The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Greasing & adjusting new front wheel bearings

About to install new roller bearings in 57 3100, frame up total renew. I've had her since '69 or so & she has been in pieces since '92. Drove her for many miles as DD up until '88.
Changing to roller bearings based on previous experience with org ball bearing.
Retired now & having spent many years in heavy construction & home building & very little time in mechanics, I find myself lacking in knowledge of some of the simple things like install of new bearings,type of grease to use, adjusting bearings etc..
Would appreciate a brief tutorial on the subject.
Hope to post pics of my lengthy journey on this project when I can get frame so it rolls out of my garage & to shop for body & bed install.
Thanks in advance for any help.
delky dave in wyoming

The method I have always used is: tighten the nut until it is fairly tight, then spin the drum by hand, then back off one or two turns, until the drum/hub spins freely without any play, then turn in, to the nearest hole for the cotter pin.
I use any good brand of wheel bearing grease from NAPA, ect.
If you don't have the tool to pack the bearings, I just put a big gob in the palm of my hand, and pack the bearing edge all way around, until it looks full of grease. Then a little extra on the spindle.

There is a procedure for roller bearings in the '58 shop manual. I posted it here.

Thanks for the responses it will help a lot delky dave

Put your bearing and a lump of grease into a sandwich bag, let most of the air out of the bag, then work the grease into the bearing.

I put on nitrile gloves and pack 'em by hand. That way I can see they are getting fully packed. Never tried the sandwich bag method but I'd be afraid of trapped air between bearings. By hand you can rotate as it fills and watch them fill.

My tapered roller bearings for my 1951 suburban came from cpp. He told me to torque them at 15 ft lbs and if the cotter key hole doesn't line up,back it off to the nearest slot that does.

Tim