14 boltFF wheel bearing lubercation

[4X4HIGH]

Not sure why people decide to grease these bearings when they aren't suppose to have grease in them. If they were supposed to be greased GM would have made the axle different and greased them. Grease and gear oil will not mix just for your info. Gear oil is carried down the axleshaft and into the hub and bearings.

 

[goldwing2000]

If they were supposed to be greased GM would have made the axle different and greased them.

Yeah, that's why the FSM says to grease them.

 

[neverendingproject]

I picked yes only cause the previous owner of my 14ff had put grease on the bearings and when I pulled the cover, it looked like tomato soup. I dont know if will hurt anything, but it just didnt look right to me.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Yeah, that's why the FSM says to grease them.

Why don't you do us all a favor and post up from the FSM for everyone to see. Make sure you post pics of the FSM cover also so we all know it is legit.

 

[6.2Blazer]

Packing the bearings with grease won't hurt anything.......assuming you pack them correctly. If you just smear some grease on the outside of them and thus prevent any gear oil from getting in side then sure, they may fry.

On mine, I have never used any grease on the bearings. However I always soak them with gear oil prior to assembly to make sure they have some lube to start out with. I have never had any problems doing it this way.

As mentioned, it takes a little bit of time for the oil to travel from the pumpkin out to the wheel ends if you start with dry hubs and bearings. I saw a guy many years ago who slapped in new bearings in a 14FF without any prelube thinking the gear oil would work it's way down to them.......well, it did but the bearings were shot first.

 

[goldwing2000]

Why don't you do us all a favor and post up from the FSM for everyone to see. Make sure you post pics of the FSM cover also so we all know it is legit.

Why don't you do yourself a favor, buy your own FSM and see for yourself?

 

[MuddinManny]

This is exactly what I mean. This debate only ends in a pissing contest which is not necessary. Bottom line: grease will not harm the differential in the quantity that is put in the hub and bearings. Oil will not displace grease which is a oil compound. Only the turning of the bearings will create the churning that may mix the gear lube with bearing grease. C'mon guys, this is a common sense issue and doesn't need to turn into a Democrat vs. Republican debate. They never serve anyones interest. If you want to fry your bearings waiting for the gear oil to do the job, that's your business. If you want to be safe, grease the snot out of it.

Btw, if you don't have the ability to copy info and share it, that is one thing, but to cop an attitude, when someone simply asks for data is another. This topic needs to chill out!

Sand.....sand.....too much sand!

Manny

 

[goldwing2000]

Btw, if you don't have the ability to copy info and share it, that is one thing, but to cop an attitude, when someone simply asks for data is another.

Telling someone to prove information that is readily available and then requiring a picture of the cover of the book it came from is not "simply asking for data". That, my friend, is copping an attitude.

To which it was responded in kind.

Like you said:

If you want to fry your bearings waiting for the gear oil to do the job, that's your business. If you want to be safe, grease the snot out of it.

I'm not going to jump through anybody's hoops to prove a point. Grease them or don't. Read the factory manual or don't. Light your truck on fire or don't. I don't much care either way.

 

[MuddinManny]

Telling someone to prove information that is readily available and then requiring a picture of the cover of the book it came from is not "simply asking for data". That, my friend, is copping an attitude.

To which it was responded in kind.

Like you said:


I'm not going to jump through anybody's hoops to prove a point. Grease them or don't. Read the factory manual or don't. Light your truck on fire or don't. I don't much care either way.

Hey Goldwing,

I went back to read 4x4's post. My interpretation of what he asked for was to show which FSM it came from because like it has come up in other posts, especially mine concerning the torque on the D60 spindle nuts, manuals can change from year to year. I won't read into his statements attitude but I'm sure he just wanted what you were quoting so it could be verified. Not that he didn't believe you, but again that the source hadn't changed through the years. I can see how you feel that his request was "copping". One thing I have learned is not to try and read into internet. It's black and white and there is no way to put the "grey" matter into it, unless it's point blank!

