Repacking Wheel Bearings?

[BillyRok]

I was just reading Diver Ray's thread about re-doing his '79 and saw this --

Next was the new shoes, mounted and balanced by a local shop. I didn't do much with the rims, as they had all new bearings and grease just a few thousand miles before the "sleep". I DID check and repack bearings, but as I used the synthetic grease, they had NOT hardened up.

What is the process/procedure/trick to removing wheel bearings to repack them without destroying them? Never done it before, seems like a good idea but don't want to damage a bearing...especially that left rear needle bearing! And how often should it be done?

[motoman]

I was just reading Diver Ray's thread about re-doing his '79 and saw this --



What is the process/procedure/trick to removing wheel bearings to repack them without destroying them? Never done it before, seems like a good idea but don't want to damage a bearing...especially that left rear needle bearing! And how often should it be done?

Go to your local NAPA, purchase the two piece funnel coned wheel bearing packer. Grease WILL push by the lip seals of bearing, after which use fingernail or similar and tuck the lip seal back under metal flange of bearing Re-install bearing.

[natemoen]

All the wheel bearings (minus the left rear) can be had for under $10 total if you shop around online. If you have never replaced them replace them and don't even bother trying to repack them.

[BillyRok]

We have the wheel bearing packer, I just have never removed a wheel bearing before and am looking for guidance on how you do it. Would like to repack the left rear but don't want to ruin it trying to get it out. Any pointers?

[3Phase]

The Perils Of Starting A Grease Thread (iilustrated)

Here you go, Billy, here's a thread from Ross. :-


final drive questions?!


.

[BA80]

The left rear is probably the easiest bearing to pack. There is an inner race in that one that just pulls right out exposing the rollers. There's a seal you have to remove to do that but it comes out really easy if you carefully pry on it. It'll push right back in with your thumbs.

The sealed ball bearings I just use a grease injector needle. Looks like a large hypodermic needle with a grease zerk on one end. You can get one at pretty much any auto parts house. It'll go in around the rubber part of the seal. Doesn't really matter if you jack the seal a little, the grease stays in there.

No need to remove any of them unless they are bad. No need to wash them with any solvent either, it's impossible to get it all out of the bearing and it will break down the grease and then you WILL have a bearing failure. Just pack in some fresh with what's in there. After all, if the grease was bad the bearing would be also.

I have a pic of the LR wheel bearing disassembly.



That little collar up on the right has to be removed to get the seal out. Careful, that lip is on the inside and has to be pulled out past the lip of the seal.

[AggiesaurusRex]

So the only way to remove the right rear bearing is to hammer it out from the left side, setting something on the inner ledge and blasting the bearing, destroying it in the process?
I pulled my rear wheel from my project and have no idea how the bearings are. I can see the right is low on grease and needs repacking at the least and nothing appears wrong with the left.

[bikerphil]

There is a snap ring holding the right rear bearing in. Remove the snap ring and use a drift from the left side to tap the bearing out, it is only a light interference fit, you won't ruin it.

[AggiesaurusRex]

hmm the snap ring is out, but it was not budging.

[bikerphil]

Soak the outside with PB Blaster to help loosen it. Worse come worse if you ruin it, the 6304 bearing is about $5.