The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk How to pack ball bearings?

Another dumb basic question. I know how to pack front roller bearings, but my 46 PU has ball bearings. Is the method basically the same, load grease into my palm & press into the bearing? It doesn't look like they can hold as much grease as a roller bearing. Also, there looks to be several tablespoons of grease in the hub between the inner & outer bearings. Should that be there?
Thanks.

"basically the same"...yes. But be sure to wash all the old contaminated grease out first. I'd even clean the inside of the hub. I usually put me a small ball of grease in the middle of the drum....which I cram in there just before I put the outside bearing in. It is just insurance that if a seal starts leaking hopeufully you will notice it before everything gets dry and ruins the bearings and race.

The book says to not put grease in the middle.

...a little dab will do ya!! I didn't get into the "type" of grease as some of the stuff will turn to pure liquid in no time. Seen it happen back in the day many times at the chevy dealership where I worked. The techs said to "cram" a small amount in there so that by the time an owner seen some grease on the inside of his wheels that maybe the exta dab would save the repair and only need a seal. So, for the past 50 years I've done that wihout any problems... back then you tried to "help" the customer. Now they just want to "help" sperate customers from there money!

EDIT: and if a guy wants to you can get one of those wheel bearing backing gizmo's that will do the job for you. I just never liked them.

Thanks for the responses!

Sorry to highjack here but we had a pneumatic grease gun driven bearing packer back in high school when I worked in a gas station. That thing was great. (I don't much like spending the time pushing grease into one side of the bearing until it comes out the other side. It's really time consuming compared to that neat little bearing packer we used way back when.) Where would I get one of those today? I have an el cheapo pneumatic grease gun from HFT.

Google!

I bought one and used it once. It was more work to clean it up afterward than to clean my hands. Besides it's fun to play in grease.

Here is the one I use.

http://www.amazon.com/KD-Tools-2775-Bearing-Packer/dp/B0002NYDYE

Either that or I hand pack them.

Charlie, I bet you still use an outdoor toilet.

I agree with with Cletis.

I use the bearing packer but I don't clean it up between uses, just seal it up in a ziplock bag 'til I need it again.

My bearing packer has a cover that keeps the remaining grease clean. http://www.amazon.com/KD-Tools-2775-Bearing-Packer/dp/B0002NYDYE
As far as grease in the center....I just coat the inside of the hub with grease (not packed full) so when condensation forms it doesn't oxidize on the inside of the hub. Flaked bits of rust will damage the bearings along with any other particles that may be left inside a cleaned hub. The light coating of grease will help keep those particles out of the bearings. Filling the hub full of grease is just a waste of grease.

I've used one like the one sold by HFT for years with good results. Low tech, works every time. I just use a small grease gun with wheel grease in it for packing. hope it helps.