Hey all, I've got a 1994 4Runner A/T 4WD and I'm replacing all the bushings in the front suspension. I've got my wheel hub off and mostly taken apart and same with the knuckle. I've been cleaning these up with a wire brush and brake clean and will eventually rustproof and paint them. However, I'm concerned that maybe little bits of rust and crud have contaminated the grease on the inside of these parts. I was considering cleaning out the grease and putting new stuff in and I'm curious what kind of grease this is? Is this wheel bearing grease? The wheel bearing grease I've got is red whereas the grease I see inside these components is yellow. Any idea what grease I should I use?


Here's the hub:



And the knuckle

 

Both the Steering Knuckle and Wheel bearing you can use NLGI #2 Moly Grease.

You do plan to repack the Wheel Bearings ?/

You do know How ?? If you don` have a bearing packer put the grease in the palm of your hand and work it into the big side of the bearing till it comes out the smaller end.

It takes some practice till you no longer need to think.

 

Thanks! I'll grab a bearing packer - this is my first time doing this so I would rather spend a bit more and have the peace of mind I got that grease where its post a go.

 

I've always packed mine by hand but I'd get one of those bearing packers if I did it more often than every few years it's a messy job by hand. Nice job cleaning up your parts BTW.

 

i agree about the packer. i've always done it by hand, but that equates to once every 5 to 8 years (per vehicle), so i don't see the economy of purchasing one. i also own a bunch of vehicles where i do service the wheel bearings - the 2 road worthy 4runners, my dodge 1.5 ton, the cj5, and the two volvo 240s - so i get a bit of practice doing it by hand.

and i echo craig's (wyoming9) thoughts: you ARE going to repack those bearings, aren't you? that is a standard maintenance item, and they are right there virtually ready for clean and repack. you would be remiss to not do it, thus it doesn't matter about grease that is there. use new, recommended grease in the bearings and cavity, and you should have great wheel bearing service.

 

Over the years I tried different bearing packers from Top of the line Snap On to the cheap ones hanging on the shelf at the local Autoparts.

I was never really happy with any of them for wheel bearings.

then a helper left them exposed to dirt or I never really took the time to look for them.

Till I wonder around hunting I can have them repacked and put back together.

 

What's the easiest way to replace the old races when replacing bearings? Last time I did it was back in the early 90s on my 4Runner and remember using an aluminum rod with a hammer to bang them out w/o scratching the bore. I am sure there's an easier way that I didn't know about back then.

 

Aluminum or brass drifts are the way. I've driven hundreds of races in and out with such.

There are tools with multiple sized mandrels that might be bought and used, sometimes in conjunction with a hydraulic press, but soft drifts have always served me.

Gotta pay attention so that no chaff interferes with laying the new races down true and flat. The sound changes when they're full down.

Freezing the new races helps a little. No biggie.

 

I have a piece of 1 inch diameter brass that I use.

 

it’s more important to avoid deforming the bore than scratching it. just don’t gouge it and it will be fine. because of the fleet of vehicles and trailers i’ve owned over the years with serviceable bearings, i’ve got a supply of various sized races to use to install new ones in the hubs.

 

Funny how those special application tools get acquired over the years.

Even more so with a 50Ton press!