The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Wheel bearing maintenance question

Long time since I've been here, but just retired so maybe a bit more often. I've got a '46 1/2 ton and I'm doing front wheel bearing maintenance. Good thing too, as I found a slight leak in a wheel cylinder that could have been a bad failure on the road. Anyway, I had to replace an outer bearing a few years ago and they didn't have the open metal cage style. Looks like the cage is some heavy duty plastic that pretty much surrounds the bearings. My question is: how are you supposed to clean, inspect and repack these bearings. I know a lot will tell me to go to roller bearings, so save your breath. I try to maintain the way it was when I can. I generally inspect and repack front bearings about every 4,000 males. Caught more than one problem early, so I recommend this maintenance.

I apologize in advance if this has been covered. I searched but didn't see an answer.

Those cages are fine, David. Some prefer them and say they're quieter. I'd clean and re-lube as normal. For a while I had some like this (on another vehicle) and never had a problem.

I have one also. My records show I put one in during May 2004. It has given me no problem.

With the old style open metal cages you can clean out the old grease and then pack the new grease into the gaps. The plastic material seems to fill the gaps and I can't figure out how you're supposed to pack them with grease. I packed it as best as I could and reassembled - guess we'll see.

I have used the double cone universal bearing packer with good success. beats hand packing. when doing several bearings I bought two sets of bearings. so a set is always packed and ready to go. Swap it out. then clean and pack the replacement set if good later in the shop keep the spare set in the truck in case i have issues down the road.