Rear Stub Axles

[jsup]

I have everything apart, and pressed out the bearings in the rear trailing arms.
The guy I bought the car from is a complete screw up, so I'm just resigned to have to do the whole thing from scratch.

The bearing carrier is completely empty. Both bearings, the seals, and the spacers are all out. I cleaned out all the old grease.

The bearing carrier was jammed full of grease around the outside of the spacers, taking up all the excess space in the carrier. Seems to be unnecessary and messy.

Is this correct? It seems to me that the grease in the void doesn't really serve a purpose. But I could be wrong. It doesn't hurt anything to jam it full, but I want to know if that's the way it's supposed to be or does grease belong just in the bearings and on the stub axle where it passes through the spacers and bearings?

[Dale M.]

To completely fill bearings carries is the factory method and recommended method to pack grease in carriers.... Same applies to front spindles, but rarely do people do it....

Dale
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“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.

"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[jsup]

Thanks Dale, I'll pack them all full of grease. Not a problem. I just didn't want to make a mess.

[GS guy]

I generally don't "pack" it full, but do liberally grease the inside of the trailing arm cavity and outside of the spacer before installation. Of course the bearings do get fully packed.
On the couple of trailing arms I've re-done, the bearings have always been a light-tap fit in the housing and on the axle. Crud build-up can make it more of a "hammer" fit. The parts should be operating table clean and well greased for re-installation.
Jeff
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70's vintage Deserter GS buggy - undergoing transformation to Super GS!

[jsup]

The way it was, is that it was so full, the bearing spacer was slipped throught the middle of the grease, and when I pulled out the spacer, there was a hole left, that looked solid.

I don't know what the factory did, and what the moron before me did. Because he was a moron.

[jsturtlebuggy]

Yes the bearing carrier area came full of grease like what you found.
From what I have read it is done for areas that see a lot of cold weather with temps below freezing. It suppose to keep the grease from migrating away from wheel bearings.
Where I live I never experienced it with just packing the bearings and not filling the cavity area.
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Joseph
Fair Oaks/Orangevale, CA
Elrod Motorsports
Motion Tire Motorsports
Having fun with Dune Buggies since 1970
Into Volkswagens since 1960

[jsup]

Yeah, it doesn't make logical sense to me. The friction is between the spacer and the stub axle. There's nothing rubbing on the outside of the spacer that would have to be greased or causing heat/friction.

[heywebonya]

Note: Many times the reason for packing a void or airspace with grease is to eliminate the air pocket; this eliminates the air pocket heating and cooling cycles that in turn create pressure or vacuums that can draw in water or other junk.
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If I knew what I was doing; I wouldn't be building a buggy!

[jsup]