How to Pack a Bearing With Grease

Tapered wheel bearings require periodic repacking for proper operation.

The wheel bearings on a vehicle are designed to allow the wheels to rotate with minimal resistance. Over time, the bearings can become contaminated and require basic maintenance or replacement. Maintaining a bearing and replacing a bearing both require one procedure, packing (or repacking) the bearing with grease. This grease is the lubricant that the bearing requires to keep resistance at a minimum. There are two ways to pack a bearing with grease, using a bearing packer or by hand. Both processes are effective and relatively easy.

Things You'll Need

• Multipurpose automotive grease
• Bearing packer
• Shop cloth

Instructions

With Bearing Packing Tool

1. Fill the bearing packer with new multipurpose automotive grease.

2. Place the bearing flat in the grease inside the bearing packer.

3. Place the plastic plunger, included with the packer, inside the bearing packer and press it downward, forcing grease into the bearing.

4. Pull the plastic plunger from the packer, flip the bearing over and repeat Step 3.

5. Remove the plunger and the bearing from the bearing packer.

Packing by Hand

1. Place a liberal amount of multipurpose automotive grease in the palm of your hand.

2. Place the bearing in the grease in your hand and spin the bearing back and forth to spread the grease inside the bearing.

3. Add more grease to your palm as needed.

4. Flip the bearing over and repeat steps 2 and 3 until the bearing no longer takes grease from you hand, indicating that the bearing is fully packed.

5. Wipe the grease from your palm with a shop cloth.

Resources

• AutoZone: Bearing Packer Image