Explain to me what "packing the bearings" means

[OilPatch197]

I got replace the front rotor on my truck, I have always basically worked grease into the roller bearings and "pack" the rest of the space up with grease, the excess just oozes out when I install the rotor onto the spindle, and the excess will just go out into the dust cover.

Is this correct?

 

[offroadranger]

I take the bearing, spray it down with brake cleaner to clean out the old gunk.

then wipe dry with a clean rag, hold it in the palm of my hand and rotate the bearing while "packing" grease into the bearing itself. then liberall amounts of grease go in the race and its done.

 

[odie1969]

clean the bearing, grab a glob of grease in the palm of your hand,(grab a pair of latex gloves it helps keep clean) then kinda scoop the bearings edge into the grease till the grease starts to come out of top side. while doing this rotate the whole bearing till the whole bearing has grease throught out. hope this helps


Also here is a video off of youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agxjGtmHV_4

 

[94STXRanger]

If you dont have a tool to do it, just put a glob of grease in your palm and tap the crack at the top, and then the bottom of the bearing until you see the grease coming out the other side. When its all full your good. I usually wipe some around inside just to be sure.

 

[OilPatch197]

Yeah I got a tool to do it..

So that's it, just grease on the bearings, I don't have to pack the area between the innner and outer cupped bearings?

I thought you had to pack the rotor full of grease so when the grease squeezes out, it has nowhere to go.

 

[Mutant Pony]

You shouldn't fill the hub or rotor with grease, The air space is what allows the grease to cool. No air space and the grease heats to the point that it liquifies then runs out,breaks down and eventually causes bearing failure. That is why you don't see bearing buddies on motor vehicles. I have seen people fit their grease cap with a zerk. Don't do that. It would be ok if you never went over 50 miles at a time, well in some places 50 miles might be pushing it.
All I do is give everything a light coat of grease, to deter rust, and pack the bearings.

 

[OilPatch197]

You shouldn't fill the hub or rotor with grease, The air space is what allows the grease to cool. No air space and the grease heats to the point that it liquifies then runs out,breaks down and eventually causes bearing failure. That is why you don't see bearing buddies on motor vehicles. I have seen people fit their grease cap with a zerk. Don't do that. It would be ok if you never went over 50 miles at a time, well in some places 50 miles might be pushing it.
All I do is give everything a light coat of grease, to deter rust, and pack the bearings.

Okay, hmm lessons learned! I won't fill the rotor with grease anymore.

 

[krugford]

And future owners of the truck (if there is any) will thank you when they don't have to dig a heaping handful of old grease out of the hub when they do the same job.

 

[Bent Bolt]

I got replace the front rotor on my truck, I have always basically worked grease into the roller bearings and "pack" the rest of the space up with grease, the excess just oozes out when I install the rotor onto the spindle, and the excess will just go out into the dust cover.

Is this correct?

Yes.

 

[Crunchy]

And don't buy cheap grease. I bought all new stuff for the front....

New calipers, rotors, bearings (inner and outer and seals) and pads. I told the guy at the counter to also get a bucket of the grease I would need for the bearings (I was tired and called ahead for it to be ready for when I showed up).

The grease went from yellow to black (ie: bearings went from new to brown/black/blue) in about 1000km. The grease just seperated and broke down and even smelt burnt. I took the dust cap off and the grease flowed like syrop right onto the ground.

Exchanged the bearings (which of course its not their fault for selling me shitty grease), got some lucas extra heavy duty wheel bearing grease (thick green stuff), this stuff is still green after 10,000km, and the bearings look brand new.

 

[Mark_88]

I always thought "packing the bearings" was a sexual inuendo...as in "I'd like to pack my bearings in her"...not like fudge packing though...

 

[Psychopete]

I always thought "packing the bearings" was a sexual inuendo...as in "I'd like to pack my bearings in her"...not like fudge packing though...

LOL Wtf?

Pete

 

[almostclueless]

I never scrimp on wheel bearing grease...you get what you pay for.

 

[KELLY88]

I never scrimp on wheel bearing grease...you get what you pay for.

Yep. Not worth saving a couple of dollars to buy the cheap stuff. I use the Valvoline high temp bearing grease. Black with kind of a green tint to it. Works great. I offroad in mud and water so repacking bearings has kind of become second nature.

 

[97ranger4x4]

Yep. Not worth saving a couple of dollars to buy the cheap stuff. I use the Valvoline high temp bearing grease. Black with kind of a green tint to it. Works great. I offroad in mud and water so repacking bearings has kind of become second nature.

Thats good to know, thats what I used when I repacked my bearings last spring when I put on new rotors.