Front wheel bearing unit

[Cummins12V98]

Had those on my 05. Won’t spend the money on them again, I personally gained nothing but 2Lo from them, and 2Lo is cheaper for 13+ trucks.

Shoot some wheel bearings grease in the ABS hole and see if it goes away, unless there was too much play.

I agree, what do you have to loose?

I am out of warranty at the end of this month so I think I will give mine a shot of this later this Summer.

GS, I appreciate that!

 

[BigPapa]

I may be wrong, but my old school mind says not to mix greases. I recall seeing some front wheel bearings and some steering components that an old tech at the shop showed me where the grease was "hardened". He said it was from mixing different greases. Just a thought.

 

[PRS]

I may be wrong, but my old school mind says not to mix greases. I recall seeing some front wheel bearings and some steering components that an old tech at the shop showed me where the grease was "hardened". He said it was from mixing different greases. Just a thought.

You are correct. The thickeners used have been classically soaps or clays and mixing those would harden to basically concrete. Today there are so many blends used that you can't guess what you're mixing. Best to stay away from mixing at all.

 

[kthaxton]

You are correct. The thickeners used have been classically soaps or clays and mixing those would harden to basically concrete. Today there are so many blends used that you can't guess what you're mixing. Best to stay away from mixing at all.

Forgive the subject change....but I have to ask......"PRS" as in the guitar?

 

[Topzide]

You are correct. The thickeners used have been classically soaps or clays and mixing those would harden to basically concrete. Today there are so many blends used that you can't guess what you're mixing. Best to stay away from mixing at all.

Would this really be a problem with a synthetic grease? I thought that was why synthetic grease was developed to prevent these issues. Somebody have more knowledge on this? Would like to know for the truck and other equipment. Thanks for any updates.

 

[AH64ID]

I don’t think mixing grease is that much of an issue if you use good grease. Grease mixing happens all the time with greasable components that you pay to have serviced.

 

[bcbender]

Personally, I have not added grease or even messed with any of the unitized bearings and have no reason to. I've had good service life out of them without maintenance and many of the lube for life U joints as well. Simply no need anymore to spend time greasing these points, I did away with the greaseable joints on my Bronco as well. Time will tell.

 

[AH64ID]

I’m a big fan of non-greasable u-joints as they always seem to last longer, aside from the OEM greasable ones in my 4Runner.. 215K miles and going strong.

Adding a little grease to the sealed wheel bearings seems like a good idea to me, time will tell thou.

 

[PRS]

Would this really be a problem with a synthetic grease? I thought that was why synthetic grease was developed to prevent these issues. Somebody have more knowledge on this? Would like to know for the truck and other equipment. Thanks for any updates.

Mixing synthetic grease has the same result. In my pre-retired life we maintained aircraft. Landing gear that had been lubed for years with clay based grease and then lubed with synthetic grease, were filled with hard concrete like chunks when disassembled.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I’m a big fan of non-greasable u-joints as they always seem to last longer, aside from the OEM greasable ones in my 4Runner.. 215K miles and going strong.

Adding a little grease to the sealed wheel bearings seems like a good idea to me, time will tell thou.

My 98 12V has around 450k on the OE U joints and my 86 C20 has around the same. Another 98 I owned has around that mileage also.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

I don’t think mixing grease is that much of an issue if you use good grease. Grease mixing happens all the time with greasable components that you pay to have serviced.

Good Grease? Most greases are good grease for the application that they were formulated for. The problem arises when non compatible greases are mixed. Usually there are two out outcomes. One has already been referenced. The incompatible greases harden and there is no lubrication. The second is liquification of the mixed greases and once again there is no or very little lubrication. Here is a place to start;

Grease Compatibility Chart and Reference Guide (machinerylubrication.com)

With that the question becomes "What were the bearings lubricated with initially?". I would feel comfortable with using a lithium-based grease that is formulated for disk brake applications. While we all feel good about using "synthetic" it may not be the better choice if it is not compatible. I know that I can get grease compatibility tests run at Chevron in Richmond, CA which is only about 45 miles from me by sending a sample of both greases to them.

All said, since the bearings are lubricated with the lowest bid grease that meets Dodge's?, Ram's?, Stellantis,?, spec I seriously doubt that we would ever be able to find out what grease, made by whom, was used. My bet would be that it was not a synthetic. Most likely a lithium high temp grease. I have not put any grease in my hubs in 207K and had no issues. I may try it and will use Chevron Delo Grease if I do (because I have a 1/4 drum of it and it is what I use on disk brakes).

Just a side note, for any of you who do a lot of water crossing or operate in extreme wet conditions, check out Aqua Shieled Grease. Had several customers who used in on their dredging equipment and that stuff performs better than anything else I have ever seen. Even operating in salt water. Oh, and it is very expensive as grease goes. And, if you get it on you or your clothes you might as well just hop in the parts cleaner because that stuff is as tenacious as a rabid pit bull on meth.