Quigley front end needs service

[arz]

I'm looking at needing a new unit bearing on my 03 Quigley. I'm thinking it's a standard Ford Superduty 03 front end, right?

apparently not.

I emailed Tiger at quigley to verify, and got this in response from Joyce Santiago:

The front brake pads and calipers are 03 F-350. The uni-brg is also but we modify it so a stock one would not fit. We modify at wheel stud holes and install different studs. We have them in stock already modified and studs installed. Your cost is $449.00 each plus shipping. Pleae advise or contact us if you need anymore help.
Joyce
Customer service

so, anyone know what they do to the studs? or can I just use a standard superduty hub and maybe new lugnuts or something?

or did they go to a standard 8 on 6.5" bolt pattern?

 

[I Leak Oil]

Sounds like they just might use larger diameter studs but I'm not sure. How much is a regular super duty unit bearing for your vehicle? My neighbor just priced one out for his 99' F350 and it was pretty close the price of that modified one.

 

[ujoint]

What bolt pattern are your wheels?

 

[arz]

Unsure at the moment. They're 8 bolt wheels and my eyeball measurements say they're about the same as my 8 bolt suburban, which is 8 on 6.5.

I've read elsewhere (pirate4x4.com) that the vans never went to metric wheels. Odd. But if that were the case, they might have just redrilled the SD hubs to 8x6.5. And if that's the case, I might be looking into converting the rear to 8 on 170mm so I can use off the shelf stuff.

Argh. I'll know more next week. I'm headed out of town for a long weekend in Phoenix tomorrow.

 

[arz]

Sounds like they just might use larger diameter studs but I'm not sure. How much is a regular super duty unit bearing for your vehicle? My neighbor just priced one out for his 99' F350 and it was pretty close the price of that modified one.

Advance Auto has a 03 superduty wheelbearing for $330. A pair of spacers that swap the bolt pattern would run me $150 or so and then I could use off the shelf stuff.

 

[ujoint]

Advance Auto has a 03 superduty wheelbearing for $330. A pair of spacers that swap the bolt pattern would run me $150 or so and then I could use off the shelf stuff.

That AutoZone price seems right, but the spacers for the rear seem a little too cheap. Are they Steel?

The 8 on 170mm wheel pattern is a little larger than the traditional 8 on 6.5. So they're either modifying the hub for the bolt pattern change, or just installing new studs to match the rear.....

 

[I Leak Oil]

$150 for a pair of wheel adapters for an 8 bolt wheel does sound too good to be true and you're still stuck with the added complexity of the whole adapter issue. For the extra $120 I'd go with the modified part, or atleast look at genuine Ford parts.

 

[arz]

http://adaptitusa.com/8x170to8x650wheeladapter.aspx

aluminum ones at $80 each

 

[I Leak Oil]

Looks like you're all set.

 

[Stumpalump]

I'm not sure how hard you use your van but this may be a good time to upgrade to 35 spline outers shafts. I think shafts are only about 70 bucks for Dana Spicer outer shafts. Here is a link to the 35 spline unit bearing hub:
http://www.spidertrax.com/s.nl/it.A/id.2193/.f You may need to call to get what you what but the price is right.

 

[arz]

I'm not sure how hard you use your van but this may be a good time to upgrade to 35 spline outers shafts. I think shafts are only about 70 bucks for Dana Spicer outer shafts. Here is a link to the 35 spline unit bearing hub:
http://www.spidertrax.com/s.nl/it.A/id.2193/.f You may need to call to get what you what but the price is right.

I'm actually toying with the idea of dropping the coin for a conversion to run standard dana 60 bearings and doing away with the unit bearing. but that looks like a nice deal. about teh same price as stock unit bearings.

 

[ujoint]

http://adaptitusa.com/8x170to8x650wheeladapter.aspx

aluminum ones at $80 each

You don't want to put aluminum wheel spacers on a rig so big & heavy. They're not as strong as steel, and the wheel studs can easily spin in the spacer if an impact gun is ever used.

 

[alosix]

http://www.spidertrax.com/s.nl/it.A/id.2193/.f

Too bad they would seem to need the rest of a 450 knuckle setup to use.

Would think they would be the last set you'd need for a very long time.

Jason

 

[arz]

I'd agree with you after thinking about it

 

[dsw4x4]

Personally i would ditch the unit bearing at any cost for a bearing I could repack. All it takes is one water crossing or mud hole and once the seal has been penetrated by mud and water it is done for. I have yet to see any unit bearing hold up under any kind of extreme use, add bigger tires and the heavy weight of a van the choice would be easy for me.