Who's drilled their hubs for greasing?

[JHMiller]

I've 2 new front hubs from Rock Auto and would like to make them greasable. I've read the method but man drilling into these bearings that I can't clean out(like the exhaust manifold for an EGT probe) or even know for sure drill shavings got in when the bit goes through leaves me reluctant. So who's done this? Anyone with issues, like drill chips in the bearing assembly? I know every piece of steel I've ever drilled has dropped chips on the press vice and that just don't seem right in a bearing. The hubs were only $200 ea and with 130K on the originals I'm not sure it's worth the risk, so convince me. Tks in advance for your experiences... ... . John

 

[rivercat]

friend im almost sure if you take the rotor caliper off you will see a ABS sensor that sticks down into the hub you can remove this with a 3mm or 4mm allen and shoot grease in. I used the rubber tip off a blowgun adapted onto the end of my grease gun.

 

[jelag]

I've pressed these hubs apart, cleaned them and regreased them and put them back together and back on the truck... I'd much prefer, every time I changed disc pads, pulling the abs sensor and adding grease that way... knowing that non of the metal would get into the bearing...

Just my nickles worth... .

 

[AH64ID]

I've pressed these hubs apart, cleaned them and regreased them and put them back together and back on the truck... I'd much prefer, every time I changed disc pads, pulling the abs sensor and adding grease that way... knowing that non of the metal would get into the bearing...



Just my nickles worth... .

Thats a great idea.

 

[SRath]

You have years to think about it...

I did mine just as Cumminspower98 describes on his webpage. My truck is a '96 and I have not put many miles on it since, so no long-term report. But I'm not worried about metal shavings. Let those puppies go dry, and you'll have plenty of loose metal, and the seals do seep over time, so they WILL go dry at some point. My truck has @150k miles on those factory, ungreaseable hubs, so what did I really have to lose?



In all fairness, though, I detest the entire wimpy stock setup from the differential out, and I will be 86-ing all that new age trash soon in favor of live-bearings and lockouts on real spindles and hubs with 35-spline solid chromoly shafts all the way.



I used a magnetized drill bit AND kept a very powerful pickup magnet up against the bit at the hole and withdrew the bit frequently as I drilled. I then used a tiny o-ring pick with that same powerful magnet against it (magnetizing it) to probe the holes very thoroughly. Did any get away? I doubt it. If it did, I'm sure it would have to be far too fine a dust particle to really hurt anything.



I still have to drill my exhaust manifold for an EGT probe as you mentioned, and THAT makes me a little apprehensive, though with a hole that big, it will be even easier to probe with a magnetic pick.



You should have at least a 100k miles to decide if you want to try it before they even get close to needing it. And you will be replacing your balljoints by then anyway and will have the hubs off then, too. Why rush it? Adding grease now will just blow your seals out if the new hubs are already properly packed and sealed like they should be.

 

[STEVEBROOKS]

John,

Check out this series of posts. Good luck.



Steve



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...discussions/219849-how-lube-hub-assembly.html

 

[JBallou]

I have yet to see a sealed new factory bearing of any kind have enough grease. Pull the seal and have a look for your self. Or just do as jelag and I do.