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Question for one of the professional auto mechanic members

Discussion in 'Hangout Lounge' started by bigfitz52, Mar 8, 2014.

  1. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    This is a question for one of the many professional auto mechanics we have in our midst:

    I'm replacing the rear wheel bearing/hub assemblies on my VW. They're a "sealed unit, requiring no attention" but I have a concern in regard to lubrication.

    When I did the ones on my Dodge Caravan, they were indeed a completely sealed unit, so I just bolted them up.

    On the VW, despite being a "sealed" unit, the outer bearing is open on one side, the outside. (It gets a pressed in sealed cap once mounted.)

    My question is this: Should I (additionally) lube the new hub assembly? Obviously, all I could do would be to force grease into the one open side, and being a dual-bearing assembly this would have no affect on the inner bearing (which is sealed as far as I can tell; at least on the backside it is.)

    There is obviously some grease "pre-installed" in the new unit but do I need to pack some more in from the one open side, or no?

    No guessing or making stuff up, please. I'm a very experienced DIY "shade tree" mechanic; I need an answer from somebody who does this for a living.
     
    bigfitz52, Mar 8, 2014
    #1
  2. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    before you can change wheel bearings you need to make sure your valves are in spec and check the brakes for delamination.
    we would also need to know the year and model your working on.
    shop manuals are available, get one, you need it.
    :)
     
    Polock, Mar 8, 2014
    #2
  3. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Oh, believe me I have one. $108.00 and it's 3 inches thick; but it doesn't have the answer to my question.

    Like a lot of factory service manuals, it leaves out the stuff that it assumes a trained dealership mechanic would know. And I'm not using factory parts.
     
    bigfitz52, Mar 8, 2014
    #3
  4. mtnbikecrazy55

    mtnbikecrazy55 Active Member

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    I don't do it for a living but I've always done the service on my sister's VW's and I've never packed any of her wheel bearings with additional grease and we've had no issues.

    I know thats not quite the answer you're looking for, but I figured i could at least share my personal experience.
     
    mtnbikecrazy55, Mar 8, 2014
    #4
  5. adrian1

    adrian1 Active Member

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    :lol: :lol:
     
    adrian1, Mar 8, 2014
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  6. FtUp

    FtUp Well-Known Member

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    Re: Question for one of the professional auto mechanic membe

    if you do ad more grease, make sure it is the same type. if you ad a different type of grease, you could cause premature failure. probably best to not mess with it.

    CN
     
    FtUp, Mar 8, 2014
    #6

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