To Grease, or not to Grease???

[parrie]

Just began tearing down the front end of ole Daisey. When I pulled the locking hubs off, the driver side the hub bearings had no grease (bearings where not packed w/ grease) and looked great but the passenger side bearings had been greased and it was an awful looking brown mess of crap. I've looked at a couple of threads...some say grease, others say 90wt oil. I can't seem to find it in the green bible, possibly looking in wrong section maybe? Any thoughts on to grease or not to grease the hub bearings?

[SafeAirOne]

You don't mention what vehicle you have. If yours has the oil fill on the driving flanges, I'd consider using oil.

From SIII bible. See step 7:

[parrie]

Sorry about that...61' early IIa 109 Dormobile, she sports some II parts here & there so didn't know if there may be different recommendations. After looking this over I think the bearings on that side had been replaced w/ grease at some point & then the PO added oil, what a mess it was! The hubs do have the fill plugs. I presume the oil level would be about half, is that correct?

[SafeAirOne]

I presume the oil level would be about half, is that correct?

I'll leave that for someone else to answer--I have no idea what the fill procedure was on those.

Ha--Just saw that I should have said "Step 7" not "Step 8" on my original post too. I'm sure you worked that out, though.

[TeriAnn]

I have always just packed the bearings with molly wheel bearing grease, added more grease in the hub per the manual, then installed the bearings & hub on the stub axle . It has worked for me so far.

1961 Dormie, owned for 36 years and counting and driven by me well over 250,000 miles and counting.

I suspect that oil would be more apt to seep past the inner hub seal and get onto the brake shoes. But that is just a suspicion based upon how much more fluid oil is..

[parrie]

Mark/TeriAnn, thanks for the info. I too was thinking about oil leaking and contaminating the brakes...grease it is! Thanks again

[jac04]

...grease it is!

Unless it is a SIII set up for greased bearings, greasing the bearings isn't the way to go (IMO). There is nothing to keep the oil from the swivel pin housings from getting into the front wheel bearings. Typically, mixing oil & grease isn't recommended.

For the oiled hubs, I put the fill plug at the top and put about 1/2 to 1 quart in the hub. The excess will flow into the SPH through the spindle. Then check the SPH to make sure it isn't overfilled.

[parrie]

Intresting jac04...I see your point. I'm guessing this is what may have happened to the side that had been greased...the bearings look OK but what an awful mess of oil & grease sludge. I'm glad I asked the question...this forum is a great resource!

[TeriAnn]

Unless it is a SIII set up for greased bearings, greasing the bearings isn't the way to go (IMO).

Makes me wonder why my white factory workshop manual says to use grease. My Series II (not A) doesn't have any kind of filler for oil in the hubs. Just the swivel area.

So you just lay the truck on its side then pour oil in over the big fixing nuts then pound on the dust cover to keep the oil in before turning the truck over to the other side?

[Escargo]

LOL...do yourself a favor and trust Teriann

[jac04]

LOL...do yourself a favor and trust Teriann

Hey, do what you want. What do I know? Just because someone posts something in a condescending manner doesn't mean they are correct. Probably also means that they can't be bothered with things like setting wheel bearing end play with a dial indicator either, even though that's in the factory manual. Anyhow, do your own research, and don't always believe what you read.

[cedryck]

I have heard of (from this forum) and with at least 4 folks I know who drive a series, of folks doing it both ways. I agree that grease will contain dirt, no question, but lubes well, and 90 will do it's job if you keep it there, we all know how they love to mark the territory, having said that,
I worked with two of the best VW mechanics I know (both have over 30 years experience with all kinds of cars and trucks, and motorbikes) and both agreed that a wheel bearing should have grease. So, I did that when building my 2a. I love the enthusiasm of this forum, cheers!

[Escargo]

She has more experience than almost anyone in the country about Rover maintenance and upgrades, if you follow that kind of thing. Her comments were maybe condescending, but funny as hell. She and Cedryck are correct when they say that wheel bearings should be packed in grease...period. Yes, oil will eventually leak in there and make a mess. Personally, I don't think that affects the lubrication properties, just looks bad and leaks. Oh yeah, and I don't think anybody uses dial indicator to tighten end play. Lots of threads on that too.

[SafeAirOne]

Oh yeah, and I don't think anybody uses dial indicator to tighten end play.

I do.

[Escargo]

Thanks Mark