Cleaning Wheel Bearings

A bearing which has been removed from a vehicle should first be cleaned with a petroleum distillate solvent. The solvent itself must be clean and filtered. Steam or water should never be used. They will allow bearings to rust in a very short time.

After a bearing has been cleaned with solvent, it should be dried using a compressed air gun and blowing air through the bearing from one end of the roller to the other. When air is used to dry a bearing, make sure there is no water in the air line and do not spin the bearing at any time with compressed air.

To ensure against unnecessary wear, all parts and assemblies coming in contact with, or operating together with, the bearing should be thoroughly cleaned with solvent, dipped in clean axle lubricant, and placed in protective oil paper. If oil paper is not available, use a clean, dry shop towel.