Help - Quick Answer Needed re: wheel bearing grease cap -

[ZCAT3]

I am switching my front wheel studs to 66mm studs to accomodate spacers. On both wheels, the inner wheel bearing (which were recently re-packed) was so tight on the shaft I had to pull hard enough on the rotors to get the inner grease seals to pop loose (a bit of a pain). In the grease caps that go on the inner side, there is a metal round o-ring type thing. On both sides it was pretty mangled. I presume this just helps the rubber seal up against the shaft. Is it a problem if I leave out these O-ring things (I do not have new end caps, but these were put on a few thousand miles ago when the bearings were repacked)?

[Superman]

I'd replace them. I think you're talking about the spring that goes on the inside of the grease seal, and helps hold the seal lip against the spindle. Those seals are not spendy. And if the bearing race did not want to let go, I might clean and inspect the bearing and spindle too. Doing it right at this time might be cheaper and quicker than doing it again.

[ZCAT3]

I'm getting pretty quick at taking this stuff apart - but it is still a fair amount of work. I do not understand why they are mangled so much. The old ones I tool out a few months back looked fine. These are new struts and perhaps the bearings seat a bit tighter - either that or my local shop that checked the bearing play for me tightended them too much.

[Gunter]

The inner grease seals have a metal spring shaped like an 0-Ring to keep the rubber lip of the seal tight on the shoulder of the spindle. They should not be mangled. With everything fitting properly, you tighten/torque the nut while turning the wheel to a specific setting (Fairly tight). Then you back the nut off a little until the washer can just be moved. Keep turning the wheel so that the races in the bearing seat themselves and re-check the flat washer movement behind the nut.