wheelbearing question?????

[myranger26105]

got a 03 ranger 4x4 about ready to replace both front wheelbearings and had a question is there a way you could drill and tap a grease fitting to make them greasable or is this just dumb thinking??? was going to try it on my old ones and see what happens but wanted to get others thoughts

 

[myranger26105]

wow sorta figured someone would have something to say about this

 

[88_Eddie]

i bet it could, but the cap is really really thin, there'd be nothing to tap and then nothing to screw the grease fitting to. it could fall out and then you'd have a really big problem.

 

[myranger26105]

i ordered new ones already they are on their way was just trying to think of ways to make the new ones last as long as possible was gonna try it on my old ones to see what happened

 

[railman]

well....if it were "easy" they would have done it from the factory....

plus, there is really no easy way to get to the bearing with a grease gun even if you were able to put a Zerk on it.....

just remember if ya have bigger tires with alot of off-set in the rims you will be going through bearings quite often....

l8r, John

 

[myranger26105]

im just running 265/7s/16s on stock wheels

 

[martin]

Bearings are really, really hard, and even if you could somehow drill them it would more than likely cause a structural weakness that would probably end up as a catastrophic failure. You could however carefully remove the grease seal from each side of the bearing, wash it out and repack it, then replace the seal. Or you could separate the cartrige and do it that way. Either way would be a waste of time and just an exercise in futility, in my opinion.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Good bearings will last a long time without re greasing....I see no point in messing with them.

I had over 100,000km's on the stock wheel bearings on my 2005 Sport Trac with 265/75r16 rubber on it and a T bar crank. They were still tight and noise free when I sold it just before Christmas. Buy good parts and they will give you many trouble free miles.

I've seen, and installed the cheap bearings at work and you will usually see them comeback within a year and they are toast.

 

[myranger26105]

ok thanks guys just looking like there is no point in messing with trying it