Front wheel bearing tips on the WD?

Will Herring · Apr 7, 2019

Well, got the WDs fired up this weekend (I officially swear by using Stabil in the gas, btw), but now the winter project I never got to is staring me in the face... Installing the new front wheel bearings on the "wobbblier" one.

Also, I assume the "bearing spacer" must already be on the spindle, and I have to re-use it? As the kit comes with seven items, and I suspect that is not one of them (inner bearing and cup, outer bearing and cup, flat washer, cup washer, and seal).

Any other tips for cleaning stuff up or putting it all back together? I bought a bearing punch and a race and seal installer kit, so I hope I've got all the tools I need for this.

Also -- The best way to pack the new bearings with grease? I see it says don't pack the "center" with grease. I take it from reading the manual that the seal is supposed to go in dry, and not get greased up?

Steve@Advance · Apr 7, 2019

It's a pretty straight forward operation.

Yes, reuse the spacer.

When removing the bearing races, punch them out straight, punch one side, then the other, then the other until out. Same thing going in, keep them straight, be sure they bottom fully.

You'll want to "pack" the grease into the bearing. Put a glob of grease in the palm of your hand, hold the bearing with the wide end of the roller cage against your palm, and rake grease into cage area until you see it come out the other end of the rollers, keep turning the bearing until it is full all the way around.

The "center" they are talking about not filling with grease is the cavity inside the hub between the bearings.

The felt seals can go back dry. If the kit came with rubber seals, they will need a light wipe of grease on the lip.

When tightening the nut, it's best to go to the loose side when fitting the cotter pin. You don't want it tight.

caterpillar guy · Apr 8, 2019

So if he goes with the hub empty what keeps the grease in the bearing after a few turns? We always grease them then put some transmission oil in the cap to help keep it soft and to fill the hub some with some grease.

Steve@Advance · Apr 8, 2019

Good question!

I've never seen anything come from the factory with the entire cavity full of grease.

Somewhere, a long time ago, I read something about spindle service that warned not to fill the hub, as it tends to wind up the grease around the spindle and actually pull the grease out of the bearings! I find that hard to believe, but that's what it said...

I don't think it would really matter on a tractor, or anything without brakes. My concern with brakes is it would force past the seal and get on the brake surface.

Where I have seen the hub filled was on boat trailers, the ones with a Bearing Buddy cap. But I have also seen them with the seal blown out from over pressurizing, too much grease. It is still near impossible to keep water from being drawn in when the hot hub gets submerged in water.

4wdtom · Apr 8, 2019

The usual advise of not "over greasing bearings" refers to bearings run at high speeds. The friction of the grease in the bearing can cause it to over heat. In a tractor
wheel bearing that wouldn't apply as they never run that fast. What is the more usual recommendation for any similar bearing assembly is to fill the hub with grease up to
the level of the bearings. This keeps the bearings from throwing their grease out into the hub and provides a large reservoir of grease with a good supply of oil in it to
leach out into the bearing over time. It also leaves space for any excess grease in the bearing to flow out away from the bearing.

Brian G. NY · Apr 8, 2019

I've a packed a whole bunch of wheel bearings in the past 60 years or more, both automotive and tractors.
I've never seen an automotive manual tell you to fill the cavity with grease and they easily go 30,000 miles before needing repacking.
Steve has it right on how to pack the bearings and applying some grease to the seals.
I guess these old tractors should be able to go for a long, long
time before those wheel bearings need any lube.
Checking the bearings for looseness and adjusting if necessary is always a good thing.
Having said all this, my WD has grease fittings installed in the hubs.
My Dad and I rebuilt this tractor back in 1958 when I was in H.S. and I don't remember him installing those fittings.
' course I might have been in school that day or maybe not paying attention. LOL

Leroy · Apr 8, 2019

JD had them from factory and no body ever greased them.

Will Herring · Apr 13, 2019

Thanks for all the hot tips guys! Got sidetracked by the weather and being out of town and other side projects. Since I have so much slop in the front bearings, I guess I should be careful that the spindle or the hubs are not wallered out or scored. Will report back with pictures once I finally get in there. Thanks as always!

Front wheel bearing tips on the WD?

Will Herring

Well-known Member

Steve@Advance

Well-known Member

caterpillar guy

Well-known Member

Steve@Advance

Well-known Member

4wdtom

Well-known Member

Brian G. NY

Well-known Member

Leroy

Well-known Member

Will Herring

Well-known Member

Similar threads