cleaning wheel bearings

[AgPete139]

What youre doing is fine. Brake cleaner, tootbrush, clean rags, and time.

 

[xkotyx]

I learned not to grease too much though and dont get it on the axle threads. THe lock nuts will continuously back off.

hmm hadnt heard this. isnt that what the key is for??? to keep it from backing off. at least on my 4x4 with a d35....

 

[4x4junkie]

I just drop them into an old coffee can with a little strong solvent (lacquer thinner, etc.) and swirl them around in it for a few minutes (brushing with an old toothbrush if needed), then blast them off using a hose with a high-pressure nozzle, followed by drying them with compressed air (being careful not to spin them rapidly). If in good condition, repack and reinstall.

To keep the nuts from backing off (manual hub nuts), torque them to 225-250ft-lbs.

 

[feellnfroggy]

To keep the nuts from backing off (manual hub nuts), torque them to 225-250ft-lbs.

Yeah tried that, wheels burned up. THanks though LOL

 

[xkotyx]

i got auto hubs might be at the junkyard this weekend, so i might look for some stock manuals

 

[4x4junkie]

Yeah tried that, wheels burned up. THanks though LOL

You must've done something incorrect then. Mine have never once given me an issue.

Maybe the tab slipped out of the spindle slot allowing the inner nut to turn while you were tightening it?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

You must've done something incorrect then. Mine have never once given me an issue.

Maybe the tab slipped out of the spindle slot allowing the inner nut to turn while you were tightening it?

Agreed.

 

[feellnfroggy]

You must've done something incorrect then. Mine have never once given me an issue.

Maybe the tab slipped out of the spindle slot allowing the inner nut to turn while you were tightening it?

I have the locknutz for the manual now. And they back off because the nuts are all greasy now too. They burned up because I had toqrued them way too much, they only need about 12lbs.-in. I was actually given a sarcastic response to the post about torqueing them to 225lbs.-ft.

 

[4x4junkie]

I have the locknutz for the manual now. And they back off because the nuts are all greasy now too. They burned up because I had toqrued them way too much, they only need about 12lbs.-in. I was actually given a sarcastic response to the post about torqueing them to 225lbs.-ft.

???

Not sure I understand your post...
This IS for the manual hub nuts. The INNER nut is set to 12 inch-lbs (actually 15, but 12 should work fine too), it's the OUTER nut that gets the 225ft-lbs (and will stay tight no problem even if they are covered in grease, as mine normally are). Auto hubs have just a single nut that gets put to 15 inch-lbs and a lock key inserted to hold it in place. If you torqued an auto hub nut to 225ft-lbs, then yeah that'd certainly cause then to burn up rather quickly.

 

[feellnfroggy]

This is actually why i thought you were nutz initially, I didnt know there was two differente torque settings for the locknuts. I had to use my fingers with the auto nutz and pin, LOL I didnt care cuz the pin held it. But the locknutz i thought were both mildly tight. Ill have to go check on that.

 

[t0x1k]

Yeah, I learned the hard way. I torqued the inside to 150lbs, lol, that apparently doesn't last long, both began seizing up.
You're supposed to torque the inner to 35lbs, then back off 1/4 turn to set the bearings, then tighten to 12-16 in lbs.