I'm redoing the front brakes on my truck this weekend and will be replacing the bearings while I'm at it. I removed the hub and cleaned out all of the old grease from the interior and am wondering what the best way to replace the grease is and how much to use. There was quite a bit in the recessed inner cavity of the hub that i wiped out. Do I just slather in new grease and try not to overdo it? Is there a better way? I don't want to undergrease things but also don't want to be wiping up the Exxon Valdez after I start putting things back together.
Thanks!

 

The method I use to pack bearings, is put a glob of Grease in your hand, and repeatedly push the bearing down into it until Grease comes out the top of the bearing. Put it altogether and put some extra grease in the bearing cap. When it gets hot it will run into the bearings and keep them lubricated.

 

New bearings are supplied with cups/races, replacing those too? The shop manuals and bearing manufacturer instructions specify to fill the hub with wheel bearing grease, to a point even with the bearing races.

I've never seen bearing grease move. So.. The only reason for packing the hub (or dust cap) with grease that makes any sense is to prevent the cavity from filling with and holding water. New bearings and cups will take quite a bit more preload than a used set.

 

2X Tedster. I have never seen grease move either.

 

I use to do it by hand like 351 does, but now I have one of those tools that look like two funnels, you put the bearing in between the two hook up the grease gun and done.

 

In my High School Auto mechanics class (2 1/2 years) I was taught to do it same as 351. Just not the extra grease.

 

The extra grease in the cap is just a little trick I was told once. If you ever had bearing trouble on the road, you had enough grease in the cap to re-pack it temporarily.

 

So I ended pulling both hubs and cleaned out the grease on both sides. One had a lot more 'extra' grease on the interior of the hub so I'm not going to go crazy when I put everything back together.
Found out on Saturday after lots of heating and pounding that there is no way I'm getting new studs through the hubs and new brake drums so off to the machine shop I go tomorrow.....
Thanks for all the feedback guys.

 

A shop manual helps. Don't necessarily have to follow it but at least beware of what rules you're breaking.