Rear Axle: rear wheel bearing

[gmannix]

When I purchased my 56 Golden Hawk from the previous owner he stated that the rear wheel bearings need to be regreased every 10,000 miles. There is a hose that comes off the axle and rises up to the body and I have noticed a discharge of grease from it. Should the bearings be greased this often and is the discharge of grease from the hose normal. Hope someone can give me a answer.

[jackb]

.....without going any further: 10K is not right. The rest of what you describe all falls off the cliff.....get it opened up and see what's been done........do it right !

[doug]

I hope the hose is not the brake hose. It should be replaced yesterday if so.

[Noxnabaker]

You certain this shouldn't be on Tech Talk?

[Leroy Cook]

Yes TECH covers this. In order to grease the rear wheel bearings require removing the brake drums and the axles. This reqires two seperate pullers. Not a easy task. I just did mine. I had 90W gear flid leaking out. I check the bearings and they looked fine. And there was some grease on the bearings. But the leaking inner seal was hard as a rock. The outter seal is a felt and it also leaked. I am replacing all seals and checking the end play. What a job! I wish there was a grease fiting to lube the bearings but the recomendation is to pack the wheel bearings is 25,000 miles.

[Xcalibur]

Anyone care to guess how often the rear wheel-bearings of post-war cars were really greased... if ever, until they wore out? As for the rest of the questions, huh???

[studebakerkid]

So when you pull it down add zercs it sure makes it easier.

[Bud]

If I remember correctly, the 1956 Hawk rear wheel bearings have a provision for packing through a plug on the rear of the axle flange. There is a slotted 1/8 inch pipe plug that has to be removed and a zerk fitting installed to do the job. If the bearings are packed in that manner, be very careful that excess grease isn't forced into the brake drums. Bud

[doofus]

Hey guys theres a hole to bleed 90wt and wheel bearing lube off to outside bottom center of backing plate, look for it ,Doofus

[studebakerkid]

doofas.....Why would there be a hole to drain something that is not there?