Wheel Bearing Question

Dave Ploss · 04-15-2003, 02:50 PM

I'm reassembling my front end and when I put the struts on I spun the rotors.

One side was quiet and had a little resistance, the other made, not a grinding sound but you could hear the bearings turning and they spun freer. Do I need to repack the noisy bearing? Any other thoughts would be welcome.

I'm on the down side of this project.

Thanks.

Dave

Joeaksa · 04-15-2003, 03:00 PM

Dave,

How about repacking both!? While you are there its not a big deal. Pull the suspect side off and inspect it. Clean the bearing well and spin it by hand a bit, not fast or with a airhose. If its rough then, replace it, otherwise grease it well and reinstall.

If one side needed it, then do the other!

Joe

Dave Ploss · 04-15-2003, 03:08 PM

The other bearing was replaced in the fall. The noisy one was not. Question, how much grease do you put in the area between the front and rear bearings, if any?

Is the noise an indication of a bad bearing or just in need of re packing. It spins freer than the one that was replaced last fall.

Dave

Joeaksa · 03:18 PM

Hard to tell without being there. Taking it out, cleaning it and checking on its condition after its been cleaned is the best way. If the other side was replaced, unless it was defective due to a factory defect, then I personally would have replaced both of them. They have both usually gotten the same miles, same roads, same potholes and so on.

Pelican sells the inner and outer for under $15 so its not going to break the bank. This could also be due to the "new" bearing being greased and tightened recently and the "older" one needing repacking. No way to tell without taking it out and inspecting it.

Greasing can be done many ways. One is to have an adapter that is cone shaped and fits onto your grease gun and pressure injects into the bearing.

The old fashioned way is to put a dollop of grease onto your palm and then push the bearing down sideways onto the grease. Keep doing this until the grease is pushed through the bearing and out the other side, rotating it so that you do this with the entire bearing. Usually there is no need for grease inbetween the two bearings. As the wheel spins up it will sling grease everywhere inside anyway.

Works very well and no grease gun required... it also results in your hand being clean once you wipe it off. The grease loosens the dirt you had on your hand very well!

Joe

Dave Ploss · 04-15-2003, 03:23 PM

Joe,
I should have had it done last fall but I was dumb. I'll re-pack it tonight and see what happens. I'm having it balanced, aligned and the height adjusted last week and I'll have them check it.

Thanks for the help.

Dave

Joeaksa · 04-15-2003, 03:25 PM

Dave,

Old and dumb last fall is not a problem. You are wiser now and thats what life is about. The day we stop learning is a sad day.

Look at the bearing and if its the least bit suspect throw a new one in there and you will know that its good for another few hundred thousand miles!

Glad to help... and you will really like the car after its been tweeked. Makes a difference!

Joe

Superman · 04-15-2003, 04:27 PM

Just about all the mechanics I have trusted over the years (a surprisingly small number by the way) virtually pack that center hub area full of grease. That's what I do.

If the bearing is making noise, I think you're wasting time repacking it, or at least you're just buying time. Noisy bearings are bad bearings.

Dave Ploss · 04-15-2003, 05:01 PM

Superman, Joe,
You guys are right...Replacing the bearing tomorrow. Thanks for the advice.

Dave

Joeaksa · 04-15-2003, 05:14 PM

Dave,

Its cheap insurance. A wheel bearing going out on the road is not fun!

Packing the hub with grease cannot hurt, and it lowers your center of gravity!

Joe

phaques · 05-02-2003, 05:27 PM

You mean, you pack that whole hub cavity with grease?!? That's like a half a cup of grease...does that actually accomplish anything? I'm replacing all the seals and bearings, should I still pack with grease?
And finally, my Bentley manual says to replace the bearing races (my car is a 79 SC), but PellyCan doesn't sell races, and says the bearings are sealed units (which I don't really understand...they don't look sealed). So the question is, what about the races?
thanks

john walker's workshop · 05-02-2003, 05:43 PM

races come with the front bearings. it's the rears that are sealed. you don't pack the front hub solid with grease, but a goodly amount. several double fingers full all around the inside.

Early_S_Man · 05-02-2003, 05:45 PM

phaques,

The spindle occupies most of your 'half cup' area! A layer 1/8" to 1/4" thick around the inside periphery of the hub ... applied with tongue depressor or clean popsicle stick is all that is needed! Otherwise ... there will be a whole handfull of excess grease squished out when you install the hub on the spindle!