This debate causes too much trouble. It's the proverbial wolf. You hold it by the ears, dare not let it go, for it'll bite you, but you need to let it go because of the harm it causes.

No hard feelings. I'm just trying to stop this before it get's hot over something that isn't required.

Manny

 

[4X4HIGH]

Why don't you do yourself a favor, buy your own FSM and see for yourself?

Let me first start by saying, i don't need a FSM to work on my rig. I have been working on cars/trucks for 29 years now and have the common sense about things and how they work and what could happen in certain instances.

Like Manny said, i was only wanting to know which book your info is coming from as I've seen FSM and never seen that in any of them before.

Also when installing the bearings if you soak the bearings in oil before installing them they will not burn up before the diff lube reaches them. I know that not every person thinks about this when doing bearings and those people are the ones who will have trouble if they aren't reading a book somewhere with some kind of info in it.

I'm not here to start a pissing match and that was never my intentions. Apparently you are having an issue with me and that's your god given right to do so but no need to bring it into this post or anyone else's post.

 

[mostwanted]

AND--I never ment for this to turn into an argument. I was just curious to know what everyones thoughts were. I think that I will soak the bearings in 90w and squirt a little extra in the hub before installation. A little extra 90w in the hub will stay in the hub and make packing the bearings redundant.

Another question for those with the proper manuals: How much 90w does a 14 boltFF with 10.5" ring gear call for? How about a dana 44 or a dana60?

 

[Blazer79]

Don't grease them, fill the diff, then before moving the truck, jack one side as high as you can, then the other side. This way you can have prelubed bearings with oil instead of grease and no risk of frying bearings.

 

[goldwing2000]

*shrug* It's all good. Like I said, it doesn't matter to me one way or the other.

I've been working on cars for around 20 years and been a certified master mechanic for 11 but I still buy a FSM for every vehicle I own.
If nothing else, it's nice to have all the torque specs and capacities.
And it's always good to know the recommended way of doing things so you can find viable shortcuts!

 

[DaPlumber]

Fill the diff, then before moving the truck, jack one side as high as you can, then the other side. This way you can have prelubed bearings with oil instead of grease and no risk of frying bearings. Don't end up like I did!!!

 

[rustyear]

K..rear axle bearing lube...listen up..you need to lube em the SAME AS THE FRONTS! THEY ARE NO DIFFERENT! same item, same job to do...this idea that they are lubed with diff lube that runs down the tubes is a myth...sure, some will make its way to the bearings but it's sporadic and cannot be counted on for reg lube. clean em, pack em like the fronts, set em up right and you will have no probs. from big rigs to bicycles, RTFI...(read the fn instructions)...but if you dont have a manual, always lube em when you install em....from semi-retired prof mechanic

 

[sweetk30]

wow and all this for a thread from 2007

when i do them i put a thin coat of grease on the bearing not packed in. this works till the oil gets there. not had 1 failure yet.

 

[black dawg]

the bearings need pre lubed, just like any bearing.

I have personally seen pre lubed bearings get roasted, on a completely re built diff. When I filled it with 90w, I just pumped 90w into it till it just started to run out, and then put the plug in.

what I have learned to do, is pump them overfull, and put the plug back in and let the gear lube settle. after a few minutes I pull the plug and top it off. I have seen them take over another 1/2 quart doing it this way.

 

[imiceman44]

the bearings need pre lubed, just like any bearing.

I have personally seen pre lubed bearings get roasted, on a completely re built diff. When I filled it with 90w, I just pumped 90w into it till it just started to run out, and then put the plug in.

what I have learned to do, is pump them overfull, and put the plug back in and let the gear lube settle. after a few minutes I pull the plug and top it off. I have seen them take over another 1/2 quart doing it this way.

The best way to make sure the bearings get enough oil is to lift one side up and let it fill up then top off and the same on the other side and top off.
It's actually how the instructions are for big rigs.