"packing" wheel bearings

Dirtbuster1 said:
Over greasing the bearings is just as bad as under greasing them. Over greasing will cause excessive heat on the bearing until it leaks eventally leaks out of the seals. Mechanics that use to work with would pump bearings full of grease until they leaked out of the seal. That was the only way they knew grease was actually getting to the bearing. The next day operations would call complaining about the bearings were running hot and suspected there might be bearing problems. There would be a pile of grease looking like a turd sitting below the housings. Better safe than sorry!:lol:
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Sometimes REAL WORLD experience TRUMPS mind boggling theory.;)
 
big2bird said:
Dirtbuster1 said:
Over greasing the bearings is just as bad as under greasing them. Over greasing will cause excessive heat on the bearing until it leaks eventally leaks out of the seals. Mechanics that use to work with would pump bearings full of grease until they leaked out of the seal. That was the only way they knew grease was actually getting to the bearing. The next day operations would call complaining about the bearings were running hot and suspected there might be bearing problems. There would be a pile of grease looking like a turd sitting below the housings. Better safe than sorry!:lol:
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Sometimes REAL WORLD experience TRUMPS mind boggling theory.;)
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first you say don't use personal experience then someone uses an example of electric motors and YOU say that's a great proof of "real world experience". The grease seal on a motor is nothing like the low tech rubber seal on the C3.

Come on guys. Are we going to have a C3 site based on science or old wives tales? As far as i'm concerned if someone is parroting something they've seen or read without being able to explain the WHY.....its an old wives tale.

Now. Lets think about this. There is no vent on the rear bearing housing. When the air space in there goes from ambient to 400 F there will be a significant pressure on the seal no matter how much grease is in there. The seal is going to have to burp to relieve the pressure.\

If a hole could be drilled in the bearing housing and an appropriate vent installed that would allow us to pack it full of grease without the worry of seal leakage, that might be a good improvement.

I'm not that concerned about grease leaking past the outer seal and slinging on the drum. I pull the rotor often enough and clean it up with brake clean. If a vent was drilled on top grease could piss out in a controlled way and in a location where it wouldn't affect anything, you could just periodically wipe it down with a paper towell.
 
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turtlevette said:
.................. As far as i'm concerned if someone is parroting something they've seen or read without being able to explain the WHY.....its an old wives tale.
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Shit..... I wake up miserable after the visit to the dentist yesterday. Now I'm finding myself agreeing with TV. I don't like the way this day is trending here. LOL
 
So have any of you boys attempted to even call a bearing company, and asked them which is right and which is wrong? You know they do have bearing specialists that work for them - they'll give you a straight answer.
 
Front wheel bearings: the greas leaks either into the dust cap or into the cavity between seal and bearing.

The volume of these two cavities is larger than the amount of grease you can put on the bearing - how do you think you could overgrease it ?

You cant insert more grease that what fits between the roller, when it's full it's full, the grease will squeeze out while you install it... Even IF someone dumped half a pound of grease on the race and then install the bearing the grease will squeeze into the huge cavity between the two bearings (which I should have taken a photo of, I had a lot of grease there...)
 
I think the point that is overlooked here is that the oil separation or liquidizing of the grease is essential for lubrication, cooling. it's what provides the lubracation film. Just the grease itself does not. The bearing is packed with grease, the rest in the cavity is just additional grease to supply the ebaring with grease that's lost when rotating, sort of like the oil sump in your engine is a buffer.
 
69427 said:
turtlevette said:
.................. As far as i'm concerned if someone is parroting something they've seen or read without being able to explain the WHY.....its an old wives tale.
Click to expand...

Shit..... I wake up miserable after the visit to the dentist yesterday. Now I'm finding myself agreeing with TV. I don't like the way this day is trending here. LOL
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That's allright. Good ideas stand on their own merit.
 
Twin_Turbo said:
I think the point that is overlooked here is that the oil separation or liquidizing of the grease is essential for lubrication, cooling. it's what provides the lubracation film. Just the grease itself does not. The bearing is packed with grease, the rest in the cavity is just additional grease to supply the ebaring with grease that's lost when rotating, sort of like the oil sump in your engine is a buffer.
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YES!!! The more grease the better the cooling. And yes, there is some risk in the rear bearing housing that the grease will squeeze past the seals and make a mess. I'm willing to accept that.
 
Guys,

I have some data that will answer all of your questions. It was put together by SKF & Exxon/Mobil. I will have to look through by backup files since I'm not working anymore. If I can't find the files, I will email one of the people I know from either company to get the info need.

I will even get you bearing installation info if needed. If there is any specific info that is needed I will also be glad to get that also.
 
I was looking for that SKF PDF info but it appears it's now 5$ a piece, no way I'm gonna spend 5$ on turtle :D
 
TT,

Which SKF pdf file were you looking for. I will get one of the SKF guys to get it for me. I couldn't find a copy of the lube files I need, a freind is going to send me a copy of the power point slides. It's over 6 megs and I'm having trouble downloading it.
 
Nothing in particular, but what may contribute to this discussion is lubrication selection and lubrication management & best practices
 
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