How do Wheel Bearings Survive?

[Tom Endy]

Originally Posted by CarlG

The rear bearings are not tapered, they are straight. It's the axle that is tapered in the rear.

I think he was talking about the tapered roller bearings that are used on the ring gear carrier inside the rear axle assembly. These bearings are set at a pre-load of a nominal 20 in. lb. and they run in oil.

Tom Endy

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by katy

I was referring to the differential bearings, not the wheel bearings. I did say "in the rear axle".

This sounds like what Larry Jenkins was talking about, jeez

Originally Posted by Tom Endy

I think he was talking about the tapered roller bearings that are used on the ring gear carrier inside the rear axle assembly. These bearings are set at a pre-load of a nominal 20 in. lb. and they run in oil.

Tom Endy

Sorry, I misunderstood. My apologies!

[pgerhardt]

Originally Posted by nick c

I always use a bearing packer on tapered roller bearings.
carry on nick c

Walt Luckner, an aviation mechanic who I worked with, and who sold me my first model A, (a 1930 coupe) taught me how to pack bearings. No bearing packer needed. Put some grease into the palm of one hand and hold the bearing with two fingers and your thumb of the other hand. Now slap the bearing into the grease in your palm with some force. The grease will be forced into the bearing until it squishes out the other side. He used to say." If there are any voids without grease, or if your hand doesn't hurt, you are not done!" It is actually quite easy to fully pack a bearing this way!

Later, as a teacher, I had both of Walt's grandkids in my class. I miss both the 30 coupe and Walt.

[Mitch//pa]

I use a bearing packer it makes for less mess and I use less rags plus it does a fine job...
Before these came out yes the old school way works

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by pgerhardt

Walt Luckner, an aviation mechanic who I worked with, and who sold me my first model A, (a 1930 coupe) taught me how to pack bearings. No bearing packer needed. Put some grease into the palm of one hand and hold the bearing with two fingers and your thumb of the other hand. Now slap the bearing into the grease in your palm with some force. The grease will be forced into the bearing until it squishes out the other side. He used to say." If there are any voids without grease, or if your hand doesn't hurt, you are not done!" It is actually quite easy to fully pack a bearing this way!

Later, as a teacher, I had both of Walt's grandkids in my class. I miss both the 30 coupe and Walt.

I pack them the same way and was taught that by an excellent mechanic back in 1965. A few years ago I bought a wheel bearing packer at a swap meet, but by the time I find it I could have my bearings hand packed. Besides, grease make a good cleaner for removing dirt.
Actually you better not have dirt on your hands when you pack bearings, but I knew a guy that used to assemble engines with hands so dirty you'd have to wonder how the engines ever ran.

[Fullraceflathead]

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Wheel Bearing rollers and Push Rod Balls are some of the highest loaded bearing surfaces in the Automobile.
Sorry for mentioning "Push Rods" on a ALL FLATHEAD Site!!!

[Flathead]

What's a push rod?

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by Flathead

What's a push rod?

A broken down hot rod? The one with a C#&*@ engine.

[Pinesdune]

Originally Posted by katy

Howcum taper roller bearings in the rear axle are preloaded while the ones in the front wheel hubs are adjusted very slightly loose, w/out any preload?
Does the fact that the rear axle ones are running in oil while the front wheel ones are in grease come into the equation?

Yes, it makes a difference if the bearings run in grease or oil, but not much difference in the actual amount of preload, more "how" they are preloaded. Oiled typically are set to a rolling resistance (if that is at all possible to measure)
I was taught to set up greased bearings with some preload if that is at all possible, but in the field (literally meaning in a field lol) when different thickness of washers are not at hand or the storm clouds are coming, less preload is better than to much. To much preload and the bearings heat and self destruct, where 0 preload will leave you with an annoying shimmy and a slow drive around the block. I will admit tho that I am newer to A's, and that outer bearing is under no estimation the most puny thing I have ever seen for an outer bearing in my life! [emoji33]



Looking for the front bumper emblem that has "Ford, Made In Canada"

[mshmodela]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

My steering gear leaks out the 600W within a few days, so I pump in grease then add some gear oil. Any lubrication is better than no lubrication, and Mystik is a very stringy grease that clings to parts.

Gee Tom,now I don't feel bad mine leaked out as well...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vBoxXCQ-VU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz77rygsuvk

Wondering how much grease to 600W oil is your recipes?

[Houdini]

My Dad taught me a long time ago, to use a plastic sandwich bag, preferably the kind without the ziplock to pack bearings. Put a large amount of grease on bearing and also in bag, so bearing and grease are all down in one corner of the bag, twist bag to take up slack, and then work grease into bearing by squeezing around and around the bearing. Creates pressure to push grease into bearing. I like to try and rotate the bearing a few times while doing so. It's not mess free, but not bad either.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I've also used bags, such as a Subway sandwich bag. If I use two bags I can hand pack the bearing and keep my hands totally free of grease. I grab the bearing and scoop it into the grease on the left bag. When it's fully packed I can simply pull the bag inside out over the grease and bearing. This way the bearing is protected until needed, and my hands are free of grease.

[Dollar Bill]

"Several riding lawn mowers have 5 or 6 speed aluminum case transmissions with no fill or drain plugs. They are packed with grease when assembled, then left to do their job. Does anyone know the recommended grease for these?"

Tom, I checked into this sometime ago and was advised they are filled with corn head grease.

[Jon]

Wow, someone admits to using grease in their steering box and doesn't get flamed. I wondered the same, if it gets pushed aside and it's inside an enclosed box, it can only go to the other side of the box and on the gears! and further more, what RPM is that ole gear turning? Oh, it doesn't actually turn a full one rpm, only back and forth?
Thanks Tom for your post and I'm just funning with you all.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Jon

Wow, someone admits to using grease in their steering box and doesn't get flamed. I wondered the same, if it gets pushed aside and it's inside an enclosed box, it can only go to the other side of the box and on the gears! and further more, what RPM is that ole gear turning? Oh, it doesn't actually turn a full one rpm, only back and forth?
Thanks Tom for your post and I'm just funning with you all.

We lurn a lot, through some of our "FUNNING" & it helps us REMEMBER IT !
Bill Fun

[40 Deluxe]

Instead of trying to find John Deere corn picker grease, use CV joint grease. This also is heavy bodied but flows to keep modern front wheel drive constant velocity U-joints lubricated well enough that they last for well over 100,000 miles unless a boot gets torn.

[katy]

FWIW, at one time my daily driver was a '69 Ford 1/2 ton, non power steering. Servicing it one time I found the steering box dry, put gear oil in it and it ran out. Replaced the output shaft seal and it still leaked, so I pumped it full of chassis grease and drove it for 5 or 6 years after that. Just topped up the grease in the steering box every 2,000 miles when I serviced the truck and no problems surfaced from using grease in the steering box.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by 40 Deluxe

Instead of trying to find John Deere corn picker grease, use CV joint grease. This also is heavy bodied but flows to keep modern front wheel drive constant velocity U-joints lubricated well enough that they last for well over 100,000 miles unless a boot gets torn.

Excellent idea, and CV joint grease should be available at most any auto parts store.

[TerryO]

Don't use grease in a bush hog gear box. Don't ask me how I learned this.

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by CarlG

The rear bearings are not tapered, they are straight. It's the axle that is tapered in the rear.

the pinion and carirror bearings are timkin taperd rollers