Wheel Bearings - Oil or Grease?

[SeriesShorty]

I'm old fashioned and use 90w. I don't have to worry about making sure I have a couple of packets of One Shot laying around in the basement. In the event I have a wild hair up my tail end and fling out a wild n crazy weekend of fluid refreshing, or I simply played too much in the water and needed to do an emergency milkshake evacuation, I don't have to worry cause there is always 90w to be found. Simplicity is my friend - enter Series, goodbye Disco.

[jp-]

I have a compromise.

140W oil.

All problems solved.

[yorker]

What?! no one has brought up Lucas Hub Oil yet?

[kenscs]

There is a lot of information and debate of grease vs. 90wt on the front bearings, but what about the rear bearing specifically? I just took off the rear hub assembly because leaky rear oil hub seal ('71 iia was sitting in a garage for 12 years) and found no evidence of grease. Just looked like 90wt had worked its way into the hub down the drive shaft (likely dissolved the grease a long time ago). Bearings looked totally fine (only 23k on Odometer, ex-ambulance and sat for probably 15 yrs now and so far all parts wear pattern matches the miles so I kinds believe the odometer). Since there is no filler plug for the rear hub, it doesn't seem like one can service that hub other than removal. I was originally going to pack the bearings with grease, but then, when I looked at the axle design, it looks like 90wt is going to work its way into the hub. My guess is the 90wt is going to break down the axle grease and not sure it is optimal to have both mixing with each other. On the other hand, the bearings would be dry until 90wt from axle casing works its way into hub. Maybe use a simple wheel bearing grease to keep them going until 90wt works its way in as opposed to the new super-duper synthetic stuff that might react poorly with the 90wt? Any suggestions? Nothing like opening a 7-year old debate huh?

[yorker]

Since there is no filler plug for the rear hub, it doesn't seem like one can service that hub other than removal.

There is a filler plug, one of the drive flange bolts is removed and allows you to fill it.

[edit] it is the one that lines up with one of the wheel studs.

[siii8873]

JEFF SIII ????, any pictures?

I did some searching, but didn't find what I was looking for. On my old 63, the wheel bearings were oil lubricated and the hubs had small oil fill ports to allow for an initial charge of oil upon re-assembly. My 73 SIII doesn't have these ports. All I have right now is the SII/IIA green manual, but it doesn't mention anything about using grease on the wheel bearings.

So, should the wheel bearings on the SIII be greased? If so, won't the oil from the rear differential or swivel pin housings eventually contaminate the grease? Just wondering what everyone else is doing.

Also, can someone point me in the direction of info on greasing the swivel pin housings versus using oil?

Thanks,
Jeff

[kenscs]

JEFF SIII ????, any pictures?

As yorker described, I found the filler hole in the flange stud that lines up with screw and flange nut. Looks like once I put the new Axle flange seal on, replace, I can fill up with Gear oil and be good to go. It might kill me to put bearing on though without packing them with bearing grease. Never relied on gear oil before. Anyone know how many ounces to put in the fill hole the first time you fill it? I assume you want a small bath of oil that just sort of touches the bottom of the bearings, but not be up so high it goes over the half shaft.

[siii8873]

No I meant pictures of the truck? Didn't know Jeff had a SIII.

[I Leak Oil]

This thread is quite old and I think he's refering to his airportable.
Of course I could be wrong....

[jac04]

This thread is quite old and I think he's refering to his airportable.
Of course I could be wrong....

Sorry, been 'off the grid' on vacation for a while. Yes, I was talking about my SIII Air Portable.

[Papa Romeo]

I used 90wt on my old SIII... but based on the picture (attached), looks like the PO used grease in the SIIa. I haven't pulled the rear wheel off in the year I've owned it. I was going to change the diff/trans/tcase oil next week anyway, before I do, should buy a new seal to fix what appears to be a leak? Haven't seen any such black streak on any other wheel yet.

Thanks,

[UnfrozenCaveman]

If you want to use one shot grease I suggest axle assemblies with CV joints in them.

Priceless

What, no discussion of Tracta joints