Help please, 96 Windstar brake problem

My wife told me that her van was making a dragging and popping noise so I drove it, and sure enough it was, and it was bad. I figured out that the passenger side front wheel bearing was bad. I removed the knuckle and took it and the new bearing to a shop to have it pressed in. The mechainic told me that the hub was ruined, so I bought a new one and had the new bearing installed on it. After I replaced everything I tightened up the axle nut all the way, or so I thought. Upon my first test drive it started to squeal whenever any sort of left turn was attempted, and I then realized that the axle nut wasn't tight enough (I broke a 1/2" drive pull handle fighting that thing). I finally got the axle nut tight, but now when I brake there is significant vibration. Did I ruin the rotor or is there something else that I should check first? Any help is greatly appreciated. Sorry for making this so long.

Just an update, still need help though. I replaced the rotor and that got rid of the vibration during braking. My problem now is there is a sound that sounds like the brakes are rubbing or dragging. What might be the problem there? Or did I possibly damage the new bearing when I failed to tighten up the axle nut enough and that is what I am hearing? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Just an update, still need help though. I replaced the rotor and that got rid of the vibration during braking. My problem now is there is a sound that sounds like the brakes are rubbing or dragging. What might be the problem there? Or did I possibly damage the new bearing when I failed to tighten up the axle nut enough and that is what I am hearing? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Hello

It's sometimes tough to find such a noise because the sound travels through the vehical. If your brakes are rubbing/dragging they should be getting hot and start smoking. I would jack up the van and try turning the wheels and listen. If the noise is coming from the brakes you should find it then.

Regards

Dan

I'm just an old back-yard mechanic. To test any wheel bearing, I have always just jacked up the suspect wheel off the ground and grabbed the tire at the top and the bottom and tried to rock it. . If you can shake it/ rock it side to side it could be bearings or steering linkage problems. BUT if you grab the tire on the top and bottom and can shake it/rock it , that usually indicates a bearing problem, or a problem with the upper and/or lower ball joints since this is a front-wheel drive. Try shaking the tire from top to bottom with someone looking at the ball joints.

I agree, it's a real pain to have to replace the bearing if it's not the problem, but I'd try to test and isolate it in this fashion.

Sorry I could not offer a more definitive test.

http://community.webshots.com/album/201931518cScpNK

For some clear pictures of front brakes.

One thing that I did when working on my front brakes....was that I bumped the metal splash shield...that covers the inner, bottom, of the front rotor.
It made some sounds.....I just had to bend it very slightly back out.
For me, it was a simple problem to a nasty sound (when turning just a certain way) that had brought some scary pictures to my mind.

Thanks for all the assistance. I checked the wheel bearing the old fashioned way, and it still feels tight, and so far the brakes haven't smoked or anything. I am definitely going to check the splash guard in a little while. I do remember that I had dinged the corner pretty good on it and had straightened that corner out with a pair of pliers, but then I didn't give it another thought. Hopefully it will be something that simple. Heck there can't be much more there that could cause a rubbing nooise, I've already replaced just about everything on that wheel! Once again thanks for the assist.

Driving with the cv axle nut loose can damage the bearing

Driving with the cv axle nut loose can damage the bearing
Hello

I believe that in the manual it states that the vehical shouldn't be "rolled" without this bearing being tight. If the axels can't be in, a stub shaft should be used to keep tension on the bearings.

Regards

Dan

Another update. I found out today that the splash guard was just barely touching the rotor and that that was what was causing the noise. The vibration was actually coming from the other side. Somehow when I was checking the other side the rotor must have not seated just right. I pulled the brakes off and noticed that the inside brake pad had a groove on the very bottom of it where it was riding too low on the rotor, it seems like the rotors would have those little keepers on them like I have seen before, the only thing that holds the rotors on the front of the van appear to be the lugs from the tire. I readjusted all that and everything seems to be fine. I'm just glad I didn't mess anything up when I neglected to tighten that axle nut up enough. Thanks for all the advice everybody.

Another update. I found out today that the splash guard was just barely touching the rotor and that that was what was causing the noise. The vibration was actually coming from the other side. Somehow when I was checking the other side the rotor must have not seated just right. I pulled the brakes off and noticed that the inside brake pad had a groove on the very bottom of it where it was riding too low on the rotor, it seems like the rotors would have those little keepers on them like I have seen before, the only thing that holds the rotors on the front of the van appear to be the lugs from the tire. I readjusted all that and everything seems to be fine. I'm just glad I didn't mess anything up when I neglected to tighten that axle nut up enough. Thanks for all the advice everybody.

Glad to hear you got it fixed! Good thing that it was simple!

Dan

My kind of fix.....simple and cheap.
That little thing does make a pretty nasty noise doesn't it?

Remember to torque the lug nuts in a "star" pattern to the correct specification. I ended up with a seriously warped rotor from a loose lug nut......when the wheel was put on at a FORD dealership service department.
Not trying to bash them...mistakes happen.....just trying to point out...that checking these things over yourself is worth it.

Thanks for the advice. I do use the star pattern, and I also found out that without anything to keep the rotors in place that it worked best for me to leave the brakes loose until the tire is in place, because when I apply the brakes without the lug nuts in place the brakes pull the rotor in that direction.