Wheel bearings

[Bryant fish]

Hi all just checking over the boat and removed wheel bearing caps I know milky grease means water has entered but what about red grease that is turning  brown

[noelm]

Best guess, RUST........without seeing it, we can only guess, but, it's a simple enough job to remove bearings and repack or replace them if they are bad. Jack the wheel up and give it a spin, if you can hear it "rumble" it needs new bearings.

[Welster]

@Fab1 has an excellent tutorial on wheel bearings on the forum.  Here is the link for part 1. 

 

[Bryant fish]

Thanks I do them myself yearly but not one of my favourite  jobs will Jack it up today and give them a spin

[noelm]

Let us know what you find, post a photo of anything "interesting" so others can learn what to expect.

[Bryant fish]

Jacked it up no play in either wheel but 1 side has brakes rubbing slightly but couldn't hear bearing rumble will keep an eye on it thanks

[Fab1]

Regardless of grease colour blue,red,brown that has gone milky or rust coloured means waters gotten in and corrosion has begun.

 My advice is at the bare minimum buy rear seals,remove,clean,inspect/replace bearings and re-install.

 You won’t be the first or last to breakdown or kill others or yourself possibly if you don’t over laziness and a few pennies.

cheers.

[noelm]

I am putting off doing the bearings on the tinny, I saw a bit of brown/rusty grease on the rim and keep saying "I must do that" I have the bearings, it's just a "soon" job.

[Bryant fish]

I'm the same Noel have the bearings as I keep spares in the Ute

I did have one go years ago but it was on the m1 not a place to change them $300 for a tow truck. Fab yeah your right will do them this week bloody mechanic wants 3 or 4hundred$ I just paid him $2500 for head on wife's car that blew 3 weeks after I paid deposit on a new Ute that I took delivery of on Thursday  expensive  couple of weeks

[Fab1]

4 hours ago, noelm said:

I am putting off doing the bearings on the tinny, I saw a bit of brown/rusty grease on the rim and keep saying "I must do that" I have the bearings, it's just a "soon" job.

My “soon” has been up to 20yrs later.