[chevynut]

when I first got into mechanics years ago, I was taught that when packing wheeling bearings, you pack the cup with grease before putting it back on so that there is extra grease so that if the bearings get hot and melt the grease on the bearings this extra grease would help. would like to here your ideas on this. thanks

[302 Z28]

Never heard that one. I suspect that if the bearing got hot enough to melt the grease in the cup, the bearing is very shortly going to be toast anyway.

The way I was tought to pack wheel bearings is to place a glob of wheel bearing grease in the palm of your hand and with the bearing in your other hand use a scooping motion to force grease into the cage and rollers of the new bearing. That method has seved me well for a very long time

Vince

[crazy larry]

i do the palm pressing of grease (gotta love latex gloves.), and then i pack as much grease into that bad boy (with bearing in place) as i can. more's better right?...

[chevynut]

I need to read my posts better before I post them. I agree with the way 302/z28 and crazylarry pack bears, that is the way I learned also. what I was wondering about is putting grease in the cup and then insalling it, or do you leave the cup with no grease? sorry about the mix-up in wording the first post.

[crazy larry]

yes, i fill that bad boy up. can't tell if it helps, but i figure with grease in the way, dirt can't get to the bearings...

not that there better be any dirt in there in the first place....

[troy-curt]

You should just pack the bearing only nothing else. The cap is a dust cap only, any grease in it is wasted, unless of course it slings out all over the brakes.

Troy

__________________
If you don't make mistakes. your not doing anything.

[crazy larry]

Originally posted by troy-curt
You should just pack the bearing only nothing else. The cap is a dust cap only, any grease in it is wasted, unless of course it slings out all over the brakes.

Troy

__________________
If you don't make mistakes. your not doing anything.

well that explains my brake problem....

[Grashopr]

Originally posted by crazy larry
i do the palm pressing of grease (gotta love latex gloves.), and then i pack as much grease into that bad boy (with bearing in place) as i can. more's better right?...

More is NOT better on wheel bearings and grease (in my opinion). I borrowed a car trailer from a family member about a month ago to haul a 96 Mustang home with no motor or trans (it didnt' weigh much). When we got the car on the trailer and strapped down...we got on the road to make the 45mile trip. Whenever we stopped, we smelled burning rubber, and heard a rubbing.

We got out to check after about 5 miles. It was a tandem axle trailer...and one wheel on each side looked like it's bearings were GONE. The wheel was kicked out at the bottom by about 15 degrees, and was causing the top of the inner tire to rub on the fenderwells of the trailer.

I found out later that the family member had packed the bearings with TOO much grease....so much that they couldn't get them bolted back in correctly, but they bolted them in anyways....when teh grease got hot, and liquified...some came out, and the bearings got sloppy. Caused the trailer to handle funny, and cost me 2 new tires.

I would say put 'just enough' on.

The 'hopper

[troy-curt]

Larry,

A little story, When I was 15 I packed my first wheel bearings, they were on my mothers 54 chevy belair. I stuffed all the grease in the hub that I could. A few nights later 6 other guys and myself was out joyriding, went to apply the brakes at a stop sign at about 45 mph. the right front wheel locked, 3 end over end flips and 4 rolls later we stopped. Luckily no one was killed, some cuts and bruises as every one was thrown out. including me. The car landed the last time about a foot from where I was laying unable to move because my neck was broken.
The ins. co. said that grease caused the brakes to lock up when I jamed them on. I layed in traction for 11 mo. thinking about that.
Later did some research and found out that all you need is what you can get into the bearing cage itself. HTH

Troy

[crazy larry]

lesson learned. thanks guys.

[chevynut]

Thanks for the replys guys,just wanted tp get a different point on the subject. some interesting views. thanks.

[rally4x4racer]

thats a hell of a way to learn a lesson most of take for granted Troy. Ill definately stop putting a "lil extra" in the immediate area of the bearing. Jef

[Altered Image]

I use the grease in the palm method or my handy dandy bearing packer! Also grease in the cups will not only ooz out when hot like others have said but it makes it really messy the next time you have to take it apart.