How To Grease Your Wheel Bearings
Written by Highfive
Many people have wondered how to grease their wheel bearings. I've actually read in the forums where some folks say the WRR bearings are sealed....and you can't re-grease them. Indeed, they are sealed. Thank goodness they are sealed. But you most certainly...absolutely...without a doubt....CAN grease them. And I'm going to show you how right here & now.
This will be like Show-n-Tell....in video....without the background music....but in freeze frame. Ready - - - Action !
Remove the axle spacer. Then, remove the spacer seal...
Just whack the screwdriver handle with your hand and this spacer seal should pop right out. A tire iron works good too.
I've actually seen people just stuff a bunch of grease into this hollow space under my screwdriver tip, and think they have greased their wheel bearing. Sorry Charlie....that don't cut it.
Here's our real target....the actual bearing seal:
Now, you need a quality "pick tool" like this.
Get one from your local "tool store". The real store, not the cheap import store. Trust me....buy the more expensive one. Otherwise, you'll be breaking the little tip off and leaving it buried somewhere down inside your bearing. Hhhmmm.....wonder what might happen after that. Oh well, let's get to picking.
Carefully insert the tip of the pick tool along the internal diameter of the seal. Work it gently in a circle along the curve while prying upward.
Voila! This seal has a stiffening ring built into it. You can lay it on the floor and gently flatten it back out prior to re-installing.
Next up, get some quality waterproof grease like this:
Well....unless your just going to be riding around the street on sunny days only, and not snorkeling in the creeks like me. If that's the case, why did you buy a WRR? Just wondering...
I buy this grease at my local motorcycle shop. I usually mix a little anti-seize ointment into my grease too. Its an ancient Okie secret (cause we're taught to enjoy playing in the rain, as young-uns in No Man's Land).
Pack it with your finger into the bearing. Just mash it in there and work it around. If it won't take much, then I guess your bearing was already full of grease and you wasted your time....or maybe its something else. Its always something ain't it? "Something" is what'll keep you up at night. Just sayin.
That reminds me of a story. Once upon a time, not so very long ago, Texas Monty and I were on our way to Big Bend riding our KLR's, and he had this nagging blinker problem. It was keeping him awake at night....losing sleep over visions of total electrical failure. on The Other Side of Nowhere. Kind of like when you have one bolt leftover after reassembling your bike. You probably lose sleep over it. Anything remaining in my bucket is automatically classified as "weight loss". But I digress...
Put the seal back on the bearing and press it into place. You must feel it snap into the groove. Its a simple "press fit".
Then, run something over it around the circumference. I like to use the back of my pick tool and press firmly to make sure the seal is fit tight.
If your pick tool bends or breaks under this pressure....well pardner, you bought the cheap one. I warned you!
Finally, reinstall the spacer seal.
Be smart....use a soft hammer. Do it gently. You don't want to bash up your hub with a metal hammer.
All done!
Same basic procedure has worked on every dirt-worthy bike I've owned. I re-grease my wheel bearings every time I change the tires. More frequently when I've been riding in deep water and mud a lot. Its easy-peasy. You can do it...just like me!
HF
p.s. This is a good time to check my Sidewinder TI-2 sprocket for wear. After 6,000 miles, it looks terrific....no significant wear. Same goes for the 10,000 psi Smart Chain. We'll have another looksee when we pass 12,000 miles.