Topic: Repacking bearings W/ grease

[FourbangerYJ]

Do you clean out the old grease before adding new. Or do you just add new?
I am planning on taking the outer bearings of the front end out and checking the whole set up. I have not done it since I put it all together a couple years ago. I am curious how black the grease will be. It should be in pretty good shape but I want to stay on top of it.

[Jeffy]

It's best to clean them out then repack them so you're not mixing grease.  If you're not packing them by hand and have a bearing packer, you can just drive grease through the bearing till it pushes out the old stuff.

[TrailsLessTaken]

I always clean mine out before i repack them

[FourbangerYJ]

It's best to clean them out then repack them so you're not mixing grease.  If you're not packing them by hand and have a bearing packer, you can just drive grease through the bearing till it pushes out the old stuff.

I was gonna do it by hand. A packer would be a good investment!

[Jeffy]

I was gonna do it by hand. A packer would be a good investment!

Take a trip to HF. 

[FourbangerYJ]

Take a trip to HF. 

Vatozone is closer. Just got back 

[aw12345]

Just get a bearing packer and push the new grease through, works well is easier than cleaning and then tapping on a wood block to get all the old grease out

[chardrc]

doesn't the old grease push out when you back bearings by hand?? it does when i do it.. (after cleaning off the gunk outside of the bearing... just takes longer than if you have a tool.

[FourbangerYJ]

I picked up a grease cup tool thingy. Cheap enough at the parts store 6 bucks. I'm hoping to do the bearings later this week.
I just swapped out a torn rubber boot on the driver TRE.

[aw12345]

After you clean a bearing with solvent even after blowing it out with shop air, tap it on the head end of a block of wood, you will be amazed at how much old grease is still in there. A bearing packer does a pretty good job of forcing the old grease out.

[jagular7]

I like to clean as best I can in my hands. Then inspect the rollers in the bearing as well as the frame case. I also remove the grease from the spindle to check that as well.

What you are looking for is wear. The bearing rollers would show how well they cover the metal contact. Sort of like the r&p setup. It should be even across the roller face. The spindle would show where the bearing rollers ride.

[FourbangerYJ]

I thought I would tackle the driver side today since I can't get to the passenger side until I get my tires.
Good thing I did, the outer lock nut was barely tight! I could easily move it by hand. The bearing looked good, infact the grease was looking pretty much new. I thought since I had it out I would use my new bearing packer. What a joke, I couldn't get it tight enough and grease kept coming out between the bearing and the plastic cup. So after about 1/4 tube of grease I cleaned it up and packed it by hand 
Then upon putting it back together I put on the first locking nut which has a small pin that a washer needs to be indexed on. I torqued the nut and looked to see where the pin was so I could make sure the washer and pin lined up. I ended up shearing off the pin in the process of installing the nut  . So I went to Napa and they said, "these are only avail through the dealer now"  So I came home and order some from Parts Mike. Should be here Friday.
Story of my life. A quick 20 minute job turns into 2 hours and a trip to the parts store then come home to order the parts. 

[Jeffy]

Hey, at least you have some some more nuts for your art projects. 

[FourbangerYJ]

Hey, at least you have some some more nuts for your art projects. 

maybe I'll make you something 

[Jeffy]

maybe I'll make you something 

As long as it doesn't involve actually working on my Jeep, I'm OK with it.