The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Closed knuckle lubrication alternative

I recently acquired a 62 k-20 with the closed knuckle Dana front axle. In theory, you are supposed to fill up the knuckles with gear oil, which lubes the universal joints, the wheel bearings and the knuckle bearings. Shortly after I bought the truck, I filled the joints with oil, and drove it a short distance to get it home. Later, when I inspected the front end, I determined it needed a total rebuild – the knuckle bearings were gone. When I took it apart there was some oil left in the knuckles, but not much, and the wheel bearings were somewhat dry.

I read as much as I could about how to lube the joints, and got a lot of opinions. It is clear to me that these knuckles will have a hard time keeping oil in them, especially as they approach 50 years old. So, when I put everything back together, I packed the wheel bearings with high quality wheel bearing grease, the way you would with traditional spindles. I also packed the knuckle bearings the same way – they are small caged roller bearings similar to wheel bearings. I did not do it yet, but I intend to replace the axle u-joints with traditional closed seal joints with grease fittings, like those used in open knuckles, and then leave the knuckles dry.

My thinking is that, based on the use of the truck, if I plan on re-packing the wheel bearings every 10,000 miles, the interval will be 5-10 years. Four wheel drive will be used 10% of the time, if that, so the u-joints should be fine. And, I live without the leaks.

Does anyone have any thoughts or see any drawbacks to this? I would be interested to hear them.

Thanks

My Toyota Landcruiser had specified in the handbook , Europa LMOS2, as front hub lube.

It was a soft black grease heavy in Molybdium. Took a 1/2 lb tin in each side. I think the moly was the essential element.

Moly-based grease is good stuff, and it penetrates the pores of the metal to leave a slightly slippery surface film even after the grease goes away. We used to pack rear hub bearings on big rigs with wheel bearing grease, even when they were supposed to be lubed from the middle with gear oil. It provided a failsafe backup in case of a leak, and prevented some on the road bearing failures.
Jerry