[Brenno]

I thought this might be a no brainer, but I thought I would double check.

The bearings that come in the LROR Tcase bearing kit have the dust covers on, however, seeing as they will be in a clean case, not open to the air, I should remove the dust covers so oil can pass through the bearings..yeah?

Are there any bearings I should leave them on?

[fordem]

Interesting question - having checked the parts manual and noticed there is an oil seal outboard of each bearing where a shaft leaves the case - I say seals out.

Why is it interesting - well I did the rear hub bearings on my Swift yesterday - the ones that came out had seals one side and the replacements had seals both sides, so I picked out one set of seals to make the new match the old.

[BlueSuzy]

I picked out the seals on mine. I don't think it would really make a difference. Bearings like grease better than oil. But better it with oil than dry grease over time, but oil will seep into the seal anyway..

So, Whatever.

Every machine/car gearbox i have seen has open bearings.

[mightymouse]

I have found on previous occasions that a small drill hole between the rollers has helped the oil to slowly seep in but not build enough pressure to blow the outside seal off its seat.

[SierraDan]

My low range kit had fully open bearings.

[JrZook]

I left the input bearings with seals on as they are the least likely to be constantly bathed in oil.
Outputs I left a seal on the outside edge to help with the oil seal on the flanges.

[303zuke]

I'd leave the seals on the bearings. The bearings are greased "For life" and will run quite happily fully sealed. They won't heat up and blow out the seal, but if they do it will only let gear oil in. Meh?

But have you ever had contaminated Gear Oil that could stuff bearings? I know I have. Water in through the breather to turn it all a milky coffee colour. Or do an oil change and the oil looks like metallic paint with all the fine metal bits floating in it. Sometimes chunks of sludge glug out. I'd be happier knowing that the bearings are removed from that crap.

[Brenno]

The bearings are greased at all, however after posting this question I realised that LROR has send them without seals anyway!

Must have been the Snake racing kit I installed a few years ago that came with non greased bearings with seals on.

[BlueSuzy]

Non greased bearing with seals?

What the?

[JrZook]

BlueSuzy wrote:

Non greased bearing with seals?

What the?

Yep! I find that a common occurrence. I usually carefully pick the seals, fill with grease then refit

[BlueSuzy]

What brand??

we only get ntn at work

[fordem]

JrZook wrote:

BlueSuzy wrote:

Non greased bearing with seals?

What the?

Yep! I find that a common occurrence. I usually carefully pick the seals, fill with grease then refit

I mentioned earlier that I had swapped bearings in my Swift and picked out one of the seals in each bearing - I was quite surprised at how little grease the bearings had in them.

[BlueSuzy]

Pack them too much you will get other problems.

[fordem]

BlueSuzy wrote:

Pack them too much you will get other problems.

Any examples ?

[weaves]

JrZook wrote:

BlueSuzy wrote:

Non greased bearing with seals?

What the?

Yep! I find that a common occurrence. I usually carefully pick the seals, fill with grease then refit

Any bearing that comes like that isn't worth buying.

and FYI, you removing the seals and putting your own grease is classed as a bearing failure in the manufacturers eyes straight away.

The Grease Vs Oil debate, Oil is a better lubricator than grease. I would never run greased bearings inside a transfer or gearbox, i would and suggest to people to remove the seals, and flush the bearings of the grease before fitting

[weaves]

fordem wrote:

BlueSuzy wrote:

Pack them too much you will get other problems.

Any examples ?

There is a specific amount of grease in a bearing, enough to lubricate, but not enough to heat up, expand and 'pop' the seals out.

more grease causes a greater rolling resistance, which in turn can increase operating temperatures.

Too much grease is as bad as not enough

[JrZook]

weaves wrote:

JrZook wrote:

BlueSuzy wrote:

Non greased bearing with seals?

What the?

Yep! I find that a common occurrence. I usually carefully pick the seals, fill with grease then refit

Any bearing that comes like that isn't worth buying.

and FYI, you removing the seals and putting your own grease is classed as a bearing failure in the manufacturers eyes straight away.

So what's worse in the manufacturers eyes? Sealed bearings with inadequate grease they fail in a week or user picked seals, greased and resealed bearing lasting for 5+ years.

Can't remember the brand of bearings they were but they were for Subaru wheel bearings. A week after changing them noisy again. New bearings, picked seals minimal grease. Added grease resealed and they lasted.

[weaves]

JrZook wrote:

weaves wrote:

JrZook wrote:

BlueSuzy wrote:

Non greased bearing with seals?

What the?

Yep! I find that a common occurrence. I usually carefully pick the seals, fill with grease then refit

Any bearing that comes like that isn't worth buying.

and FYI, you removing the seals and putting your own grease is classed as a bearing failure in the manufacturers eyes straight away.

So what's worse in the manufacturers eyes? Sealed bearings with inadequate grease they fail in a week or user picked seals, greased and resealed bearing lasting for 5+ years.

Can't remember the brand of bearings they were but they were for Subaru wheel bearings. A week after changing them noisy again. New bearings, picked seals minimal grease. Added grease resealed and they lasted.

They way they see it is, they predetermain how much grease needs to be in there for the application. Then in a controled, clean environment, they fill the bearing. thats what they do.

They look at the fact you have to pry a seal out, using the sealing lip, possibly damaging it, and you putting grease in the bearing in a dirty dusty environment with possible contaminates entering the grease and bearing at the same time.

One micron of anything in the bearing is classed as a bearing failure.

think of it like how a playstation is sealed with that sticker that says 'warranty void if removed'. Regardless if you can put it together better than them or not, your still not going to retain any warrenty. (FYI there is never warranty on bearings)

weaves