The thing on the spindle in front of the wheel bearing is the inner race of the outer wheel bearing, and it looks like that bearing was installed backwards.....
What other bits and pieces do you have? I’d imaging the brake caliper broke for the hub and everything to fall completely off

 

From your picture it looks like you put in the outer race in backwards. It looks like a bearing race right next to the threads and it is in backwards. The bearings hold the wheels on and they are tapered to do so. If the tapers point the same direction they wont hold. The tapers have to oppose each other.

The bearing race is probably welded on now so you will need to replace that spindle and get a new set of bearings. Check the hub to see if there is any damage before reusing it. On second thought, dont reuse that hub, I can almost assure you it is screwed up as well.

 

I would also pull off the other side and check it. But I suspect that one is on correctly otherwise it would have fallen off too. You are very lucky they didn't come off at 60 mph.

 

 

First time ever seeing that. Wow.
Yes bearing and race installed backwards. Very lucky someone didn't get hurt or killed here.
Inner bearing goes into rotor through the backside, outer bearing goes into the rotor from the front side.

I couldn't even imagine how tough it was to even install that the way that it was..

 

I don’t know how I did ethier this is what happens when a rookie rushes work

 

Here is a cutaway photo of a tapered wheel bearing spindle and hub. This is a generic photo and not of the Bronco but is very similar to it.

The red in the photo is the rollers of the roller bearing. The green is the inside race of the bearing that rides on the spindle and the blue is the outer race of the bearing that goes in the hub.

You will note that the tapers oppose each other and hold the wheel in place.

 

Thank you for all the help I’m replacing everything and will follow up

 

I....don't think it's supposed to do that

 

Holy crap you got lucky. Take your time and be sure to pack those bearings well with lots of grease.

 

got the son of a gun off helllll yeah
You all think I can reuse the spindle still or no

 

Hard to say from pictures. Outboard bearing seat needs to see a lot of emery cloth before even a judgment can be made. Inboard seat definitely saw some heat based on color.

Also looks like you may have zapped some threads off the inboard side of the locknut stack. The threads have to go deep enough to ensure you can set bearing clearance.

I’d be putting a mic on everything too. Honestly, I’d count my lucky stars and order a new spindle or two, depending on how your other side looks.

There are several good threads on bearing swaps, and certainly any OEM type manual will have useable information. I don’t want to pile on unnecessarily, but there are multiple reassembly steps that should have caught this. It’s certainly a dangerous mistake for you and other drivers. I’m glad nothing seriously negative came of it.

 

Too many unknowns. Replace the spindle to avoid another catastrophe.

 

That spindle is probably fine. Unless threads are screwed up.

Long long time ago, I welded a wheel bearing onto my spindle 150 miles from home. My dad got it cut off and told me to drive home slow and replace the spindle. I drove 3 more years on it and it was WAY WORSE than yours. Ended up junking the truck with that spindle on it.

Use your discretion.....

 

what am i missing here? regardless of the bearings being installed incorrectly, should the spindle nut have held it all in place? the bearings would have an inner diameter larger than the spindle nut and lock washer for the hub to fall off.

 

The bearings don’t have to fall off for the hub to slide off tapered rollers installed in the same direction. It’s hard to guess what OP did but he must have got the outboard bearing tight enough to keep the hub on. But the bearing didn’t like what was done, grenaded the cage and rollers, and then the hub proceeded to walk down the spindle?

 

Best way to explain this is normally the rotor is held the same as two same size people facing face to face pushing against each other.

The way it was assembled, like one person behind the other facing same direction with no resistance. The guy behind push the other into the river...

 

Best way to explain this is normally the rotor is held the same as two same size people facing face to face pushing against each other.

The way it was assembled, like one person behind the other facing same direction with no resistance. The guy behind push the other into the river...

This is a great analogy!

 

This is why it is always a good idea to take pictures of stuff as you take it apart, ESPECIALLY if it is something you haven't done a lot!

 

When installing the races the thicker end of the bearing race goes down, simple enough