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How Much Grease and How Often ?[240-260/89] posted by Mark on
Thursday, 23 April 1998, at 6:53 p.m.
How much grease and how often should I put into the front wheel bearings on my 240DL brick? The manual doesn't say anything about any periodic maintenance or lubrication of the front wheel bearings, but I noticed that grease vanishes within few months so I put some to keep the bearings happy,not to mention to avoid losing a wheel or two on the freeway. Can somebody offer me some words of wisdom on this? Thanks.
Mark
biannual or 24k is the book....[240-260/89] posted by JohnB on
Friday, 24 April 1998, at 9:52 a.m.
but once every two years or 24k is excessive in my book...I've checked the front wheel bearings on wifey's 87 760t and it's been over 75k since they were lubed.
If you're losing lube the bearing seal is gone.
Pull the hub and remove the inner grease seal...be prepared with a new one!
Remove the bearings/cages and wash them out with kerosene or your solvent of choice. Do not spin with air gun. Check inner/outer races and bearings for checking, spalling, corrosion. If found, replace them...you'll need to see a machine shop or get busy with a drift to get the outer races out of the hub...I've generally been able to tap new races in the hub...YMMV.
Old days front wheel bearings used to be noisy/toast by 100k...today who knows, better greases, better bearings. Whatever.
Pack the bearings by hand before you reassemble the hub....and DON'T fill the recess between inner and outer bearings with grease. It just expands and blows out the inner seal. Bearings can be packed by putting a golf-ball sized piece of grease in the palm of one hand and pressing the edge of a bearing/cage assembly into the grease with your other hand until the grease works its way into the bearing and out through the cage. Slather grease over the cage/bearing and install in the inner position, tap in new grease seal, install on spindle, install outer bearing (which you've already greased) and readjust bearings.
SEveral ways...I usually tighten nut until bearing drags, back off nut to first open hole and reinstall cotter key. Follow book if skittish.