Correct method to re-grease rear wheel bearings?

Correct method to re-grease rear wheel bearings?

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rotorwings

Original Poster:

208 posts

126 months

Friday 10th June 2016
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Anyone have some tips or a description of the best way to re-pack the rear wheel bearings?

I have the bearing carrier off the car, but the only way to remove the seals and get at the bearings seems to be destructive to the seals.

Should I just squeeze grease in between the two bearings and re-assemble? Or is there a trick or better method?

rotorwings

Original Poster:

208 posts

126 months

Saturday 11th June 2016
quotequote all
DCL said:
The best way I have found is to use compressed air to blow the grease out and then a solvent cleaner and more compressed air. Repeat until it is spotlessly clean. Don't wear your Sunday best and cover it with a cloth. Repacking is fiddly but I would work the grease out from the 'centre gap' until you see it emerge on the out edge of the race. It takes a while but stick with it. Stop when you see grease come through and don't be tempted to over pack as that can be worse than too little grease.

Edited by DCL on Friday 10th June 22:01
Thanks DCL. Good to hear I wasn't doing something wrong.

rotorwings

Original Poster:

208 posts

126 months

Sunday 12th June 2016
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mharris said:
I didn't think the rear bearings were user serviceable. Check for play and replace when necessary.

But I did only hear that from someone else on a forum so I'm in no way an expert.
It seems that they are certainly not easy to dismantle without destroying the seals, but re-greasing them is part of the standard maintenance schedule. They are fiddly to re-grease, but certainly do-able. However, it doesn't seem possible for the average person to replace the bearings in the carrier.

rotorwings

Original Poster:

208 posts

126 months

Sunday 12th June 2016
quotequote all
I found this which shows how the bearings could be replaced if you felt adventurous:
http://nw.rhocar.org/wheel_bearing.htm

And here are all the Ford part numbers:
http://www.fordopedia.org/parts-catalog/sierra-mk1...