Rear wheel bearings

[Redbird]

Are rear wheel bearings lubed by the differential fluid? Or do you pull the hubs and pack just like the front? I have never even thought about looking.

[Patrick L.]

They are lubed via a grease fitting. However, there can be problems with that so most prefer to remove, clean and repack them every now and again. I think 20K is fine.

[Redbird]

I have used the original grease gun on all the zerks, but wasn't sure what that one by the backing plate did lube.

[larrys40]

To do them properly it is best to remove the rear hubs and pack with a good heavy fiber grease. You will / Should need a good hub puller to pull the hubs/drums on the rear. You can pack the bearings by hand without removing the seal if you wish. Re-install and you should be good for many miles. Torque the rear axle nuts to 125 -150 lbs torque. Install a cotter key in the rear castle nut.

The fittings in the housing really weren't a great design to put grease into the hub bearing as it took many pumps to get it in there. Most of it went into the housing around the axle more than in the bearing area.

Larry Shepard

[SeaSlugs]

yea the ford method of greasing via zerk isnt the best, for sure way is do what others suggested and pack them by hand.

[1955cj5]

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You know, it seems that when you come up against a problem, in no time someone else has the same question...and the answer is there..

not 15 minutes ago I pulled my rear hub and wondered about the bearing lube...

Question answered!

Thanks!!

[Tom Endy]

By design the grease fittings on the rear backing plates were for injecting grease toward the rear wheel bearings. However, it was not one of Henry's better ideas.

The plan was that as grease is pumped in it piles up against the axle shaft and the grease seal located in the outboard end of the axle housing. The grease is then forced outboard and travels between the outside diameter of the axle and the space on the inside diameter of the bearing hub on the end of the axle housing. It then piles up against the grease seal inside the brake drum. Since it has nowhere else to go it is forced into the wheel bearing.

Most Model A's on the road today have not had the grease seal in the axle housing replaced since Henry put it there and it is non-existent. In this case grease pumped in through the grease fitting goes right past the seal and migrates down the axle shaft. As the axle turns it centrifuges the grease and it surrounds the axle shaft and grows in diameter by a couple inches and marches toward the differential.

The best bet is to pack the wheel bearing inside the drum with grease when the drum is off. If you pack it when you do a brake job it should suffice until the next time you remove the drum

The best grease to use is a long fiber wheel bearing grease. It can be had by ordering from a Napa store.

Tom Endy

[Tom Endy]

Attached photo of the best grease to use.

Tom Endy

[1955cj5]

Here is a photo of where the grease ends up..just as Tom E. said!