cleaning wheel bearings

[MrShanks2U]

The Haynes manual says to clean out the old wheel bearings with solvent before repacking them with new grease. Is brake parts cleaner acceptable to use for this?

 

[94STXRanger]

That should be fine. Be sure to check the bearings and races for nicks, cracks, etc.

 

[retep88]

I would use carb cleaner over brake cleaner. the carb cleaner is more of a solvent that will break down the grease.

 

[Bryan22]

if you are replacing the rotors or races just replace the bearings. not a good idea to use old bearings on a new race.

 

[PlumCrazy]

Bearings are only like 10 bucks a piece. I would just put new bearings in.

 

[Downey]

unless your grease has dirt or other crap like that in it dont take a solvent to them. just repacked them. you don't want that crap in there and possibly breaking down the grease and havering a bearing failure

 

[Jason]

unless your grease has dirt or other crap like that in it dont take a solvent to them. just repacked them. you don't want that crap in there and possibly breaking down the grease and havering a bearing failure

The solvents suitable for this use would evaporate completely.

 

[Ranger Dave (B25)]

if you are replacing the rotors or races just replace the bearings. not a good idea to use old bearings on a new race.

He wouldn't have to. He can knock the old race out of the rotor with a ball peen and a drift, and reuse it. I've done it many, many times. As long as the bearing isn't excessively worn, and it hasn't been overheated and blued, he can clean (I use mineral sipirits and a 1-inch paint brush with the bristles cut down to half-length) and repack, and use the old ones.

My dad and I never bought bearings until we had to. And we never had a failure. And we hand-packed the bearing grease, we didn't use one of those bearing-packer things.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

He wouldn't have to. He can knock the old race out of the rotor with a ball peen and a drift, and reuse it. I've done it many, many times. As long as the bearing isn't excessively worn, and it hasn't been overheated and blued, he can clean (I use mineral sipirits and a 1-inch paint brush with the bristles cut down to half-length) and repack, and use the old ones.

My dad and I never bought bearings until we had to. And we never had a failure. And we hand-packed the bearing grease, we didn't use one of those bearing-packer things.

Sounds like another Dad I know........Mine.....lol.
He would drop them in a coffee can half full of Gas and use the half paint brush trick after they soaked for a while.
Came out clean as new.

 

[Ranger Dave (B25)]

Well, we are from the same neck of the woods, Chad...

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

Funny how that works huh................

 

[holyford86]

it never hurts to clean out the bearings, clean them out real good with a solvent, blow them out with a little air and inspect the rollers and inner race for cracks and pits and repack them if they are still good. if cared for properly bearings can last for a really long time.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

Just dont blow them with the air hose so they spin up and make that great high pitch sound like a impact gun on crack..............You get a smack in the back of the head from the old man (and it will ruin the bearing).

 

[holyford86]

Just dont blow them with the air hose so they spin up and make that great high pitch sound like a impact gun on crack..............You get a smack in the back of the head from the old man (and it will ruin the bearing).

and possibly "explode" and have the rollers flying everywhere

 

[angerranger54]

if you use over the counter rubbing alcohol it will break down the grease and the evaporate like a fart in the wind. been using it to clean bearings on trailers for over three years in my trailer shop and never had a problem. soak em then blow em out with air, let dry then repack.