Filling spindles/hubs with grease

nick c · Mar 5, 2012

I was picking up some new wheel bearings to put my front end back together, and an old timer at the local parts shop got to talking to me.

he said when he was into "Jeepin" (his term) he would install a zerk fitting in the hub so he could fill the assembly with grease, to help keep water out.

Now once I realized this guy wasn't Tranny Frank/Backwoods Goop, I started wondering if anyone has done it and had any success?

here's where he's telling me to add the fitting, the idea seems like it would work in theory, if its full of grease it can't fill with water.

skinny_pedal · Mar 5, 2012

Don't see why not? Do it

ChopTop84 · Mar 5, 2012

Used to do it on the rear axle of Banshee four wheelers. Would drill a hole in the swing arm axle carrier, screw in a zerk and pump away! Kept sand/water etc from getting into the rear axle bearings. They were a greasy mess to take apart, but you didnt have to do it nearly as often!

pokey · Mar 5, 2012

use a flush zerk and boat grease and yes it works to a point.

super samurai · Mar 5, 2012

so, you would just notch the wheel to fit over the zerk?
seems like a good camel trophy style trick!

crash2 · Mar 5, 2012

There are a couple ways I would do it Nick. If you used a flush mount type you would have to install it between the end of the wheel stud and where the wheel seats against the hub because any farther out the flush mount have a little edge on them and you could easily forget about it and knock the top off.

The other option is to countersink it into the hub below the surface.

1982cj7 · Mar 5, 2012

You have to be careful not to put too much or the springs that operate the gear on the inside of the hub will not slide the gear into place, espcially in cold weather. Most people used that trick when they had closed knuckle front ends and they filled the knuckle with grease to keep out the water.

nick c · Mar 6, 2012

1982cj7 said:
You have to be careful not to put too much or the springs that operate the gear on the inside of the hub will not slide the gear into place, espcially in cold weather. Most people used that trick when they had closed knuckle front ends and they filled the knuckle with grease to keep out the water.

No worries, running drive flanges. Not a selectable hub so I'm good there.

nick c · Mar 6, 2012

super samurai said:
so, you would just notch the wheel to fit over the zerk?
seems like a good camel trophy style trick!

I think I'd just run a plug in it normally and put a fitting in when I need to grease it, same way I do my ball joints and the joints on my lower links.

CHOP SHOP · Mar 6, 2012

Sounds like a waste of grease and towels to me.

Little grease + water = nasty bearings

LOTS of grease + water = nasty bearings with LOTS of grease stuck between them to clean up.

Also sounds like a good way to blow out the seals like the dumb boat/bearing buddy folks always do.