Trying to schedule out some 200K mile maintenance. A little background; 2004 F-150, SCREW, 4wd, 5.4l 3v, 2.5" level kit from HBS, 33" terra graplers load range E on 20" procomps, long tube hedders, deleted cats.

The original motor dropped a valve at 147k miles and I replaced it with a reman long block. At that time, I rebuilt the trans with an upgraded torque converter, shift kit, upgraded clutces and steels, upgraded reverse band, etc, put the long tubes on, deleted the cats. I also replaced the front upper and lower ball joints, shocks, and coils when I put on the HBS spacers. The trans got all new fluids and filter at that time and I put a drain plug in the pan.

The odometer just clocked 210,000 miles, so that's a little over 60k on the new motor and trans, and the 210k on everything not listed as being changed.

I'm gonna do new pads and rotors all around, as I haven't had to change them yet, actually they still have a bunch of life in the pads. I was going to put some new plugs in the motor as well. I was also going to do front and rear diff fluid swaps.

But had a question about front hub bearings and rear axle bearings. I havent been able to find a good way of evaluating them. I'm not getting noises from them, and there aren't any unusually vibrations coming from them or the drive train. So - at 210K miles, I figure it's time to do some preventative maintenance and replace them - or is that not necessarily needed? From what I've found, most people only replace them when they go out, not necessarily at a certain mileage. Also - what about the drive shaft u-joints?

 

I don't see any reason to replace the bearings unless you are having issues if they appear fine with no noise/play. Same thing with the driveshaft, just check it for wear/play and replace the u-joint as needed. I would recommend the fluid change for the diffys, make sure to use friction modifier for the rear diff if it's an LS and you might have a look at the LS clutch packs while you're in there. Radiator fluid flush is probably warranted as well as a brake fluid flush. No reason to change the spark plugs at 60K unless you just feel like doing it early.

Other than that, keep on cruisin.

 

Radiator fluid was replaced with the motor, so it's only got 60k on it. I think it's supposedly good for 100K... or was this one of those "never needs replacing" fluid claims from ford?

 

Nope should be 100k bud. Our trucks take gold so it's got longer life than the green coolant. I'm with the others: keep on trucking!

 

Technically the plugs are supposed to be changed at 60k now, and with how they break and all, there's no harm in doing those.

Coolant is a 100k mile thing, but Ford's maintenance guide shows to replace it at 100k and again at 150k, for whatever that's worth. Not sure why/if it needs to be changed more often once there's higher mileage on the engine. But you have 60k on this motor, so you're good.

 

Perform the plug change per the TSB (w/ nickel anti seize) and you won't be breaking them down the road. No need to change at 60K unless you think they'll break less at 60K then at 100K.

 

I said that cause Ford now says to change them at 60k

 

If the brake pads are good, wait until they wear out to replace pads and rotors. Trans fluid change. I change fluid about 60k on my stuff.

 

If it's not orange long life coolant, it's due.

 

When I replaced the coolant, I bought the gold stuff right from the dealer. When I put the motor in, I put the antiseeze on the plugs - being that I learned from 3 broken plugs in the original motor when I replaced them at 75K. So these plugs "should" come out fine if I wait until 100k. Other than that, the COP's were new with the motor, the belt is a new gatorback with the motor, Ive replaced the water pump once on the new motor already due to a bad bearing.

So, from what I'm seeing, I guess I'll just plan to do the diff fluids and wait until the other stuff wears out? I just hoping to do more preventative then reactive maintenance.

 

How many miles does your alternator have on it? The brushes wear out eventually. I've been thinking about taking mine apart and replacing the brushes and checking the bearings.

 

So, I was reading through the manual on the diff fluid change and it states that the rear diff doesn't need service for life unless there's a leak or the rear axles been under water. I'm still going to change it, along with the front diff fluid but I thought that to be an interesting lifetime fluid.


The alternator is original.

 

Also the manual calls for 75w90 for both front and rear diffs, but ive seen 75w140 posted on the forums here in a few places. Why are people going with the heavier oil? Note, I'm in FL.

 

The recommendation has been changed since original publication. It's now 75w140 synthetic for the rear (with friction modifier if it's limited slip) and 80w90 conventional for the front, but 75w90 synthetic is also acceptable (and better in my opinion). If you do have a rear limited slip, you do need to change it at least every 100k. Get the friction modifier from the Ford dealer. Changing the fluid in the transfer case also isn't a bad idea, it takes the same Mercon V ATF as the transmission.

 

Ok, sounds good. Would the 75w140 be bad in the front? - just so I don't have to get different fluid weights? And I called the local dealer parts department today already to make sure they have he friction modifier so I can grab it on my day off tomorrow.

Transfercase got new fluid with the transmission when the motor was swapped and trans rebuilt.

Edit: Im probably going to change out the rear axle shaft seals as well. There's a small amount of leakage signs ob each side of the housing... a very small amount.