[Gus_19]

I apologize for the ignorance, but I just finished changing out the front and rear brakes on my '02 Foreman/Rubicon. As it says in the service manual once I have the rotor back on the front brakes, I'm suppose to remove the inspection plug and turn the tire until the adjustment knob is visible allowing you tighten and then slightly back down the brakes. With the ATV jacked up (with all four tires in the air) and in neutral, I was easily able to spin the front right tire to allow for the proper adjustment. The problem is the front left tire wouldn't spin freely until I removed the cotter pin and castle nut. After doing that, I would spin the rear left tire to get the inspection hole lined up. I checked for play in the wheel to see if it was an obvious bearing issue, but it's the same as the front right tire with extremely small to no play while moving from side to side. I also double checked the brakes weren't dragging on the rotor. I've never dealt with a bearing issue before and only know from other posts, like vehicles that if tire can move a little from side to side, the play in the tire indicates a bad bearing.

I also moved the other three tires (while jacked up) with everything attached, to verify they would move freely and observed if I turned one of the rear tires or the front right, the other tires would spin as well. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions or am I missing something there as there isn't anything wrong?

 

[fishfiles]

Gus , you say you have the rotor back on ? A rotor is disc brakes , I think that you got a 500 if it is indeed a Rubicon , think they were drum brakes with no rotor , unless you or previous owner did a brake conversion , then you would have a rotor ... but you mention going thru the access hole to adjust the brakes , then that is the procedure for a drum set up ------ the other wheels moving when you move another wheel is OK

 

[Gus_19]

My bad, yes they are drum brakes and not converted, I was just wondering why the front left tire would not turn freely while jacked. I was only able to align the inspection hole to the brake adjusters at the front left tire by spinning one of the other tires whereas I was able to freely move the front right tire by itself to alight the inspection hole to the adjusters. I even removed the wheel and tried to manually spin the hub, but it wouldn't move. Just wondering if this is normal or is there something else I should be looking at, like replacing the hub and/or bearing.

 

[fishfiles]

maybe the brakes are adjusted too tight , did you try to loosen them up ? ---- maybe a wheel cylinder is sticking , didn't you just do a brake job and replace the shoes , where the drums hard to put on ? maybe after market shoes ?

 

[Gus_19]

I removed the drum so the brakes and hub were just exposed and then grabbed ahold of the tire lugs on the hub, but couldnt turn the wheel. If it helps it didnt seem like there was an inadequate amount of grease on the hub

 

[fishfiles]

maybe the bearing is freezing up , was the nut on the end of the axle loose when you where trying to turn the hub ----with all 4 wheels off the ground , start it up and try to turn it with the engine -----did you check the oil in the front diff

 

[Gus_19]

The castle nut and cotter pin was still on at that time. Although I havemt checked the differential, I keep leaning towards a stuck bearing in need of replacement

 

[retro]

You may have both; a bad wheel bearing, and a worn out front diff by the sounds of it.

 

[Gus_19]

So I'm gonna prolly end up saying it was operator error. After removing the tire and hub, I did a quick inspection and then carefully reinstalled the hub, making sure the hub installed "slid" on. After doing that, I grab the lugs and was able to turn the wheel. After reinstalling everything, it's all working great now. Only guess. Is I didnt install the hub correctly amd thankfully I didnt damage anything as it appears.

 

[fishfiles]

I can imagine how to install the hub wrong , glad you got it going !!!