Thread: Rear wheel bearings

Originally Posted by DassaW

Guys while im asking questions, I have a quick one about rear wheel bearings on a disco. To run the rear wheel bearings in oil, all I need to do is remove the axle shaft seal which is in the back of the stub axle, and then replace the inner hub grease seal with the better oil seal? Then top up my diff to normal oil height.
Where the inner hub seal will sit on the stub axle it has a few grooves in it, will this make the oil seal leak? if so should i be putting on one of those speedy sleeves or whatever they are?

any info or advice would be appreciated.

Cheers

Darren

Yep speedy sleeve is your friend

Where can I buy these speedi sleeves from??

Originally Posted by DassaW

Where can I buy these speedi sleeves from??

SKF

Most bearing shops sell the sleeves.

I've been down this path ....
I can now change/service whatever my rear wheel hubs/bearings/seals with my eyes closed.

I bought maxi drive axles and decided to go with oiled wheel bearings.
Had all the right seals etc. .... oil leaks due to grooves in stub axles. ... buy speedie sleeves at $62.00 EACH and re-do the whole job (put new seals in as well to be sure).

Still have intermittent oil leak - undo everything to check - find that speedie sleeves are rotating with oil seals (the stub axles were quite worn) - epoxy sleeves to stub axles - re asssemble with NEW seals.

Still have intermittent oil leak on left side. - Buy NEW stub axle $150 and re assemble with another new seal. Finally fixed.

Right side develops intermittent leak - - buy second new stub axle and oil seal and replace.

NO MORE LEAKS!!

My suggestion? just buy new stub axles and do the job ONCE.

Well, not wanting to be a smart arse, if you have the common steel rims (and no alloys) the little rubber cap over the central hub seals perfectly well, especially if you prime it with some silicone around the edge. Has been working a treat on my Disco for years now.

JoJo, thats all fine and proper for doing the front bearings which I have already done and are running in oil, but cant do that on the rears. Hmmm, wha ralph says does make a lot of sense, but too late now, I already did them today, and if they leak I may just convert them back to grease. Only time will tell.

Why is it that when Land Rover put in oil filled bearings we want to change them to grease filled i.e swivell joints, Then when they put in grease filled bearings we want to change them to oil filled. WE ARE A STRANGE LOT OF PEOPLE. Maybe why the manufacturers can't understand the Land Rover owner repurchase rate.