Correct front wheel brg grease?

[George Cameron]

My '06 4x4 now has 45K miles on it and I plan to grease the front wheel bearings through the ABS sensors soon. Which grease should I use for this application? I have some Mobil 1 synthetic grease on hand that is supposed to be good for wheel bearings, but because I can't disassemble the hubs and clean out the old grease I want something that is compatible with the original stuff.



I understand that some "lifetime" lubricated applications use exotic synthetic lubricants such as DuPont Krytox (a perfluoropolyether oil with suspended Teflon). I used this type of grease in certain applications where I worked - with varying levels of success. It was chosen because it had low vapor pressure and would not contaminate precision cleaned assemblies.



What have you guys used that hasn't given you problems?



Thanks in advance!

 

[BIGNASTY]

What ever grease you use I would have no idea. But I also have a 3rd gen and looked at another forum that the guy did the same as you. Let us know how taking out the ABS sensor works out thank you



BIG

 

[fox]

I use 75/90 gear oil.

Maybe 30-40 drops

 

[BIGNASTY]

I use 75/90 gear oil.

Maybe 30-40 drops

REALLY!!!!!!!! No leaks or any mess?

 

[fox]

They have all been leak free and fine.

 

[steved]

Not sure about the 3rd gens... but the 2nd gen hubs had a clear red grease in them (looked like PZ 707L, Mobile1, etc. ). We mixed regular red Valvoline from a 3 pound tub in with it and my father has over 200k on that "mix", and over 290k on the OE hubs. I don't think its anything exotic.



I know that it was pretty amazing all the more grease that was actually in those hubs upon disassembly... maybe a tablespoon? Just remember do get too excessive with forcing grease into the hub, you could potentially hydraulically press the seal out of the back. We used to take the 2nd gen (non-ABS) apart, grease them, and push them back together.



I like the idea of gear oil... the grease that was in the 2nd gen hubs we took apart was thinner than a NLGI#2... maybe a #1?

 

[rbattelle]

I would say the 3rd gen bearings are using an NLGI grade 2, green in color. Probably synthetic. That's what it looked like when I had mine apart.



If I were going to do it, I'd get a good quality synthetic (like what you've got) and be done with it.



Heed Steve's advice about packing too much in there.



-Ryan

 

[sag2]

I made adapters to fit in the ABS hole for the neighbors truck. He has new hubs waiting to go in, so to see what would happen we put 25 pumps from the grease gun in one side. When they get changed will report after pressing them apart. Will report how much appears to have made it into the bearings and if the seal is still in place.

 

[RCorbeil]

A standard grease gun will deliver 115grams of grease per 100 strokesor 4 oz. , or 1oz. per 25 strokes.



Ron

 

[TGVET]

Geasing bearings ? This is one I've missed. And this is done by removing the ABS sensors and inserting the end of the gun ? Or screwing in a zurk fitting first ? Please refine, thank you.

 

[BIGNASTY]

I made adapters to fit in the ABS hole for the neighbors truck. He has new hubs waiting to go in, so to see what would happen we put 25 pumps from the grease gun in one side. When they get changed will report after pressing them apart. Will report how much appears to have made it into the bearings and if the seal is still in place.

sag2 please do report back im due some brakes and was going to do this at the same time thanks

BIG

 

[fox]

Geasing bearings ? This is one I've missed. And this is done by removing the ABS sensors and inserting the end of the gun ? Or screwing in a zurk fitting first ? Please refine, thank you.

From tearing down the wornout bearing assembly we are finding them dry!

So, it appears the factory is skimping on lube during assembly.

So, this discussion is about adding grease or gear lube to all new hub units.

Yes, the ABS sensor is removed to do this.

I do not see how gear lube--75/90 wouldn't work. It works in rear axle units at the outer bearings.

