How much grease in a wheel bearing?

[Kermit power]

The grease can conveniently warns me not to over pack the bearing, but doesn't give any indication of how much is too much!

Could anyone help?

It's the front wheel bearing on a '99 Shogun if that makes a difference. It has an inner and an outer bearing round the stub axle.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Did you work out what all the play in the stub axle was in the end??!

When I grease a wheel bearing, I just get a load of it between my fingers (oo-er) and work it into the bearing by hand so there's a good coating over all the races and balls (or rollers).

Overpacking would involve doing that plus loading tonnes more into it before bolting it all together!

Although on a 4x4, I would suggest (having had experience with all the bearings on my off-roader Jeep) that a little too much is better than not enough - especially if you off-road and ford regularly.

HTH

[cpas]

As above but I try to ensure that about half the available spare volume is grease and half air - if that makes sense!! As far as I can see, overpacking just means nothing's got room to move so as long as there's some air space you should be OK.

[OdramaSwimLaden]

Manually overpacking a bearing so damage is caused would be quite difficult; as said, liberally apply it and do a 50/50 air / grease and you'll be fine.

[Bill]

No idea, I just mash as much as possible in and assume that's probably enough

[paintman]

'How to' from Timken:
http://connect.timken.com/uploads/packing-tapered-...

[tr7v8]

A trick I was given a few years ago by my late father was to pop the bearing & an eggcup full of grease into a zippy bag, zip the bag up & work the grease into the bearing. Only take the bearing out when ready to fit. You stay cleaner & you don't get grit or crap in the bearing. As others have said half full or so is normally enough. Important to make sure evrything is clean & on taper bearings not overtightened.

[XG332]

tr7v8 said:

A trick I was given a few years ago by my late father was to pop the bearing & an eggcup full of grease into a zippy bag, zip the bag up & work the grease into the bearing. Only take the bearing out when ready to fit. You stay cleaner & you don't get grit or crap in the bearing. As others have said half full or so is normally enough. Important to make sure evrything is clean & on taper bearings not overtightened.

Or wear gloves and don't put the bearing down before fitting.

[Kermit power]

Ray Luxury-Yacht said:

Did you work out what all the play in the stub axle was in the end??!

Pretty certain, yes. It turns out there's a third needle-roller bearing where the stub axle passes through the suspension upright somewhere behind the knuckle, and it's 99% certainly that which has gone.

I'm going to build the other side back up, and get my mechanic to do the needle bearing, as I don't fancy messing around with the steering by trying to take the knuckle off myself to get to it.