Convert front grease hubs to oil hubs

[Sebulba]

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

[Nova Eona]

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.

[Sebulba]

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

[luvrbus]

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

[chessie4905]

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.

[dtcerrato]

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.

[windtrader]

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.

[Sebulba]

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

[tr206]

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.

[Sebulba]

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

[Sebulba]

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

[TomC]

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

[luvrbus]

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   

[chessie4905]

Good if you have factory manual.

[Sebulba]

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