rlrnot 39 #1 Posted March 30, 2019 I believe there was a discussion about removal of the inner seal on front wheel bearings. I purchased new bearings and am considering removing the inner seal so that it can receive grease via the nipple on the wheel. I can not find post that discussed this. Should I remove this seal. Your help is appreciated. Thank you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JAinVA 4,629 #2 Posted March 30, 2019 The inner seal should be removed to allow grease to get to the balls in the bearing.The inner seal serves no purpose if zerk fittings are used.If there is no way to replenish the grease then they should be left in place. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,271 #3 Posted March 30, 2019 The wheel bearings are available with one seal or two. I would not attempt to remove the inner seal. If you use the double seal bearings remove the grease fitting and plug the hole with a 1/4-28 thread set screw and Loctite. If the fittings are left in the wheel there is a real good chance they will get greased and that will force the bearings out of the wheel. That is how I discovered the bearings were available with two seals. The inner seal will not allow grease into the bearing. Garry 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 17,568 #4 Posted March 30, 2019 (edited) Leave the seals and remove all of the messy grease. Those sealed bearings will last a long time without getting much dirt into them and you probably won't be the next guy replacing them. (Unless it works daily and you're 20 years old who plans to keep it forever) And even if you are the next guy, it's a clean easy and quick job without the mess of the grease all over. Edited March 30, 2019 by wallfish 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clueless 3,121 #5 Posted March 30, 2019 (edited) Just clean the the grease off the wheel and leave a nice coating of grease on the spindle, put the new bearing on. No more pumping gobs of grease just to get grease to both bearing. You can replace the grease fitting like Garry said If you tend to be forgetful, like me, or maybe selling it down the road. I've done this with all three of my workers, when you pull the wheel you will see just how much grease you use just to keep the bearing greased. I see Fish beat me to it. Edited March 30, 2019 by clueless 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rlrnot 39 #6 Posted April 4, 2019 Thanks for all of the replies. I have replaced the bearings, and being 69 years old, I left the seals intact. I won't be replacing them again. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
