How to clean wheel bearings??

full_mosey wrote:
Gasoline.

HTH;
John

Ditto

About 30 years ago I read that any solvent left behind will contaminate the new grease, and to me it didn't make any sense to do that to the new grease. After that I stopped cleaning them, and I haven't had any failures, ever.

I wipe the old off, inspect and hand pack. If you don't leave the bearings loose or tighten them too much, and pack them properly, there won't be any damage to the bearing.

I use compressed air to blow most of the old grease out of the bearing and then brake clean to finish removing the last of the film. Works great.

RJsfishin wrote:
All the commercial shops and dealerships I worked at in the 60s and 70s all used solvent and compressed air. Some used powerwashers.
Me, I don't clean bearings anymore, but when I did, I used gasoline and compressed air. This day and age, I just push in new grease, either w/ a brg packer, or EZ lube axles.

I totally agree with poster,been doing it this way for 50 yearsjb solvent and air safely.

Gloves ???? You buncha woosies !! Probably never got your hands dirty a miunute in your life !!

If gasoline was pure it would be okay other than the flammability. However it has lots of nasty additives that you do not want on your skin, even if you don't burn yourself. Use stove alcohol or mineral spirits, far safer.

Probably not the best method, but until recently I have always used a masson jar with some gasoline. Swish it around a bit and they come nice and clean. Inspect, repack (replace if necessary).

Recently however I have adopted Randallb's method. Much safer and you know you have good bearings.

I use diesel fuel drained from the water separator on my truck. Pretty much the same as kerosene but it's at hand. Blow dry with compressed air (but don't spin the bearings with it no matter how cool the sound) and inspect. Then order new ones, :)

pdogg wrote:
And for heaven's sake, whatever you do, DO NOT use gasoline..

you'll die..

:)

P.S. I use gasoline, and always in a well ventilated area (outside)

One person in the trade I was in (in Phoenix AZ) used gasoline to clean a pipe machine (outside in a well ventilated area) and when he switched the machine to move it the spark ignited the vapors and lit him on fire. He ran around until others could stop him. He had third degree burns on most of his body and died of his injuries. The ventilation isn't the issue, the flammable fumes are.

westend wrote:
BTW, axle grease is one of the nicest skin softeners made. :B

No thanks. I will stick with latex gloves. ;)