Bearing cap eroding?

[jabborabbo]

Can the axle cap be installed wrong? I took off in my truck a while back and heard rattling in the front right wheel - took the hubcap off and the cap had come off, and there were tiny metal specks visible in the bearing grease - both bearings seem fine…the cap had specks inside it:

[v30crewcab]

better look closer at your bearings. sounds like one is getting eaten up.

[jabborabbo]

Originally Posted by v30crewcab

better look closer at your bearings. sounds like one is getting eaten up.

That was my first thought - but there aren’t any metal specks in either of them….

And there wasn’t any squealing….

[Steeveedee]

I think V30 is correct. I'd be for taking it apart for a real close inspection.

[mr48chev]

Make sure that someone didn't trim the cotter key wrong and that it wasn't rubbing in the cap.

Still inspecting and repacking the wheel bearings is just periodic maintenance and if you do it in far less miles than you planned it is just an hour of your time and a little bit of wheel bearing grease.

I'd pull the bearings out, wipe them off with a shop towel and inspect them and properly pack them and reinstall them. Absolutely do not wash them with solvent unless you fully intend to replace them. The solvent never gets out of the bearing and won't allow the grease to stick to the bearing surfaces right. I was taught that 60 years ago as an automechanics student in high school and have followed it and do not have wheel bearing trouble that doesn't have a different cause. In all the years I was doing brakes for a living I never had a car come back with bad wheel bearing after I serviced the bearings.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Make sure that someone didn't trim the cotter key wrong and that it wasn't rubbing in the cap.

Still inspecting and repacking the wheel bearings is just periodic maintenance and if you do it in far less miles than you planned it is just an hour of your time and a little bit of wheel bearing grease.

I'd pull the bearings out, wipe them off with a shop towel and inspect them and properly pack them and reinstall them. Absolutely do not wash them with solvent unless you fully intend to replace them. The solvent never gets out of the bearing and won't allow the grease to stick to the bearing surfaces right. I was taught that 60 years ago as an automechanics student in high school and have followed it and do not have wheel bearing trouble that doesn't have a different cause. In all the years I was doing brakes for a living I never had a car come back with bad wheel bearing after I serviced the bearings.

Never heard that said about cleaning bearings .
In 50 plus years never had a problem cleaning bearings in lacquer thinner let them dry and repack .

[jabborabbo]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Make sure that someone didn't trim the cotter key wrong and that it wasn't rubbing in the cap.

Still inspecting and repacking the wheel bearings is just periodic maintenance and if you do it in far less miles than you planned it is just an hour of your time and a little bit of wheel bearing grease.

I'd pull the bearings out, wipe them off with a shop towel and inspect them and properly pack them and reinstall them. Absolutely do not wash them with solvent unless you fully intend to replace them. The solvent never gets out of the bearing and won't allow the grease to stick to the bearing surfaces right. I was taught that 60 years ago as an automechanics student in high school and have followed it and do not have wheel bearing trouble that doesn't have a different cause. In all the years I was doing brakes for a living I never had a car come back with bad wheel bearing after I serviced the bearings.

This makes perfect sense based on my original info regarding the location of the shavings, the present condition of the bearings, PLUS the fact that the cap was somehow teased off the axle!

I’ve already bought replacement bearings just in case, and I did wash the old ones in solvent to inspect them.

Thank you Sir!!!!

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Never heard that said about cleaning bearings .
In 50 plus years never had a problem cleaning bearings in lacquer thinner let them dry and repack .

I have heard of it...if you leave the solvent. I actually use K1 kerosene in my solvent tank and I'll wash them out if needed for inspection. If they are smooth and free of foreign material, I'll rinse them with some brake clean or thinner and repack. Never had a problem

[Ironangel]

I'm surprised nobody commented on the bone dry cap!? If that cap is that dry with dry particulate on it, then I'd suspect them bearings are needing grease in a bad way! I agree with cleaning the bearings and liberally repack them! Get them caps involved and smear some grease on them too! "Heavens to Murgatroyd!" PS. I use mineral spirits in my parts washer, the key is using compressed air to thoroughly dry whatever your cleaning. Might have to try that #1 Kerosene if it's cheaper than mineral spirits...

[jabborabbo]

Originally Posted by Ironangel

I'm surprised nobody commented on the bone dry cap!? If that cap is that dry with dry particulate on it, then I'd suspect them bearings are needing grease in a bad way! I agree with cleaning the bearings and liberally repack them! Get them caps involved and smear some grease on them too! "Heavens to Murgatroyd!" PS. I use mineral spirits in my parts washer, the key is using compressed air to thoroughly dry whatever your cleaning. Might have to try that #1 Kerosene if it's cheaper than mineral spirits...

I wiped off the grease before I took the picture :-)

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by Ironangel

I'm surprised nobody commented on the bone dry cap!? If that cap is that dry with dry particulate on it, then I'd suspect them bearings are needing grease in a bad way! I agree with cleaning the bearings and liberally repack them! Get them caps involved and smear some grease on them too! "Heavens to Murgatroyd!" PS. I use mineral spirits in my parts washer, the key is using compressed air to thoroughly dry whatever your cleaning. Might have to try that #1 Kerosene if it's cheaper than mineral spirits...

Just don’t spin the bearings with the air . My cousin was doing this because he liked the spin up sound it made ,he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed . Before I could say anything the bearing let loose . He got a couple of bruises on his face and took out four overhead fluorescent bulbs.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Just don’t spin the bearings with the air . My cousin was doing this because he liked the spin up sound it made ,he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed . Before I could say anything the bearing let loose . He got a couple of bruises on his face and took out four overhead fluorescent bulbs.

My ex-brother-in-law liked to do that spinning business, too. I told him that it's a good way to ruin a bearing. When I worked as a mechanic. we had a tool that forced new grease in and the old grease out. At home, they get cleaned in mineral spirits, left to dry and hand-packed with grease.