Re-Packing OEM Wheel Bearings

[MrSeth]

Hey folks,

I'm getting ready to replace my OEM wheel bearings/hubs with complete units after I started noticing the telltale growl while driving plus the wheel being a little shaky during the wiggle test.

My question is, can I clean out the old units, repack them with grease and keep them as usable trail spares?

I've got 223k on them, 15k of that has been on larger tires and wheels with more offset than stock which I think sped up the wear.

My friend also just got stranded quite a few hours away from home when hers went out after wheeling for several days with me here in CO so Im a little nervous about mine.

Any input is appreciated!!!!

Thanks guys

 

[AuSeeker]

Hey folks,

I'm getting ready to replace my OEM wheel bearings/hubs with complete units after I started noticing the telltale growl while driving plus the wheel being a little shaky during the wiggle test.

My question is, can I clean out the old units, repack them with grease and keep them as usable trail spares?

I've got 223k on them, 15k of that has been on larger tires and wheels with more offset than stock which I think sped up the wear.

My friend also just got stranded quite a few hours away from home when hers went out after wheeling for several days with me here in CO so Im a little nervous about mine.

Any input is appreciated!!!!

Thanks guys

If I'm not mistaken the bearing itself is a "sealed bearing", meaning there's no good way to get new grease in there let alone getting the old grease out without removing the seals, to do that you would have to press the old bearing out of the carrier, remove the seal and then regrease the bearing, replace the seals and then press the bearing back into the carrier, also the bearing having play in it means it's worn out so not a good backup replacement IMHO.

BUT...

Here's a YouTube video on regreasing a sealed bearing.

YouTube

In the end that's a lot of work and needing a 20 ton press just to have the old worn out bearing as a backup, I would rather have a new bearing assembly as a backup even if it's a cheap one, but I would personally get the best, that way if you have to replace it on the trail it's a done job not needing to be done again when you get home.

 

[AuSeeker]

Hey folks,

I'm getting ready to replace my OEM wheel bearings/hubs with complete units after I started noticing the telltale growl while driving plus the wheel being a little shaky during the wiggle test.

My question is, can I clean out the old units, repack them with grease and keep them as usable trail spares?

I've got 223k on them, 15k of that has been on larger tires and wheels with more offset than stock which I think sped up the wear.

My friend also just got stranded quite a few hours away from home when hers went out after wheeling for several days with me here in CO so Im a little nervous about mine.

Any input is appreciated!!!!

Thanks guys

If I'm not mistaken the bearing itself is a "sealed bearing", meaning there's no good way to get new grease in there let alone getting the old grease out without removing the seals, to do that you would have to press the old bearing out of the carrier, remove the seal and then regrease the bearing, replace the seals and then press the bearing back into the carrier, also the bearing having play in it means it's worn out so not a good backup replacement IMHO.

BUT...

Here's a YouTube video on regreasing a sealed bearing.

YouTube

In the end that's a lot of work and needing a 20 ton press just to have the old worn out bearing as a backup, I would rather have a new bearing assembly as a backup even if it's a cheap one, but I would personally get the best, that way if you have to replace it on the trail it's a done job not needing to be done again when you get home.

I was rethinking my opinion I wrote above....I actually think I would just keep the better or both of the 2 old wheel bearing assemblies as is as the trail backup, it should get you off the trail and back home instead of spending another couple of hundred bucks for a new assembly as a backup that may never be needed!

Also you may actually be able to get to at least one side of the bearing without pressing it out to remove one of the seals to try and get some new grease in there.

 

[Rambler2005]

When mine failed yesterday They were able to reuse the hub and put on the wheel bearing on the old hub it was the only choice i had because Napa didn't have the hub they are two separate part numbers but lucky I got it fixed