getting ready to install new races, bearings, and seals in my front hubs. I plan on using a bearing packer. Question is how much grease should I put in the hub cavity itself, pack it full, 1/2 full, or just thick all the way around?

JB

 

The hub should be packed, all the way around, to the point that grease is even with the small end of the races. Grease is basically oil suspended in a sponge-like medium so it needs to be able to 'flow' to the bearings in order to lubricate them. Clear as mud? :-)

 

thank you, I think I am clear, so maybe 1/4 thick entire circumference up to inner and outer races but center of cavity is left unfilled?

JB

 

You fill the center cavity enough for it to replenish the grease in the bearings. It is a reservoir.

 

Both the shop manuals, and Timken, SKF etc say to fill the hub with the same wheel bearing grease till it is even with the (smallest dia.) bearing race, and a light coat on the spindle. That is a few handfuls worth easy.

My theory is that it is put there to prevent the hub from retaining water in case of fording. Grease doesn't flow much if at all from what I've seen. They say it does help retain grease in the bearings. I spose! Some texts from Brand X or Y say to fill the dust cap halfway too.

 

What's the easiest way to pack the center section with out being so messy?


I typically put as much grease as I can in there with my hand/fingers/popsicle stick.

 

Wear gloves maybe, it doesn't need doing that often for most of us, at least. An old ruler or piece of wood trim, that'll work. When I was in the .mil the aircraft had bearing inspection and repack every six months.

 

You don't need a machine. Just use the palm of your hand. Here they are wearing gloves but IMHO I find them unnecessary.

How to pack wheel bearings

 

They only need to be serviced every 20-30,000 miles (better lubricants these days) a little clean grease won't kill you.

 

Too little isn't enough, way too much can expand from heat and push the dust cap off. Better to err toward too much than too little. A little smear inside the dust cap will keep it from rusting.

Grease is oil suspended in a spongy medium, it does flow. You just don't realize how little lubricant it takes to keep everything happy. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've seen guys that should know better only pack the cones and not the cavity. Old farts used to bark, "Make sure you get grease in between all the rollers" and then not pack the hub. I can tell you all the grease between the rollers will get squished out in a few hundred feet and and slung out from centrifugal force in less than fifty miles. That grease between the rollers will collect in the empty cavity and never again reach the bearings.