Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Rear wheel bearing

[jsjaastad]

1995 3/4 ton Dana 80 4x4. Service manual says to pack rear wheel bearings prior to re-installing.

If the bearings are lubricated by the oil in the rear end, why do you need to pack the rear bearings with grease?

Thanks, Tom/Idaho

 

[cojhl2]

Far as I know y9u always do that to insure lubrication prior to the oil getting to the berings.



I dont think they expect the packing grease to stay in there forever.



More input from others??

 

[CumminsPower98]

I have had more rears apart then I can remember and I never pre-grease the wheel bearings. I oil the bearings and then fill the hubs with gear oil just to the point before it runs out and put it together. I then tilt the vehicle both ways by parking on a slant or jacking it up to fully fill the hubs. I just don't like the grease mess in there mixing with things. I have never had any problems doing this.

 

[JTeague]

I use the fill and tilt method also. No problems here either.

 

[Champane Flight]

Floating

On semis we used to always pack bearing in grease before putting in service. It takes a little longer for grease to get to the bearing on these large apps, and the tilting of axles is a little harder to acomplish. That and the fact they may hook up under 40,000#s before grease gets to them. .

 

[keimmmo]

I think the heavier bearing grease helps keep the wheel seals from leaking... besides providing a margin of safety for the bearings as mentioned above. I certainly do not use as much grease as when packing a bearing that will never have gear lube running into it, but I always put in some grease.



Steve Keim