 

[TCDiesel]

OK... I have filled the hub until you could NOT pump anymore grease into Them. . I have never counted the pumps,My guess is close to 50,Yes the seals hiccup some grease. . But think about this for 1 moment. . If the grease can get out then water and road chemicals will get in. . Most seals have a grease lip... ( Most Grease seals and some lube seals have this lip) So the seal will live much longer holding grease, plus No water and chemicals will reach the bearing. I know of owners that have been filling the hubs for years, and have seen hubs go over 300k. If you are worried about the grease getting on the rotors ,I don't see how,and you can just wash the grease off at your local self serve Car wash.

 

[fox]

OK... I have filled the hub until you could NOT pump anymore grease into Them. . I have never counted the pumps,My guess is close to 50,Yes the seals hiccup some grease. . But think about this for 1 moment. . If the grease can get out then water and road chemicals will get in. . Most seals have a grease lip... ( Most Grease seals and some lube seals have this lip) So the seal will live much longer holding grease, plus No water and chemicals will reach the bearing. I know of owners that have been filling the hubs for years, and have seen hubs go over 300k. If you are worried about the grease getting on the rotors ,I don't see how,and you can just wash the grease off at your local self serve Car wash.

I find it hard to believe you have not had issues with over filling them.

You have to allow for expansion and that will cause seepage.

I was always taught that over greasing was as bad as undergreasing.

 

[S.Morris]

Over greasing is as bad as undergreasing IF the grease has no escaper route with heat of expansion. I dont think these bearings are so tight that the seal cannot not release some excess pressure and be fine.



I used the bolt that holds the ABS sensor in place. Drilled it through and welded a grease fitting on top of it. It still requires removal of rotor but not such a big thing to do every couple of years.



Think about this... ..... a boiler in one of the plants I was working in in years past had a 75hp forced draft fan, direct drive. We changed the bearings in this motor as preventative maintenance after 10 YEARS of 24/7 operation during a major shutdown. The removed bearings looked to be in fine useable condition and showed very little signs of wear. This motor was given 5 shots of grease every 3 Months over that 10 year period.

 

[TCDiesel]

Over greasing is bad with boot joints,BC it exposes the Joint... I have not had any bad reports of excess grease on hubs,the seals just hiccup the excess,theres lots of room in the hub for movement.

 

[Balzac]

I just did the drill the bolt,weld a nut and installed a 90 degree Zerk, I also opened up the hole in the shield and can now grease without removing wheel.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I just did the drill the bolt,weld a nut and installed a 90 degree Zerk, I also opened up the hole in the shield and can now grease without removing wheel.

I love it when a plan comes together!

 

[TCDiesel]

I just did front and Rear work on the 2003,New Front Diff bearings,New front Aftermarket D-Shaft, (Not Happy with the so-call upgraded Shaft Will be replacing with NEW Factory shaft when I return Home) the Hubs, brakes, rotors, Axle joints and Ball joints all good, New U-joints in the rear 1 piece Shaft,New ring & pinion gears in Rear (3rd Set) New Bearings complete In rear 3rd time,The Trutrac was good,I took it to AA Drive-Line this time, the 2 techs in the tear down found nothing out of spec and were clueless what cause the Ring,Pinion,bearing failure,The pinion bearing was pitted and the side bearings had some wear, the R&P had center wear,the Only guess of failure on this was poor R&P match, AA R&P set.

The front hubs , tight and in like New condition, greasing will extend the Life without a doubt.

 

[jelag]

I have pressed apart the hubs on my 05 and than pressed them back together... We used a full synthetic grease with a drop point of over 475*... we used this grease in the 14" & 15 1/2" HD clutch bearings... . it was a grease I hated... if we'd get it on the floor you couldn't wipe it off... terrible stuff but it sure held up in the clutch bearings. .



I've not had a problem with them and have since installed the grease in 3 other trucks... to date... all are still on the road... I do use a infrared temp gun when I stop at a rest stop and check the hubs, rotors, tires, of my truck and 5er...



That's my thought... BTW, I can see where a little 85-90 gear oil wouldn't seep out. . it would just help liquid fly the existing grease... but I don't see the 85-90 as a substitute of an exceptional synthetic grease...



I hated doing this job, and the brake pads usually lasted up 150K miles so the only time we added grease was when we had the rotors off...