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Question 749410

Is It Ok For A Grease Seal To Sit 1/8" Into The Bore Hole Instead Of Flush

Updated 04/08/2024 | Published 04/07/2024

Question:

When I installed the grease seals on the hub I think that I may have pressed them too far into the hub. They are about 1/8 of an inch below the outside surface of the hub. Is it possible to Push them in so far that they interfere with the inner bearing? The wheel spins fine so I’m hoping that the bearing is also turning freely. Thank you. jon

asked by: Jon

Expert Reply:

Hey Jon,

The open side of the Grease Seals # RG06-020 are going to sit against the face of the bearing so you likely wouldn't have an issue with the seal pressing on the bearing and preventing it from spinning, but you'll have less of an air gap or space to fill in extra grease if you have an easy lube axle. Them sitting in the hub 1/8" definitely isn't ideal but there isn't a way to remove them without damaging them so I'd give it a go and just keep an eye on the on the wheel temperature to see if the hubs are getting too hot.

I'd just grab a cheap temperature gun from your local department store and drive around a bit to see what temperature they get up to. It's normal for your hubs to sit around 140 - 175 degrees F when in use. If they're getting out of range then I'd remove the seals and redo them. When you do replace them I recommend just sticking a small piece of a 2" x 4" across the bore hole to help you hammer in the grease seal without sinking into bore hole.

expert reply by: Kevin C