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About overgreasing front hubs

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Nolan

06-03-1999 06:04:51

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While hunting some other information down, I stumbled across this page on greases. This really caught my eye, especially for the fella here that was thinking of installing a zerk fitting on his front hubs. I'm not saying this is correct, or not. I know nothing of the source. It's simply something for thought that I considered worth passing on to others here.

"The over-packing and over-greasing of bearings accounts for more failures than any other factor. Excess grease in a bearing cavity increases internal friction, which in turn raises the bearing temperature above the dropping point of the grease. This causes oil separation and eventually lack of lubrication. When packing a split housing pillow block bearing ensure that the grease cavity is only one-third full."

Grease article

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Chris in VA

06-04-1999 05:10:36

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Re: About overgreasing front hubs in reply to Nolan, 06-03-1999 06:04:51

Actually, the article is correct if you look at the specific issues. If you over-grease a bearing where the excess cannot be "squeezed out" as it heats and expands, it can lead to rapid premature failure in both ball/roller and pillow block/babbit type bearings. I spent 3 years in the Navy inspecting engineering systems on both new and old ships, and found many new pumps and motors with ruined bearings from being over-greased. Many bearing systems have seals that prevent grease from expanding and escaping without damaging the seal. This type of bearing system often has a plug that is supposed to be removed when adding new grease to allow the old grease to be pushed out. The trailers that I have had with "Buddy Bearing" devices have all allowed the excess grease to be pushed out past a simple dust shield, and not a much tighter grease seal. The bottom line is that it depends on the design of the bearing system. If there is no place for the grease to go when it heats and expands, it will blow out the seals or build up pressure and heat leading to premature bearing failure. If every issue had only one correct answer, we wouldn't learn near as much or have as much fun!
Chris Fair
'47 8N
Spotsylvania VA

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Rick B.

06-03-1999 17:35:28

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Re: About overgreasing front hubs in reply to Nolan, 06-03-1999 06:04:51

I tend to be leery of info that does not reference sources, or even list its author. There is probably some good data in the link, but for example, they list the variables governing relube intervals for bearings, then give a chart using only shaft diameter & speed as criteria for determining the interval. Of course, I post here & other places anonymously..... ..... ..

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raytasch

06-03-1999 10:03:50

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Re: About overgreasing front hubs in reply to Nolan, 06-03-1999 06:04:51

I am sure the author did his research on pillow block bearings but if I were incline to install a grease fitting on my "high speed" N hubs I would do it. IMO it would be helpful to purge the old grease and or water and or sand from the hubs.
ray

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Po Folks

06-03-1999 09:37:50

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Re: About overgreasing front hubs in reply to Nolan, 06-03-1999 06:04:51

The other day I was greasing an N and noticed water was coming out in front of the grease. I prefer grease to water in my N's, so I think I'll keep the parts full of(90wt?)grease.

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Rich Koehler(OH)

06-03-1999 09:23:04

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Re: About overgreasing front hubs in reply to Nolan, 06-03-1999 06:04:51

Hmmm -- interesting thought, but I find myself thinking about the "Bearing Buddies" designed for boat trailers which have a zerk and a spring loaded cap to ensure that the bearing is always filled with grease to keep the water out when launching the boat. Given the usual small size of trailer wheels and the fact that they travel at highway speeds much of the time, I would think that they would be a prime setup for the situation you describe, yet I never had any trouble. Anyone else have experience with this?

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Tim C

06-03-1999 20:00:28

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Re: Re: About overgreasing front hubs in reply to Rich Koehler(OH), 06-03-1999 09:23:04

I have an 8000 pound travel trailer which I equipped with bearing buddies several years ago. I did it primarily to ensure that the bearings were well lubed all the time, since I've seen a lot of trailers parked along the interstate with bad bearings.

I've never had any kind of problems with the wheel bearings, and they almost always run cool, even with about a ton on each one of them. So I tend to discount the article as based in theory rather than practice.

I do appreciate Nolan posting it, and I hope we see more of this. Regardless of the position taken, it's always interesting to read articles like this, and even if you disagree it makes you think.

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dave#1

06-03-1999 19:36:55

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Re: Re: About overgreasing front hubs in reply to Rich Koehler(OH), 06-03-1999 09:23:04

Now that's a good point ! Little trailer tires are turn'n about a ka-zillion miles an hour, and the only failures I've run across are cases where they were "never greased !, In my book, you can never have to much grease !

later,dave

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Merv

06-05-1999 21:12:12

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Re: Re: Re: About overgreasing front hubs in reply to dave#1, 06-03-1999 19:36:55

I have a '53 Golden Jubilee. I put grease fittings in the front hub covers (caps) since I used to do a lot of road running to and fro from various jobs. I liked being able to get lots of grease into the front bearings. After 46 years I haven't had to replace any front bearings yet. (Touch Wood)

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