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Topic ClosedBearing grease blown out into brake assembly
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Bill-GA View Drop Down
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Posts: 214 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Bearing grease blown out into brake assembly
    Posted: 26 May 2013 at 8:54pm
I got my passenger side jacked up and when I took off the wheel it was LOADED with bearing grease ... on the parts, inner hub, brake pads! Rear seal was full of grease on outter side. I cleaned the elec pad and post before taking pix. 

I know I need new seals, but the bearing looks good as far as I can tell (not burnt).... 

Heres what I need help with ... PLEASE offer suggestions...

1. I think I'll have to disassemble brake parts to clean - I've done this MANY years ago. ...  WHAT  DO I USE TO CLEAN them?

2. The brake pads are soaked in grease too ...  CAN THEY BE CLEANED? or should I replace?

3. Should I go to a pro?  This could be pricy$$$$

I pumped the zerk fittings with grease early last summer ... one side took a while (it was probably me that pumped grease into brake  Embarrassed.  Amazingly I went to Maine (1300 miles) and back ... no problems noticed????  I've manually applied brakes with controller to make sure they work MANY times.  Hmmmmm, I thought grease binds the wheel when brake is applied? I'll have to check them out when repaired.
Bill & Bev
13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa'
2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out)
2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV
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Anthony Valenzano View Drop Down
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Posts: 44 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 May 2013 at 8:59pm
Go buy Super Clean at an auto parts store.  Spray on let soak for 10 minutes hose off - it will rip thru that grease.  May have to do it twice.  I don't think you'll even need to take it apart.

Foaming engine degreaser might work really well too.

Have you been pumping grease into the zerk fitting?  -- Sorry just read the last line - yeah those Zerk fittings are best ignored. 
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Craneman View Drop Down
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Posts: 387 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 May 2013 at 9:28pm
I just replaced my bearings and seals,and I asked the mech at the rv repair about using the grease zerk and he recommend the I not use it. Result would be what you have. Repack once a year with new seal.
 Just a thought
          Moe
Jo and Gary, 2010-174,2011 F150

Jo and Gary
2010 174
2011 Ford 150



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podders Helping podders - pHp
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Location: Oshawa, Ontario
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Posts: 767 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 May 2013 at 10:21pm
The brakes are pretty simple and parts are cheap.  Just use some aerosol brake cleaner and wipe down with paper towels; it'll clean up fairly easily.  Personally, I'd go with new shoes (although there should be nothing wrong with just cleaning up the old ones) - and I'd probably do both sides.

I never did like that zerk fitting, where the grease comes out under the inner bearing or the fact that the process pressurizes a void with grease, and I've never been sure where grease pushed though the inner bearing is supposed to go... but I know that others swear by regularly squeezing grease into the zerk fitting.  A yearly inspection is recommended by Forest River and the axle manufacturers.  Personally, I repack the bearings and replace the seals annually, but that may be overkill.
Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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Bill-GA View Drop Down
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Posts: 214 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 May 2013 at 9:27pm
Thanks guys for you comments ... I'll be doing the brakes and repacking bearings with new seals in a week or so. Bill
Bill & Bev
13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa'
2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out)
2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV
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Bill-GA View Drop Down
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Posts: 214 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Jun 2013 at 8:51pm
I did the brakes this AM. I had to disassemble the brake with the grease blowout - grease all over the place. It took 2 cans of brake cleaner in total - great stuff. I used a large plastic bin underneath to catch droppings. I also used a purchased seal remover ... really good idea as bearing hub was lower than wheel hub and would not accommodate large screw driver.

I also bought a grease packer 
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002NYDYY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 but I'm not sure I used it correctly - which side of bearing goes down? ... Hand packed it anyway. Any suggestions for future correct use of packer?

I saw that I have manually adjusted brakes ... So I adjusted them while wheel was raised. I tightened adjusting star wheel until wheel held firmly, then backed off 6 clicks - saw that in an online video - sounded good?  I tested them by spinning wheel and then applying brakes via manual brake controller lever.

These brakes should work way better than they were.

I will road test tomorrow.
Bill & Bev
13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa'
2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out)
2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV
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bhamster View Drop Down
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Posts: 165 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2013 at 9:53am
Originally posted by Bill-GA

Any suggestions for future correct use of packer?

I bought the same one when I repacked mine. The bearing can probably go on either way, but I used it with the wide part at the bottom and it worked well. You'll still end up with a glob in the middle which I just picked up with my (gloved) finger and packed into the races.
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Joined: 19 Nov 2009
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Posts: 767 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2013 at 5:51pm
Originally posted by Bill-GA

Any suggestions for future correct use of packer?

like bhamster said, wide side down.


Originally posted by Bill-GA

I tightened adjusting star wheel until wheel held firmly, then backed off 6 clicks - saw that in an online video - sounded good?

That's a bit further than I tend to back them off.  But, you can always adjust them a click or two while the wheels are on the ground now that you know how its done.
Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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Bill-GA View Drop Down
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Posts: 214 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2013 at 9:05pm
When I used the packer I was expecting the grease to ooze out from around the actual bearings but the grease typically came out the top or the bottom of the bearing. I saw this too on the video I watched. I guess this is normal?
Bill & Bev
13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa'
2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out)
2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV
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bhamster View Drop Down
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Posts: 165 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2013 at 9:46pm
Originally posted by Bill-GA

When I used the packer I was expecting the grease to ooze out from around the actual bearings but the grease typically came out the top or the bottom of the bearing. I saw this too on the video I watched. I guess this is normal?

I gave mine a spin and then a couple more pumps. Then slathered around the outside. The part it helps with is filling the voids inside.
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