rear axle bearings

[captden29]

i would like to clean and grease the rear axle bearings but i do not have the special puller the book calls for.is there a newer puller available,or some other way to remove them. what about the seals? i am nervous about this job. old age i guess. was a time i would just dig in and figure it out as i went along. i want to drive the car longer distance and feel this maintenance would be a good idea. i am sure it was never done before.  thanks,   capt den

[Dodgeb4ya]

After the drum is off....

Remove the backing plate

Install the drum back on the axle with out the axle key

Screw the axle nut on 2-4 turns

Use the drum as a slide hammer and knock the axle out of the housing.

[captden29]

thanks dodge. i seem to not understand the way this is set up on my 54 Windsor. i should have mentioned the car and year. i believe the axle has 2 bearings, and i only wish to do the one in front of the seal. maybe i need to look more carefully at the manual. the one i want to service only takes grease from a small hole in the axle housing. i am told that the grease in there can be dried up and needs replacing and the bearing repacked or maybe replaced.     capt den

[Dodgeb4ya]

You can remove the 7/16" hex plug right behind the brake backing plate on the axle housing a... install a grease zerk and carefully add grease to the bearing.

Or the right way is to remove the axle and clean and check the bearing for wear and damage. You need to pull the drum and backing plate to do this.

All the old grease is removed in the axle housing and the bearing. Then new graese packed into the bearing and some pushed into the pocket in the axle housing.

There are  inner and outer seals. The inner axle housing seal is a oil seal... the outer backing plate seal is a grease seal.

You need to look in the shop manual for service procedures if you are  going to replace them.

One bearing per axle shaft.

Edited December 31, 2018 by Dodgeb4ya

[P15-D24]

Don't recommend using a zerk, the pressure from the gun will blow grease past the seal. If it was a good idea they would have put one on from the factory. 

[plymouthcranbrook]

I used a needle fitting on the grease gun to do mine. Just removed the plug and pushed it into the hole. When the grease backed out I called it good,

[Dodgeb4ya]

It's generally not a good idea to mix grease bases on wheel bearings,

When thinking the bearings need grease... it's best to remove,  wash/clean out the old grease and repack with a good quality bearing grease.

Both the bearing and the cavity.?

[Plymouthy Adams]

As an add on of information, I like the fact that the repair manual has a lubrication section that shows not only the interval for service, quantity, technique/service procedure in words, the exact products to be used and a picture to help guide you along the many parts of the car where this service will be performed.