Hello all,
I am wondering about the difficulty and advantages to changing my front hubs to oil hubs. Is it complicated? What are the advantages of disadvantages? To me an advantage is being able to see the oil level and that they are being lubricated.
Thanks
Seb
I think I actually did the reverse a few years ago, switching my fronts from oil to grease when they started leaking. I don't recall all the thought that went into it, but I think it came down to grease being a better option for a vehicle that spends a lot of time sitting.
Quote from: Nova Eona on August 14, 2023, 02:41:25 PM
I think I actually did the reverse a few years ago, switching my fronts from oil to grease when they started leaking. I don't recall all the thought that went into it, but I think it came down to grease being a better option for a vehicle that spends a lot of time sitting.
Thanks Rob,
Then with that in mind maybe I need to keep grease. One reason I was considering it is that my grease hubs are leaking a bit. After driving for a few hundred miles there is grease outside the center hub. Maybe I should take them apart and regrease and seal the hubs better.
Seb
You need to repack the bearing every 30,000 miles with grease you have any idea when they were packed ?heat will make a grease pack bearing sling grease
Good quality greases nowadays resist heat breakdown. Since repack every 30k, how many are driving that much anymore. That's close to $25k for many. But oil can leak and soak lining and rendering braking significantly reduced, especially on 2 axle coaches.
We've been greasing our bus and everything that needs grease from a 5 gal. bucket of Kendall Super Blue grease that Dad gave us 50 years ago. Never an issue with any greased bearings in all that time.
OMG Dan! Did you know that stuff sells for $100 an ounce. Dude, put in little bottles and sell it. It'll pay for your grip to Napanese.
Quote from: luvrbus on August 14, 2023, 05:53:59 PM
You need to repack the bearing every 30,000 miles with grease you have any idea when they were packed ?heat will make a grease pack bearing sling grease
I have no idea, bought the bus 21 months ago. so have no ideas when last repacked. I do shoot the hubs with a thermometer when we stop and nothing seems to be overly hot. All read about the same, can't remember the number. Tomorrow traveling so will take note of temp.
Thanks
Seb
I converted all the wheels to gear lube on the bus don't like semi fluid grease or wheel bearing grease way to messy and time consuming to clean. I'm a mechanic for a trucking company I got to tell you trailers with semi fluid grease in the wheel bearings is got to be the worst crap to work with cleanup is a pain in the @$# that stuff will also leak out of a bad seal no problem. I don't see any advantage to using it. It's also really expensive. Most guys up here with semi fluid grease in the wheel bearings will go back to gear lube at the 100,000 mile service interval because of the cost of the grease and labor to clean it all out. Wheel bearing grease you have to repack too often like Luvrbus said around 30,000 miles. just my two cents.
Quote from: tr206 on August 15, 2023, 07:27:32 PM
I converted all the wheels to gear lube on the bus don't like semi fluid grease or wheel bearing grease way to messy and time consuming to clean. I'm a mechanic for a trucking company I got to tell you trailers with semi fluid grease in the wheel bearings is got to be the worst crap to work with cleanup is a pain in the @$# that stuff will also leak out of a bad seal no problem. I don't see any advantage to using it. It's also really expensive. Most guys up here with semi fluid grease in the wheel bearings will go back to gear lube at the 100,000 mile service interval because of the cost of the grease and labor to clean it all out. Wheel bearing grease you have to repack too often like Luvrbus said around 30,000 miles. just my two cents.
I appreciate that, thanks
Seb
Hello all,
Well, on our journey From Enid, OK to Aurora, NE I shot my hubs after about 4 hours of driving was as follows:
Steers 108 115
Drives 128
Tags 112
Of course I am heading toward repacking them. I'm guessing the steers and tags are the easiest to start with?
I'm thinking that these aren't any numbers to be concerned with?
Thanks
Seb
Virtually all front axles on big rig trucks are oil. As said, it is nice to be able to see the level of the oil.Good Luck, TomC
Quote from: Sebulba on August 18, 2023, 08:38:22 AM
Hello all,
Well, on our journey From Enid, OK to Aurora, NE I shot my hubs after about 4 hours of driving was as follows:
Steers 108 115
Drives 128
Tags 112
Of course I am heading toward repacking them. I'm guessing the steers and tags are the easiest to start with?
I'm thinking that these aren't any numbers to be concerned with?
Thanks
Seb
I hope you know how to check the bearing runout (end play)people sure screw it up and it cost them tires,the Stemco method is the easiest and is accurate if done right
Good if you have factory manual.
Quote from: luvrbus on August 18, 2023, 04:46:20 PM
I hope you know how to check the bearing runout (end play)people sure screw it up and it cost them tires,the Stemco method is the easiest and is accurate if done right
I am not sure about that. I have done bearings on all kinds of cars and trucks including my F-350, but willing to read and learn.
Thanks for the heads up
Seb
Quote from: chessie4905 on August 19, 2023, 06:08:55 AM
Good if you have factory manual.
Yes, I know. I would prefer paper, I guess. Suggestions?
Seb
Quote from: TomC on August 18, 2023, 04:24:12 PM
Virtually all front axles on big rig trucks are oil. As said, it is nice to be able to see the level of the oil.Good Luck, TomC
That was my thinking on changing over -- being able to see the level, but our rig does sit for some months at a time, so maybe not the best approach.
Seb
Quote from: Sebulba on August 18, 2023, 08:38:22 AM
Hello all,
Well, on our journey From Enid, OK to Aurora, NE I shot my hubs after about 4 hours of driving was as follows:
Steers 108 115
Drives 128
Tags 112
Of course I am heading toward repacking them. I'm guessing the steers and tags are the easiest to start with?
I'm thinking that these aren't any numbers to be concerned with?
Thanks
Seb
Your drives looking at the numbers are probably still gear lube and not packed grease, the axles carry the gear lube from the 3rd member over to the hub bearings for the lubrication
Quote from: luvrbus on August 19, 2023, 12:48:19 PM
Your drives looking at the numbers are probably still gear lube and not packed grease, the axles carry the gear lube from the 3rd member over to the hub bearings for the lubrication
Gotcha, That was the way my F-350 was. Very critical to keep 3rd member oil level correct then. I lost a rear bearing in my F-350 due to low differential oil level.
Getting new drive tires today. That would be a good time to check and top off the gear lube :D.
Can you advise me on what oil to put in the 3rd member? 75 90 gear lube?
As a side note, the drive hubs don't appear to be seeping any oil, they are clean.
Thanks
Seb
The seeping lube that is deadly, is the leak on the inside, where the seal is.
If you can see it, the brakes are already soaked...
If I had grease, I'd be keeping it.
I have oil, and will struggle with the decision to switch.
happy coaching!
buswarrior