Stupidity

Guys please don't ever take for granted how good it is to know something about mechanics. You see...I don't and the simplest tasks to most of you all seem magnanimous to me.

Here's the latest....

Course you know about the troubles with the simple break job.

Well...I did a little search to find out how to pack the wheel bearings (as I've heard it called).

It seems this is supposed to be done before you put them in the hub.
I put mine in last night without packing them with grease, as well as installed the new oil seal behind them. So...I've got to take them back out (I know it's pretty easy) and hope I don't ruin the brand new oil seals.

On top of that, the studs that I had pressed in with the hydaulic press....the mechanic basically screwed up all 5 of them...flattened the threads about 1/4 of the length of the stud.. I'm just hoping I can straighten out the threads with a Die tool. Which I don't have and will have to buy or hopefully borrow.

Oh yeah,...I bought a wheel bearing packing tool @ Napa...anyone ever seen one? Two little cups...sandwich the bearing in between them and then there's a grease zerk on one of the cups. Pump old grease out and new grease in.

Also...the void space between the two bearings. When I took mine off it was packed full of grease. I was thinking I needed to pack it back full, but the guy @ Napa said it'd be a waste of time since all it'd do is just sit there. Have we covered this? Probably...

OK sorry for the rant....I'm just a sore loser I guess.

 

Did you remember to crack your head on the fender and get wheel bearing grease......everywhere..........?

My typical move

 

I think we've all got one of those moves

 

With a thread title like "stupidity", I was sure somebody was callin' me! You can also pack bearings by hand, literally. Pile some grease in the palm of your other hand, and try to wipe it off there using the side of the bearing in your good hand. Do this until you have used the entire circumference of the bearing. I would like to know how well the packer you bought works. Prolly no more mess than greasin' my palm, I suppose.

At six foot six, I crack my head on everything. Literally. Think I'd learn, doncha?

Stu

 

I always add some grease to the cavity. I don't pack it FULL but I do put a bit in there. That way it'll flow (as well as grease can) when it's warm, and get new grease into the bearings. I've seen too many job shops just pack the bearings on our fleet and end up with wasted bearings in 30k because of lack of grease.
That's why almost all new cars/trucks come with non-serviceable bearings. Saves a lot of trouble when doing brakes. If they aren't throwing grease from the seal they are fine.

 

I bought a 1/2 X 20 die and a small file...maybe I can salvage the studs. Otherwise I'll have to buy new ones. Good Grief!

 

Hope it works out for you.

 

John I feel for ya bud, I can't believe the idiot scewed up the studs that bad, I understand the seal and have actually gotten in a hurry before and forgot to pack the back bearing and had to pull it all apart. Wheel bearing packing tools I have seen used are similar and work very good and are easy to use.

Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

never seen a bearing packer w/zerk fitting. mine uses the vice to pack grease in the bearing.

 

I do this then hold the bearing in my palms and squeeze them together trying to make a suction and force grease into every possible cavity. Kinda like trying to make fart noises with your palms except with a bearing in the middle. Messy, but seems to be effective.

 

I've got one with a zerk and one that is attached to a grease gun and mounted on a piece of wood. Don't usually use either - just do the palm trick.

 

I always pack 'em by hand. You can see the old dirty grease oozing out if you do it right. Put a blob in the palm of your left hand (reverse if you're left handed), put your right index finger through the center of the bearing with the taper down, and push the edge of the bearing into the grease. Repeat many times. Rotate the bearing till you pack it all the way 'round.

I've never tried to reuse wheel bearing seals - I was taught that to remove them is to ruin them. They aren't that expensive...

 

I wouldn't call it stupidity John, more like "learning experience". EVERYBODY has some move that once done, they'll never do again. Kinda the hand on the hot stove thing.....'cept yours just happens to be remembering to pack the bearings. Just be thankful you caught it before it was a problem....like forgetting to put oil in a fresh rebuilt T90. (No, not me, but read about it happening....)

You are not alone.....

 

if the die starts going on crossthreaded you might have to switch to a thread chaser... but i think you'd find it much less painfull to get some new lugs.

everyone's done things like that. my personal top two are putting the transmission back in and forgetting the throwout bearing, and tapping the output shaft with a hammer and nothing on the end of the shaft (spent the rest of the day chasing threads and filing things into some sort of round...)

 

Grandpa taught me when I was 8 how to pack wheel bearings by hand, I think of him each time I do it, and if anyone is standing around I tell them the story! On seals always buy four, use two, waste one 'cause there is no grease in one side, then have one extra 'cause when your pissed at yourself for forgetting the grease you waste that one putting it in, then put the one you have in and sit back take a pull off the beer and smile. (Grandpa taught me to have plenty of seals around too!)

 

Stupid is when you replace the water pump and forget to pull the rag out that you stuffed into the hole to keep everything dry and remember that its still there when you tighten the last bolt.