Roller bearing on left, tapered bearing center and race on right
1. Purchase grease that is specifically labeled as wheel bearing grease.
2. Check the bearings you are going to pack. If it is a:
Tapered bearing – you will want the wider side facing down. This exposes the biggest opening in which to force the grease.
Roller Bearing – you will want the side with the thinner outer race facing down. This exposes the biggest opening in which to force the grease.
Pinching grease between bearing and heel of hand
3. With your bearings sorted as to which side you will push the grease through now put a blob of grease on your palm toward the heel of your hand. The trick will be to scoop a little grease from the blob while pushing the bearing firmly against the heel of your hand to force the grease up and into the bearing.
Grease packed through bearing and coming out top, rotate and keep going until all done
4. Grasp the bearing in your other hand by hooking your index finger through the middle so you can get a good grip as things will soon become quite slippery. With the big opening facing down scoop a little grease from the blob while pushing the bearing firmly against the heel of your hand to force the grease up and into the bearing. After a few strokes in the same place you should start to see grease coming through the top.
5. As soon as you see the grease at the top, rotate the bearing a little and keep forcing the grease through. Every time you see the grease peek out, rotate the bearing again, until grease is peeking out all the way around.
At this point you are ready to install your newly packed wheel bearings.
'How to pack wheel bearings' have 6 comments
May 29, 2012 @ 4:43 am robert tresch
Do you sell just the Wheel Bearing Races? I don’t need a new hub. 1972 MGB roadster.
Thanks,
Bob Tresch
May 29, 2012 @ 8:57 am carlbergs
MGB Wheel bearings come with new races if they are the tapered style.
May 30, 2012 @ 7:09 pm Greg
A technically faultless article. But c’mon now; what’s with the rubber gloves guys?!
Cheers,
Greg
[hehe]
June 26, 2012 @ 2:59 am Jerry
Rubber gloves keep my hands clean while working with any greasy object, so that my hands are perfectly clean while photographing a wedding, straightening the bride’s beautiful white dress, etc… It is much easier to strip off the grease/gloves and throw away, than to scrub, scrub, scrub.!!!!!! Nuff Said
Jerry
June 5, 2012 @ 5:37 pm LEO
YOU NEED TO KEEP ALL AREAS EXTRA CLEAN , AS ANY SMALL ITEMS OR DIRT CAN DAMAGE BEARING WHEN IN USE. AND SOLVENT CLEAN ANY DIRTY BEARING B-4 REPACKING, MOTOR ON MEAT-HEADS *^*^*^*
July 9, 2012 @ 3:00 am Kelly
Well on my 1977 MGB. I had to replace ALL bearing’s and thrust washer’s. Had all the the part’s pressed on properly. While reassembling, a distance collar broke. This part goes on the outer side of the bearing carrier, jamming the pinoin gear cage in the rear axel. WOW…. And of course the part is not available. Don’t know where to go now?