| Author | Message | ||
| Steven Foster (57_gmc)
Registered Member Username: 57_gmc Post Number: 9 Registered: 12-2010 Posted From: 72.156.216.251 Rating: N/A |
On my 57 GMC PD4104 the front wheel bearings run in grease. Has anyone changed them over to oil run bearings ?? And can you change them over ?? If so is with worth the trouble?? Thanks Steve | ||
| Dal Farnworth (Dallas)
Registered Member Username: Dallas Post Number: 279 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 72.172.32.121  Rating: N/A |
Why would you want to? | ||
| Steven Foster (57_gmc)
Registered Member Username: 57_gmc Post Number: 10 Registered: 12-2010 Posted From: 72.156.216.251 Rating: N/A |
Well you made a good point !! How many miles do you run on grease ? I was thinking about 50,000 or so miles ?? | ||
| Gary Seay (Gdude)
Registered Member Username: Gdude Post Number: 28 Registered: 6-2010 Posted From: 216.67.52.2  Rating: N/A |
Steve, I have changed them over on trailers and they are not that hard. Just go to your parts store and they will set you up. I have them on my bus, there on the front and on the tag. Also my equipment trailers have them. I personally would run them, you never have to worry if there is grease in there, and the nice clear cover let's you check every time you get out of the bus. Unless you are like me and like all that crome, and cover them up. My thoughts Gary | ||
| Dal Farnworth (Dallas)
Registered Member Username: Dallas Post Number: 281 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 72.172.32.121 Rating: N/A |
The more important question is how much do you sit? Grease stays on the hub, bearings, races, and axle over time. Oil eventually drains off and leaves bare metal to rust. If you were running 20 or 30 thousand miles a year, it might be good idea. If the us sits more than it runs, pack the bearings every so often. | ||
| Gary Seay (Gdude)
Registered Member Username: Gdude Post Number: 29 Registered: 6-2010 Posted From: 216.67.52.2 Rating: N/A |
Good point Dal. You prolly don't want to sit for a year or so. But almost all of your over the road truckers use them now for the ease of checking. Gary | ||
| Gary Seay (Gdude)
Registered Member Username: Gdude Post Number: 30 Registered: 6-2010 Posted From: 216.67.52.2 Rating: N/A |
Also you probably don't want to let anything sit. engine tranny and rearend all have oil. just my thoughts Gary | ||
| Steven Foster (57_gmc)
Registered Member Username: 57_gmc Post Number: 11 Registered: 12-2010 Posted From: 72.156.216.251 Rating: N/A |
I like chrome !!! but if I do it I can take off the cover and check. I dont travel that far some of the races we go to are 450 miles oneway and it is not like every weekend. I was just checking to get some ideas on this. We still working on engine and few other things before spring gets here and Im sure I will have more question. And thanks for all the help to all that post when I do ask a question. My bus is new to me and I love it Thanks Steve | ||
| larry currier (Larryc)
Registered Member Username: Larryc Post Number: 343 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 207.200.116.13 Rating: N/A |
If you pack grease, I would jack the wheel every 50,000 and check the bearing clearance and kingpins with a long pry bar. Grease is fool proof otherwise when used with large commecial vehicles. Todays new synthetic grease will go forever. I do wheel end inspections at 30 months on over the road units. Semi-fluid 00 Axle Grease is the best. It may only come in 5 gallon buckets, I'm not sure, thats how I buy it. I have pulled apart hubs that look like they have been running dry for years without a drop of grease in the hub cavity and the bearings look like new. A proper pack (full hubs, full bearing cones) with quality grease should last any hobby user a lifetime of use with no maintence on a full size bus. | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1413 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 66.82.162.20  Rating: N/A |
The other problem is the oil seals on an oil filled hub will take a set , should your coach not be used enough. The oil leak is on your brake shoes. " Much Ungood". FF | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 577 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 184.0.13.120  Rating: N/A |
Our 4104 had oil filled rears, grease fronts when I got it. The rear brakes were well oiled. I went back to grease for the reason that the oil filled brgs are good when the bus runs all the time but the oil leaks & rust happens when you only run the bus occasionally. That was 10 years & 50K miles ago. I'd do the same today. | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 1237 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 173.202.48.17  Rating: N/A |
Some hubs are not supposed to be filled with grease, only a 1/4" coat or thereabouts. Maybe some are supposed to be filled but the original 4104 is not. The usual result of overfilling with grease is grease running out of the hub and all over the wheel and tire. This happened to my 4104 right after I got it. The brakes had been replaced and the front hubs/wheels remounted on the wrong sides so it is no surprise that they were over greased! Check your manual for the proper method for your particular bus!! |