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In the maintenance manual for the 63-64, it specifies a high melt point wheel bearing grease. I have grease from GM that is specified for all GM products to include disk brake cars. The parts shop guy tells me this is the correct grease to use. While hand packing the bearings, this grease just seems to be too thin and appears to have a questionable melt point. On inspection of the bearings after a 20 mile run, they look to have only a very thin coating of grease on the bearings. I'm going back to my early years when repacking the wheel bearings, the grease was very stiff. (Early 70's) Also, is it recommended to fill the hub with grease as well? Thanks for your recommendations on the correct product/technique to use. Dan K.
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Re: 63 Front Wheel Bearings, Grease and Technique
I would think that the grease from GM should be just fine for your application Dan.
I too am "old school" where I'm used to working with stiff grease that you really had to work into the bearings. The new greases today work just as and better due to their ablity to not break down so quickly under high temp conditions.
Don't bother wasting grease filling the void. Plow a healthy coating on the bearing and the race and put it together, that will be plenty good.
Chuck -
Re: 63 Front Wheel Bearings, Grease and Technique
Agree with Chuck on every point. Vintage stiff, "long fiber" greases have been long superseded by much softer wheel bearing greases, and any grease suitable for "disk brakes" will be more than adequate for drum brakes because disk brake designs offer a much low resistance heat transfer path to the hub, which increases the bearing operating temperature relative to drum brake designs.
And don't fill the hub cavity between the bearings with grease.
DukeComment
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Re: 63 Front Wheel Bearings, Grease and Technique
Dan-----
What GM-supplied grease are you talking about? If you're talking about GM #1051344, that grease is an EXCELLENT product for both front and rear wheel bearings.
If you're talking about GM #12377985, that product is the successor to, among other original applications, the lubricant once specified for 63-82 Corvette REAR wheel bearings, but not the front. As far as I know, it is not approved by GM for use on 65-82 Corvette front wheel bearings.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 63 Front Wheel Bearings, Grease and Technique
Joe,
GM# is 1051344 which is a Soap Based-Aluminum Complex with the NLGL #2 consistency. (According the tub it is in.)
Thanks again for your technical knowledge and direction.
Dan K.Comment
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