Thread: [B]4x4 front wheel bearings and river crossings[/B]

Anybody got any advice on front wheel bearing grease or lubricant if I don't clean out and repack with fresh Timken wheel bearing grease after every river crossing my front wheel bearings fall apart.
2003 Triton.

Buy a Toyota.... No idea sorry, my old Isuzu was a shocker for wheel bearings and cvs was just one of those maintaince things you had to do

Originally Posted by 223nut

Buy a Toyota.... No idea sorry, my old Isuzu was a shocker for wheel bearings and cvs was just one of those maintaince things you had to do

Bugger forgot about the CV's they will also be full of water

Fitted a cheap snorkel after the ute in front of me disappeared into a hole in the Rakaia River last year I thought his Navara was a submarine like the James Bond Lotus, might just keep out of water

Originally Posted by 223nut

Buy a Toyota.... No idea sorry, my old Isuzu was a shocker for wheel bearings and cvs was just one of those maintaince things you had to do

more specifically.... a hiace.

Guy I know has similar issues with his.

Preventative maintenance seems to be it.

Every 4WD has its quirks. Even my land cruiser

Easy way is don’t get them wet

Shit i have driven through heaps of water in my hilux and never ever checked them...

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Shit i have driven through heaps of water in my hilux and never ever checked them...

Neither, drive it till it’s fucked I say

Originally Posted by MSL

Neither, drive it till it’s fucked I say

Ignorance is bliss

Dont just grease the bearings pack the entire cavity as full as you can= no room for water.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Dont just grease the bearings pack the entire cavity as full as you can= no room for water.

This^^^
You can fit a grease nipple to a lot of 4wd front hubs and pump extra grease into the hub without removing the hub from the spindle, A few pumps every 3-4 months keeps them full of grease. You may not keep all the water out but you can certainly minimise it.

And check the hubs seals where they run on the spindle as once they wear, water can be pushed in through the seal, It will keep the grease in but not good at keeping water out when worn.
Over fill your CVs with grease a bit too and ensure you're CV boots are cracked or perished and all the clamps are tight.

Diff breathers do work. You just need to get them as high as possible and in a dry place for them to vent. I think the issue with a lot of daily driver 4wds is that seals wear and water can find its way in. Also a hot diff hitting cold water can cause a small vacuum which can suck water in through worn seals too.
Using a 4wd in water or mud etc. does call for more regular maintenance though. I change my diff oils twice a year due to the environments we drive in. (Mud, Water, Silt Sand etc.) The price we are prepared to pay for using our 4wd for our Hobby.

Try heaps of marine grease that you use with cutlis?? bearings. Believe it or not, it's supposed to be more water resistant.

If you doing a lot of water crossings you will need to do a lot more regular checks on wheel bearings and driveline oils etc.
No easy way around it. Be prepared to have to change them all often.

if doing lots of water crossings might pay to extend your diff breathers as well

Originally Posted by 223nut

if doing lots of water crossings might pay to extend your diff breathers as well

Pointless