From: MVTrucker@aol.com
Date: Sat Apr 06 2002 - 04:47:11 PST
Ike,
It even gets deeper than all the good info provided to you so far. For
one thing, the bearings need to be packed and seated properly.
Applying a layer of grease to the bearings doesn't cut it. The bearings,
races and drums should be thoroughly cleaned with solvent and dried
The odds are that the grease you use might not be the same as what is
present and might not be compatible Coat the spindle and inside the hub
with grease as Ronzo suggested. I use the red chassis grease, but you
can use the blue or real wheel bearing grease. The local National Guard
uses plain chassis grease and then leave out the outer seal (rear wheels)
so the gear lube greases the bearings, though I don't agree with this. To
properly pack the wheel bearings if you don't have a bearing packing tool,
put a big gob of grease in the palm of your non dominate hand. Grasp the
bearing so the inner edge faces the grease. Push the bearing edge into the
grease and slide the bearing towards you, forcing grease into the rollers to
the point that the grease comes out the outer edge. Keep rotating the bearing
assembly and forcing grease in until you have gone all the way around. You
can the flip the bearing and force grease in the outer edge. Coat the rollers
and
the races. Replace the inner bearing seal and reassemble the unit. Now, using
the correct bearing nut socket, install the inner nut. Spin the tire/wheel as
you
tighten. You'll be surprised at how much more the nut will turn in as you
force excess grease out of the bearing. Once snug, back the nut off about
1/8th of a turn. Install lock washer and outer nut. I bear down kind of hard
on the 3/4" breaker bar, finger or small wrench tight doesn't suit me. Bend
the locking tab(s) down tight. If there's no gasket for the flange, make one.
You shouldn't need sealant if the surfaces are clean. Improperly seated
wheel bearings will whack your seals. Pull a bottom bolt out of the boot
seal and see if gear oil runs out. Do this before you pull the drum and hub.
if gear lube runs out, you need a new axle seal and the special tools to
remove and install same. I had to make the tools. As to your wet shoes,
BrakeKleen may or may not have done the job. I burn them off. A touchy
job requiring care and patience. If the shoes are not dry all the way, the
grease will heat up, melt and work its way to the surface. I don't recall an
outer seal on the front axles. The axle seal is supposed to prevent gear
lube from getting out of the axle housing. No outer seal is shown in my
manual.
Joe Young
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