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Greasing Front Bearings (1960 BT7)

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Lin

Lin

Jedi Knight
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No problems, but as a maintenance item I decided to repack the front bearings. I found them to be in good shape so I reused them. Here is my question: the workshop manual states:
“Pack the retaining cup with grease and, using a drift, tap it gently but firmly up against the outer bearing.”

Why is filling the retaining cup with grease necessary? What is the grease in the cap supposed to do? If it is additional grease for the outer bearing, how does it get to the bearing?

Thanks!
Lin
 
Hah ha. I will respond to my own post.

Well, this gets interesting. I have Issue 5 and Issue 7 of the Official BMC factory workshop manual. I also have a Bentley Manual. Issue 5 of the BMC Manual states as I said in my first post that you should pack the cap with grease. I quoted from the manual. However, Issue 7 of the BMC Manual and the Bentley Manual both state that one should wipe out the cap to remove dust and they both specifically say DO NOT FILL THE CAP WITH GREASE.

Of course, this contradiction makes you wonder about other changes in the manuals without any explanation.

I have never packed the cap with grease in my 55 years of owning the car, but I might have if I only had Issue 5 of the manual.

Oh well, interesting little diversion from getting some real work done.

Lin
 
I did not know about that evolution in the manuals, but I remember in the '60s in High School auto shop being taught to never fill the cavity between the inner and outer bearing assemblies or the dust cap because that will retain too much heat in the bearings. Never gave it much thought, but I'm glad I was taught the right way to do it.
 
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