Tools for packing front wheel bearings
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
Tools for packing front wheel bearings
Was wondering what others have used and their opinions of the bearing packing tools available. I once used the two cone shape tool..but found it did not work very well. Does the type with the clear plastic container and the piston work OR is it just better to take the bearings to a shop and have them done?
Thanks
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 202
From: Waterford Mi
I've been doing it that way for years but the tools being sold work just as well if you have extra money to spend, which I have been known to do a time or two.
For a job like wheel barrings, I would save the money for more important toys.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 493
Likes: 2
From: Dunellen New Jersey
I used the 2 cone shaped one for years but it was made from machined steel.Very old tool.someone dropped it in the shop and it bent the threaded shaft. destroyed.Could never find a replacement.The plastic one sucks.I just use the palm method,its fool proof but messy.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
put some grease in your hand - take the wheel bearing with your other hand and scrape the wide end of it through the grease until it starts coming (butter) out on the narrow end and between the rollers of the bearing - turn the bearing in a circle until all spaces between the rollers are filled with grease (do it twice to remove any air pockets).
simply rubbing grease on the bearing is not good enough - it needs to get between the rollers - hands and the "scraping" motion are the best tools for this one.
simply rubbing grease on the bearing is not good enough - it needs to get between the rollers - hands and the "scraping" motion are the best tools for this one.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
I have used the plastic one for years and I like it but its not worth the money for a few cars. If I'm somewhere where I don't have the plastic tool I use the hand SLAP method. Put a gob of grease in the palm of your hand and slap the open side of the bearing into the grease and you will see the grease work its way up and out the other side of the bearing,this will insure the bearing is properly packed.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 175
Likes: 11
From: Omaha ne
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Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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From: Dayton, Ohio
I got screwed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Salisbury Maryland
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
Okay, from the posts sounds like hand packing is still the way to go. That is the way I usually have done them. Even the time I tried the two cone shaped thing....still had to finish the job by the ole hand packing.
The inner bearing is easy, but the outer bearing is harder to hold onto.
And yes I use gloves...been using the nitite gloves for many years now just about anytime I work on a car.
Thanks for all the opinions.....gotta go get busy.
The inner bearing is easy, but the outer bearing is harder to hold onto.
And yes I use gloves...been using the nitite gloves for many years now just about anytime I work on a car.
Thanks for all the opinions.....gotta go get busy.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 850
Likes: 36
From: Providence RI
Okay, from the posts sounds like hand packing is still the way to go. That is the way I usually have done them. Even the time I tried the two cone shaped thing....still had to finish the job by the ole hand packing.
The inner bearing is easy, but the outer bearing is harder to hold onto.
And yes I use gloves...been using the nitite gloves for many years now just about anytime I work on a car.
Thanks for all the opinions.....gotta go get busy.
The inner bearing is easy, but the outer bearing is harder to hold onto.
And yes I use gloves...been using the nitite gloves for many years now just about anytime I work on a car.
Thanks for all the opinions.....gotta go get busy.
The hand-method is only better if you don't have the tool available, you have the time to spare, and you like the feel of kneading greasy stuff in your hands.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
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From: Chattanooga TN
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
IMHO the tool is not even worth fartin with. It might work fine, but you still end up finishing by hand, still have to clean your hands and Also have to clean the tool. Faster and more efficient to just do it by hand.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
I have 'toyed' with the idea of pouring the grease into those bearings. I've never gotten motivated enough to try it, but if you made/found a little metal [or ceramic] cup that you could fit the bearing in, one could melt the grease in a pan on a kitchen stove and pour it in to fill up the bearing, The cold metal bearing should cool the grease fairly quickly. Then, remove and install the bearing. Sounds like it would work and be easy...but I still haven't tried to do it. 
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
I have 'toyed' with the idea of pouring the grease into those bearings. I've never gotten motivated enough to try it, but if you made/found a little metal [or ceramic] cup that you could fit the bearing in, one could melt the grease in a pan on a kitchen stove and pour it in to fill up the bearing, The cold metal bearing should cool the grease fairly quickly. Then, remove and install the bearing. Sounds like it would work and be easy...but I still haven't tried to do it.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 624
Likes: 1
From: Melbourne, Fla. 6 months- New Middletown, Ohio 6 months
In this whole post no one has mentioned that the first part of this process is to wash all the old grease from all bearing parts and the hub before repacking. Of course the old method that most of us graybeards used was a old pan with a gallon of gas in it. We blew the parts dry with a airgun and inspected all them for wear before repacking. Course some of us spun the bearings up to RPM with the airgun which was not a good idea. That whistling sound was neat. Kerosene is a safer choice to clean with though, I might add.
I assume that the cleaning first process was a given.
I assume that the cleaning first process was a given.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
I have an older style model than what's on the website, it works well. If you know how to use it, it's a lot faster when packing multiple bearingsAt the house I pack them by hand just as swampblues posted. It's very important to get the grease between the roller pins so they don't slide. If you don't and make the grease work itself into the cage, the bearing will have some very hard miles.
Make sure you inspect not only the bearings, but also inspect the bearing race. Check the race to make sure it's not spinning in the hub. I also use a can of Brake Kleen to degrease the bearings, it evaporates off and really doesn't leave a residue.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 8
From: Enid Oklahoma
Was wondering what others have used and their opinions of the bearing packing tools available. I once used the two cone shape tool..but found it did not work very well. Does the type with the clear plastic container and the piston work OR is it just better to take the bearings to a shop and have them done?
Thanks
Thanks
