oil lubed wheel bearing question

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Originally Posted by schuy1

Got Maxi drive axles and hubs on rear about 10 years ago and converted to oil lubed( pulled the inner seals) and yes I found that with standard oil level in the diff the drivers bearing will not get lubed! I add at least 500ml extra to get it to do the job. I suspect the road camber is not letting the oil slosh up the tube enough , plus the oil bung level is low as factory it is not required to lube the bearings. So in summery as Rick says add extra and all is good
Cheers Scott

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Good points re: camber

Wil have to park facing down a hill to overfill the diff

Well if it has not failed in 150,000 it's not going to I guess but I must say I have not looked at the filler plug in relation to the axel tube so maybe a bit of extra oil down the tube before fitting the axel might be the ticket just jack one Side up so the tube is the highest point and tip it in wouldn't go over bored tho

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Originally Posted by weeds

Good points re: camber

Wil have to park facing down a hill to overfill the diff

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I used to jack whatever side was the same side as the filler hole up to overfill the diff, but since installing the big cast diff cover with the high mount filler six or seven years ago it's dead easy to add another 1/2 to 1 litre.
I'm pretty sure the last time I filled the diff I added 3.5 litres.

A bit more would have to help in warmer weather too

Now I am almost certain that by suggesting this the sky WILL fall in....

When ever I have converted to oiled bearings, I drill a 5mm hole between the bearing races of the stub axle on the underside.

Most likely unnecessary but I figure it will get oil to the inner bearing much more efficiently than having to work its way there. I also lightly pre-grease the races before install.

(Funny, just as I type this it has started flogging down with rain - perhaps the sky is going to fall???)

Anyways, never had a drama with poor lube. I have a feeling in the old Maxidrive installation instructions this was a recommendation but it was so long ago that I first did it I cant remember?

Steve

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Originally Posted by roverrescue

Now I am almost certain that by suggesting this the sky WILL fall in....

When ever I have converted to oiled bearings, I drill a 5mm hole between the bearing races of the stub axle on the underside.

Most likely unnecessary but I figure it will get oil to the inner bearing much more efficiently than having to work its way there. I also lightly pre-grease the races before install.

(Funny, just as I type this it has started flogging down with rain - perhaps the sky is going to fall???)

Anyways, never had a drama with poor lube. I have a feeling in the old Maxidrive installation instructions this was a recommendation but it was so long ago that I first did it I cant remember?

Steve

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if maxi instruction suggested drilling a hole than i would have therefore i don't th ink it was in my instructions

after not having any oil in the hubs i thought a hole in the stub would assist but the outer bearings grease was still in tact so the oil is not getting to the outside bearing even........maybe fully greasing them is stopping the oil transferring through the bearings?

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Originally Posted by roverrescue

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When ever I have converted to oiled bearings, I drill a 5mm hole between the bearing races of the stub axle on the underside..........................

Steve

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I only drill a 3mm hole, I oil but don't grease bearings while fiting, don't bother with overfilling diff (after initial top up) and havent had a wheel bearing or axle/drive member spline problem since first doing the oil lube conversions almost 20 years ago.
I don't experience much oil draining from hub when checking but put this down to the fact that the side being checked is usually jacked up higher than the other side.

One point to watch though when running oil lubed wheel bearings is that if your diff oil becomes contaminated (maybe as a result of water crossings or the like) then it's wise to drain and check/service the wheel bearings as well as the diff.