Wheel bearings

[NJV6]

Any tips for keeping water out? I have to do bearings now about every 6 months if I don't repack them after each trip where I have been in water, and for us, that is every trip, the novelty wears thin pretty quick. Never used to have trouble with water getting in.

Should you grease the surface that the seal runs against on the stub? Some say do, some say don't....

[zukmeista]

I always grease the lip of a seal that is in contact with a moving part, surely it would wear out much quicker if you didn't?

[kbjj]

I always put a little grease on seal 'lips' and wipe the external face clean so it dosn't collect dust/grit. Rubber on a polished face needs a little lube.

[Big]

Ask Al Glen, he has got positive air into his zuk front axles and it works a treat..

[churchill]

Strange, most manufacturers seal bearings very well. Have you tried replacing the seals with new ones? What's the surface the seal runs on like? If it's pitted or grooved and doesn't clean up with 400 grit sand paper it'll need replacing. Also check there's no water path from the locking hub/drive flange through to the bearings. Try using silicon on them to seal them up.

You should always lubricate seal lips on installation.

[nicinnz]

I took my free wheeling hubs off and went back to drive flanges, no more problem with water in bearings, water was getting in through the back of the hub on the CV seal, the free wheel hubs didn't hold the CVs in tight enough and had problems with the cir clips, good riddance to the free wheeling hubs, go back to the simple drive flanges