water proofing bearings on dana 35?

t0x1k · May 20, 2011

It seems like every time I offroad I'm either repacking or replacing my bearings due to water. I'm in the middle of doing all new seals and speedi sleeves on all the sealing surfaces. I don't feel this will solve my problem. Is there a better grease that helps with this and doesn't mix with water and make a horrible mess and rust out bearings?
Ps dontmention o rings behind hubs, i those are being replaced as well.

BRUTUS_T_HOG · May 20, 2011

marine grease

88_Eddie · May 20, 2011

if they have grease that is waterproof, why dont they just make all grease waterproof?

EDIT-it's like the black box on a airplane, they always find it intact, why not make the whole plane out of the same thing, duh

Explorin94 · May 20, 2011

Don't just do the "O" rings....put some silcone on the back side of the hub too.

BRUTUS_T_HOG · May 20, 2011

88_Eddie said:
if they have grease that is waterproof, why dont they just make all grease waterproof?

EDIT-it's like the black box on a airplane, they always find it intact, why not make the whole plane out of the same thing, duh

the same reason they don't make vehicles with quality materials and design lol

85_Ranger4x4 · May 20, 2011

88_Eddie said:
if they have grease that is waterproof, why dont they just make all grease waterproof?

EDIT-it's like the black box on a airplane, they always find it intact, why not make the whole plane out of the same thing, duh

Different grease is designed for different applications. I would kinda doubt marine grease is intended to see the heat that the front of a pickup would generate. Turning at high speed plus heat transfer from the brakes would heat it up more than what it would see in a boat trailer (I would think)

It is much easier to design a nearly indestructable box than it is to design a nearly indestructable aircraft. Besides that would take the excitment out of flying. :icon_thumby:

strvger · May 20, 2011

i've used synthetic marine lower end lube/grease in some bearing and gear applications. worked fine without any issues.

heptofite · May 20, 2011

88_Eddie said:
EDIT-it's like the black box on a airplane, they always find it intact, why not make the whole plane out of the same thing, duh

it would be too heavy to fly and everybody inside would still die when it crashed.

BRUTUS_T_HOG · May 20, 2011

strvger said:
i've used synthetic marine lower end lube/grease in some bearing and gear applications. worked fine without any issues.

2nd'd.

works fine in BOAT trailers

Destroyer000 · May 24, 2011

i too use marine grease.. works great!

86 slo-vo · May 24, 2011

ill have to try that, pulled a hub yesterday and dumped out some water.

though im becoming a pro at greasing a 35

4x4junkie · May 25, 2011

I think this issue comes from the fact there is an air space within the hub/bearing assembly, yet it's not vented to the atmosphere in any way. So pressure builds up in there with heat from the brakes. If you then dunk the axle in cold water, the subsequent sudden cooling can then suck water in past even the best seals.

I'd bet if one could figure out a way to vent the inside of the spindle to the outside, it'd probably put a quick end to water intrusion in the bearings (probably a lot easier said than done though... not sure maybe you could drill a long capillary-like hole into the back of the spindle, then braze or weld a bung on the back somehow for a vent hose and run it up higher :dunno:

)

water proofing bearings on dana 35?

t0x1k

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