Packing wheel bearings

[mick]

As I under stand it your not supposed to over pack the hub & bearings
Ie leave some air in the hub, but if your running bearing savers if the hub is not full how does the grease get to the rear bearing.

[beerbelly]

I usually work grease into the bearing races with my fingers before installing them messy but you know there good

[Festinghouse]

the bearing rollers arent tight together, so with the pressure from the grease gun it finds its way past the rollers into the void between then onto the inner bearing. just swapped mine yesterday and the ones that have been used all season are still in good condition because of the bearing savers. i still put decent bearings in for road use (twice a year).

[mick]

Yup know that it's the it's the void in the hub I am unsure about can you have to much grease in there

[jyasaki]

I pack the roller cages before installation, and wipe grease into every void/orifice within the hub that I can. I've never heard that you "should have some air in there"; although I'm sure I do, as it's impossible to pack it completely. In truth, I'm more worried about over-zealous application of grease through the bearing buddy blowing the rear seal out.

jky

[Trailer Guy]

I always pack them Mick, as per here:


http://www.rib.net/forum/f49/how-to-...2-a-45106.html

However, it's a good question and something I've noticed myself. Where 'bearing savers/buddies' are fitted the front bearings will always be stacked with grease, but the rear ones not so much.

Personally (and it's all subjective and up to the individual with these things), I don't leave much of an air gap at all. The bearing savers (not the type which are just glorified dust caps with a grease nipple in them) are sprung loaded and put continuos pressure on the grease. They also have a small hole, in the side of them, so when the grease reservoir is full and under pressure and excess comes out

[mick]

I have been packing them out but just wondered if I was doing it correct

[Hightower]

Pack it full of grease with bearing savers Mick (no air at all). You can never blow the rear seal out because of the spring loaded pressure valve so just keep the bearing topped up after dunking. Haven't changed my wheel bearings in 7 years of ownership and still runs like brand new.