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Full Floater Pack Bearings?

G

gtina

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Hello all,
i know this is probably a really dumb question, but please bear with me. :doah:

i'm putting back together a rear full floater dana 60. i am unsure if i should pack the bearings with grease or not. in a full floater doesn't the gear lube lubricate the wheel bearings? does this mean i don't need to pack them with grease?
i looked and the spicer axle service manual says the bearings "can be lubed either by axle grease or by rear-end gear lube". that doesn't answer my question. :(

If this was a front, i'd be packing them. i'm just not sure what to do with the rear.

Thanks in advance for help a gal out! :wink1:
 
No need to pack them. I just tilt the axle each way and turn the wheel a bit once fully assembled and the oil gets in there well enough to get going.
 
i guess that seems right.
i made a four phone calls between now and when i posted the question.
2 shops basically called me stupid and told me to pack them.
2 other shops told me to let the gear lube do the work.

so with your input i guess it makes it 3 to 2? i don't know. i will hold off an work on something else while i wait for more opinions

thanks guys, i try to be a hardworking gal in the shop but it is hard when you ned to ask dumb questions and can't get good definite answers.
 
I don't think it would hurt to pack them, It would certainly make me feel more comfortable
 
Ive never packed any of them Ive worked on, havent had an issue with em. I usually just shoot some gear oil into the hub before I button it all up.
 
k20 said:
Ive never packed any of them Ive worked on, havent had an issue with em. I usually just shoot some gear oil into the hub before I button it all up.
Click to expand...
I agree with this one. The book was referring to some older units that had seperator(special axle flange gasket that sealed the axletube from the hub) in the hub to keep the oil out of the hub. Those were the only full-float axles that had greased bearings. BTW, the above is how I've assembled (literally) thousands of big truck axles. It'll be fine with just oil.
Damn, I forgot to call you stupid like those idiots on the phone did.:D
 
British Slave said:
Pack them and be sure. It won't hurt them. It takes a little time for the gear oil to lube them.
Click to expand...
i might add a little, but it won't be a full pack job.
k20 said:
Ive never packed any of them Ive worked on, havent had an issue with em. I usually just shoot some gear oil into the hub before I button it all up.
Click to expand...
they are soaking in oil right now. i will add some when i put it back together.
throttleissues said:
I agree with this one. The book was referring to some older units that had seperator(special axle flange gasket that sealed the axletube from the hub) in the hub to keep the oil out of the hub. Those were the only full-float axles that had greased bearings. BTW, the above is how I've assembled (literally) thousands of big truck axles. It'll be fine with just oil.
Click to expand...
ok. thank you. this axle was originally from a later 70s Ford (I know :rolleyes:). So i don't think it has that special seal.
throttleissues said:
Damn, I forgot to call you stupid like those idiots on the phone did.:D
Click to expand...
i was quite embarrassed to post this i admit.
George_Pimpdaddy said:
No grease is okay if you make sure that they are bathed in oil prior. Heres a quick search with the same advise http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=261034&highlight=wheel+bearings+grease
Click to expand...
darn it i knew i should have not typed in dana 60 in the search. oh well. thank you!

thanks again guys!
 
I think the military manual on the says to pack them. Someone posted a copy of it. Did you check the 14 bolt bible as well?
 
so when I did my bearings a couple years back I decided to try to pack one side and not the other,

One side bearing is packed, the other side just put them in oil before I put them in.

3 yrs later I really can't tell which one I packed and which one I did not.

I say if packing makes you feel better, or if you just like the feel of grease:D pack away. If not no biggie
 
Bottom line is, bearings must have some form of lubrication when they are spun under load.

If they have enough gear oil on them to start with, and the hub has enough to keep them wet when you start, then all is well.

But, if there is a question about the oil getting to them right away, then a small amount of grease would not hurt.

The main problem with a heavy pack would be if you have a clutch-type posi-trac unit. The grease could change the friction coefficient of the oil and either cause slippage or chattering.
Or it just might make them work better....

Basically, you have the information you need to make a decision at this point, just do what you feel.

J.
 
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