 turn. Oh crap. I removed the castle nut, washer. and the outer bearing balls fell out. Left outer bearing shot. Pulled right side - same hub slop. Bearing is still in tact. I will replace the bearings, but now I'm questioning the installation / bearing preload procedure. I have done this in the past with no problems. Hand rotate the hub while tightening down the castle nut until hub stops rotating, then back off the next kotter pin slot. They both had a slight drag. I installed the hub, outer bearing race, then the bearing with small end toward race, washer, then nut.
How many folks follow the manual? Tighten spindle nut to 33 ft. pounds, while rotating by hand with tire off, then back off spindle nut to next hole for kotter pin. This seems too tight - but obviously I put together too loose. The hub should still spin freely per the manual.
