Bearing failure

The way to find a bearing problem before it becomes a breakdown is to do plug swaps. you buy a new plug and take out the transmission drain plug and put in the new one, look at the plug if it has flakes their is a problem.
If it has black metal powder, it is good to go. then you do the front diff, then the rear. Check, and clean, the vents in the diffs. Jack up and check the rear drives for bearing play if there is repair it, take a plastic wire tie and slide it between the brake pads on the shoes threw the slot all the way in if it comes out oily the seal is leaking do all wheels. Jack up the front wheels, see if the bearings are loose if they are replace both sides if they are tight remove the plug in the cap and look for flaks.
You can do it in segments a couple of things every month, you want to do it at least every 6 months.
Just a thought!

 

Preventive Maintenance. Repair before failure.

 

had that happen two months ago. temp never got hot on the gauge. had just changed the grease a month before. the only thing I noticed was a vibration like an out of round tire. got home and pulled the plug, looked like hair on the magnet with all the metal fibers on it. pulled the front rear and there it was one of the carrier bearings had failed screwed up the carrier case. new one was $4350 (46 rear) some times there isn't any warning until it is to late.

 

Replaced a wheel seal couple years back,bearing looked good. Put everything back together,made it 400 mi. Had a major failure,busted hub,ruined spindle. Learned then that a cheap part can be real expensive

 

A few years ago I had a seal and bearing replaced in Georgia. My driver went to Virginia, reloaded and stopped just before the Tennessee line at the Petro. Oil was everywhere. The guy who did the repair forgot to secure the lock nut allowing it to back off and lose all the oil. It is a wonder we didn't have more serious problems. I had to pay for the repair to be done again. The shop owner would not stand behind the repair. Last time I used that shop.