Greasing bearings through the ABS hole?
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Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Washington State
Greasing bearings through the ABS hole?
This works because the bearings are not sealed on the inside only the outside?
I have unit bearing on my other (inferior brand) truck and I thought I'd try it on it.
I have unit bearing on my other (inferior brand) truck and I thought I'd try it on it.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: The Great White North!
Ya, I have heard of a few guys in the super duty forum do that. In fact some one even made an insert to go into the hole to pump it full of grease.
I did that when I was in there in the last few days working on the brake caliper pins. In fact I picked up a larger screw in grease nipple and next time want to try and see if it fits in the hole, and if not I can easily file the threads off to get er to fit. Will make for an easier time to pack with grease.
I did that when I was in there in the last few days working on the brake caliper pins. In fact I picked up a larger screw in grease nipple and next time want to try and see if it fits in the hole, and if not I can easily file the threads off to get er to fit. Will make for an easier time to pack with grease.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
Keep in mind it'll push the seals out and they need to be pushed back in to place. Which might be a good thing, because it'll push the old grease out too.
Furian, someone has posted about it a few months back, had details about it. If you can find it, I'll definitely put it in the tech folder.
Furian, someone has posted about it a few months back, had details about it. If you can find it, I'll definitely put it in the tech folder.
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Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Washington State
I couldn't find it which is why I brought it up again. 
I remember there were pictures and everything.
But WHY would this work? Are there no seals on the inside part of the bearings? I was under the impression that there were sealed bearings pressed into the hub and that no grease could ever get to the actual bearings after they were sealed up at the factory. Why would grease be "allowed" to be exposed to the ABS ring in there by not having seals on the inside?
I remember there were pictures and everything.But WHY would this work? Are there no seals on the inside part of the bearings? I was under the impression that there were sealed bearings pressed into the hub and that no grease could ever get to the actual bearings after they were sealed up at the factory. Why would grease be "allowed" to be exposed to the ABS ring in there by not having seals on the inside?
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
The seals are at the outboard side of the bearing. Inside, there are two ball-bearing bearings.
The ABS tone-ring rides in the center. Every ABS tone-ring I've ever seen, on a unitized bearing, has grease on it
Why? Dunno. Maybe because if that was sealed up in there, with no grease, it would be only a matter of months before there was enough rust inside to screw with the sensor?
The ABS tone-ring rides in the center. Every ABS tone-ring I've ever seen, on a unitized bearing, has grease on it
Why? Dunno. Maybe because if that was sealed up in there, with no grease, it would be only a matter of months before there was enough rust inside to screw with the sensor?
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Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Washington State
Sounds good to me. The left front bearing on my Avalanche is making noise. I just replaced it last year. I want to try and lube it first. I'm hoping the hub construction is similar.
The left front bearing on my Avalanche is making noise. I just replaced it last year. I want to try and lube it first. I'm hoping the hub construction is similar.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2008
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greasing front hubs
Hi I don't know My way thru the electronic short-cuts,but see reply by EXv10 at 9:55 pm on 6-09-09.....this was in the S.D. forum I tried "abs grease" and search and found the reply......Good luck,Dave
Last edited by david0505; Aug 14, 2009 at 03:38 PM. Reason: additional info
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Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Pa
Thread Starter
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Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 20
From: Washington State
Thanks for the links! That's what I was looking for!! Wish I woulda looked here before I tore my truck apart though. I don't think I put near as much grease as I could have because I wouldn't get it in well enough. Looks like I gotta tear it apart again. At least I don't have to remove the hub to lube it though! 
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
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From: Pa
I think I'll have to make one of those adapters and grease the main bearings first.
Are you supposed to use a Moly grease or can you use an extreme pressure lithium complex bearing grease. Would be nice to know what they use at the factory because mixing greases can be bad if they don't get along with eachother.
Are you supposed to use a Moly grease or can you use an extreme pressure lithium complex bearing grease. Would be nice to know what they use at the factory because mixing greases can be bad if they don't get along with eachother.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2008
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front hub grease
I used timken hubs on My truck,( My mech. at ford says the hubs they get are timken in a ford box) and the lube I could see on the needle bearings was NOT moly, motorcraft lists the wheel bearing grease as XG-11, a lithium complex with a really high melting point 300 deg. Cel., I didn't buy,but did price..about$25. for each cartridge. motorcraft website for more info...Dave
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Mt. Shasta California
This link;
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ml#post7593063
To further expound on the subject; I used a whole mini-tube of grease on each side and when I did it it pushed some water out with it but no old grease came out. It has been a couple months and no grease has gotten on the brakes or wheels. The sensor is working fine while it is bathing in grease and no bad lights. I could have used a smaller funnel and cut the tip off but that big red one was what I had. Then you could just use the funnel tip to direct the grease. If you don't have an ABS hole you could drill a hole and plug it or put a zerk fitting in it. I believe these bearings will last the life of the vehicle if they are greased every 50k miles.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ml#post7593063
To further expound on the subject; I used a whole mini-tube of grease on each side and when I did it it pushed some water out with it but no old grease came out. It has been a couple months and no grease has gotten on the brakes or wheels. The sensor is working fine while it is bathing in grease and no bad lights. I could have used a smaller funnel and cut the tip off but that big red one was what I had. Then you could just use the funnel tip to direct the grease. If you don't have an ABS hole you could drill a hole and plug it or put a zerk fitting in it. I believe these bearings will last the life of the vehicle if they are greased every 50k miles.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
I couldn't find it which is why I brought it up again. I remember there were pictures and everything.
But WHY would this work? Are there no seals on the inside part of the bearings? I was under the impression that there were sealed bearings pressed into the hub and that no grease could ever get to the actual bearings after they were sealed up at the factory. Why would grease be "allowed" to be exposed to the ABS ring in there by not having seals on the inside?
I remember there were pictures and everything.But WHY would this work? Are there no seals on the inside part of the bearings? I was under the impression that there were sealed bearings pressed into the hub and that no grease could ever get to the actual bearings after they were sealed up at the factory. Why would grease be "allowed" to be exposed to the ABS ring in there by not having seals on the inside?