Needle grease Syncro FRONT wheel bearings?

[Sodo]

Does anybody know if this can be done? If the FRONT bearings are as "easy" to needle grease as the rear, I'd do it before my next trip! At 180k miles, my whole front suspension needs to be rebuilt. Rack & pinion seals too. This will be done during the winter, or next winter, not during camping season. For now,I just wanna get some fresh grease in there if its feasible.

From this thread by Syncromikey in 2013 ( http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=549904&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 ) it looks somewhat feasible. But there doesn't seem to be a 'chamber' to insert the needle to pump out the old grease with the new grease (as there is in the rear housing).

Also I can't tell if it can be done "on car", which would sink the whole plan. What I'd like to do is just push the axle inward a little (off the seals) pump grease in, then (somehow) get the axle back out and tighten the nut. Is this feasible without busting balljoints loose etc?
_________________


'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[hans j]

It will not work without compromising the seal. It's a hard seal and probably won't heal itself.

But you can always try. It will at least get you closer to actually needing to replace the wheel bearings faster than if you leave it alone!
_________________
1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181

[rubbachicken]

unless you can block off all 360° of the bearing and seal, then find a way to pump in grease, it's not going to work, the grease will follow the path of least resistance, so the only way to get it all the way through the seal is to stop it getting out from the side you are pushing it in from, you could maybe add a heavy oil, grease is basically oil with a thickener, it could get very messy, but it may help increase bearing life.
_________________
lucy our westy

lucy's BIG adventure

meet 'burni'


markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.

619 201 0310 or 617 935 4182

[Sodo]

One more thing..... if the inner CV is unbolted from the differential, can the axle be pressed inward a bit? Far enough to get off the inboard seal?

THEN, can it be pulled back out with the axle nut?

This kinda sounds like I have to try it myself....
_________________


'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[jberger]

[MarkWard]

Here is what the front wheel bearing looks like intact.

You can see it is factory sealed.

The pictures in the thread you linked to are of removing the old wheel bearing and additional outer seals. You don't have access to the inner race unless you remove the hub. This will most likely render the bearing unusable.

Save your energy for when you are ready to replace the outer bearings.
_________________
☮️

[Sodo]

[Howesight]

Hey Sodo:

I just carry spare front wheel bearings in my Syncro (rears too, FWIW). The bearing size is quite standard, so any shop that can re and re a Honda/Toyota/VW FWD bearing can also do your Syncro front bearings.

I used to slalom a Rabbit many years ago and it ate front wheel bearings until we figured out a way to replace the factory grease with special moly grease. I had to have a "grease replacement" tool made up (picture two heavy disks on either side of the bearing with a grease nipple on one side) and used the new grease to push out the factory grease. This could only be done off the car and then the bearing had to be pressed into the steering knuckle.
_________________
'86 Syncro Westy SVX

[jberger]

[Sodo]

I was told that to replace the CV boots, I have to disconnect a ball joint. So servicing my front CVs will be easier than I thought.

Anybody know where to get the seals for less than $20 each? I realize that to change the inner seals the axle must come OUT. My REAR wheel bearings are still quiet and smooth, but the seals were VERY worn out, to where there was daylight between the seal lip and its sealing surface. That suggests lots of slop..... Hmmmmm. I can feel tiny bit of slop wiggling on the wheel (off the ground). Not sure if its in the bearing or the shaft or both. Well re-greasing the rears was EASY and that was a good thing. I guess we'll see how far they go but it's not a daily driver. Them was the rear bearings.

......Back to the front bearings. Howesight, what grease did you use that prolonged the life of the rabbit wheel bearings?
_________________


'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb