BEARINGS-Wrong grease or just too much?

[dkutz]

Ok so back from our longest trip in our PU.  I repacked the bearings since the last use.  This trip I noticed grease 'dripping' onto the wheels from I assume the grease cap.  Did I do something wrong?  Did I use the wrong grease (too thin?)  or  put too much in?  Or is this normal.  I wasn't too concerned as it wasn't a HUGE amount, but I wiped it off when we got to camp (200 miles)  and it was back when we got home.

Ideas?

[wavery]

Ok so back from our longest trip in our PU.  I repacked the bearings since the last use.  This trip I noticed grease 'dripping' onto the wheels from I assume the grease cap.  Did I do something wrong?  Did I use the wrong grease (too thin?)  or  put too much in?  Or is this normal.  I wasn't too concerned as it wasn't a HUGE amount, but I wiped it off when we got to camp (200 miles)  and it was back when we got home.

Ideas?

Was it on both wheels? :confused: I haven't had that happen.

You might try taking the caps off and cleaning the inside surface of the hub, where the caps seat.

Did you feel the wheels after you were on the road for a while? If they were warm, you may have the bearings adjusted too tight. You may want to re-adjust the bearings while you have the caps off. Tight bearings will run hot. That would cause the grease to run.

[Old Goat]

If your bearing caps are old they are probably the cause of the leaking grease. Older caps can get distorted and slightly out of round after being removed and installed a few times. A new set of caps, which are cheap, will probably solve your problem. Before  installing a new set, I use a file to slightly taper the outside sharp edge of the caps. This makes them much easier to align and install.
Properly adjusted and greased wheel bearings will naturally get warm, especially in hot weather. If the hubs are hot to the touch then a problem exists...

[flyfisherman]

A couple more things, too, that cause the wheels to "sling" grease after a re-packing job ~ (1) Too much grease ... got to leave a little "air space". (2) tightened the nut too tight ... ya know, where you put the locking cotter pin through; take the pin out and back off the nut one notch and re-insert cotter pin.




Fly