2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission wheel bearing repack

[MAllred]

Folks,

The owner's manual wants us to repack rear wheel bearings when we replace pads. Problem: my truck has 116k and the pads are not even half worn out. I'm thinking the wheel bearings have to be pretty dry. Has anyone repacked theirs? It can't be too tough but the funky Haynes book doesn't cover it and I havn't dropped the big bucks on a Dodge "Service Manual" yet. Some basic how-to info would help.

 

[JTeague]

The rear wheel bearings are lubed by gear oil from the rear end. the only time they would need to be packed is when the axles and hubs are removed and the gear oil is drained out of the hubs. I personally don't pack the bearings on a Full floater type rear end, insted, I fill the axle and tilt the vehicle both ways letting the gear oil run down the axle tubes to each of the hubs. After tilting, I level the vehicle, and top the gear oil off one more time and your ready to go. Each to their own, but its work fine for me for years without any problems.

 

[MAllred]

Wow, they're lubed with gear oil and grease JTeague? Is there any harm in pulling the covers off the end caps for a look-see? Or is there any easy way to inspect without really tearing into the axle support components? Thanks for the reply, by the way!

 

[JTeague]

I ASSume the covers your are talking about are actually the ends of the axles. By just removing the axles, you can only access the outer bearing. You have to remove the hub assy. and remove the Hub grease seal to remove the inner bearing. If you take the axle & or the hub off, you will to refill and tilt the vehicle, like I prefer or repack the bearings upon reassembly. Your bearings are more than likely fine, When they go bad you will hear a roaring noise that increases with vehicle speed. Just keep the rear axle full of good clean synthetic gear oil and you should be fine.

 

[RobbyRam]

An employee, who works for our company, has just surpassed this week, 400k on his 1994 Ram engine, and had just recently had his auto transmission rebuilt at 385k without once changing his transmission fluid from the day he drove it off of the lot! However, his engine is still going strong. His paint is pealing off but his Dodge Ram is still plugging on!

PS, it's a 318 CI V8!

Bob in Sacto.

 

[illflem]

Did you mean front wheel bearings?

Only the front wheel bearings on 2wd need to be repacked.

Every pad change or 40k miles



I had an 60's beater Chrysler station wagon I bought used where the AT started slipping at 250k in the '90's, the unbroken paint on the pan indicated it had never been changed. New filter and fluid fixed it right up for another 30k till I sold it.

 

[MAllred]

illflem, the owner's manual for an 02 2wd addresses repacking the rear wheel bearings. It's my understanding that the front wheel bearings on an 02 are sealed and cannot be repacked. Believe me, I wish I could as these sealed bearings have a history of failures at approximately 200k!

 

[HGDMARTN]

Illflem,

I was a little surprised 2 weeks ago to find sealed units on the front of my 2000 2WD. Manual clearly states to check and repack as needed. At least I assume it was a sealed unit. A Timken assembly that clearly stated something to the effect of "do not disassemble". And a straight, not tapered, spindle.



David

 

[illflem]

Thanks, learned something new. Seems strange the bearings wouldn't be lubed by the differential fluid.