Ford Repair: 2002 Explorer Sport wheel bearings, wheel bearings, question pool

Question
Most vehicles I've owned over the years have had wheel bearings I've been able to repack or replace myself at home.

My Explorer has almost 90K miles on it now, and since we're heading to S. Florida for Christmas was thinking of repacking the bearings. Are these bearings repackable? Should I be able to accomplish this myself. If not repackable but sealed should I be able to remove/replace them myself? I'm pretty handy and have a pretty good supply of tools. Thanks.

Answer
Sorry for the wait, I nabbed your question out of the question pool. Depending on whether it is 4 wheel drive or not, the odds are pretty high that you have sealed bearings. The standard protocol for replacing "defective" bearings is to replace the hub itself. Safety is the main concern about having the sealed bearings pressed off and back on. It just is not worth the risk. Most machine shops won't fool with it for that very reason. If you are just going on a trip and are looking at preventative maintenance without any symptoms, I have other suggestions. Carry an extra serpentine belt under the driver's seat. Be sure that the air pressure specifications match those indicated on the door sticker.