W22 Workhorse Chassis Front Wheel Bearings

[ramblinboy]

Do I need to have the front wheel bearings cleaned and packed even if the specs say W22 utilize an oil lubricated front hub

bearing system? Thx

[wolfe10]

No, wet hubs do not use grease. You just drain/pump out the old oil and refill with gear lube. I use an old transmission hand suction pump to remove the old oil. Check for the viscosity called for for your axle and climate. I use synthetic oil-- a quart will do both sides with some left over. Be sure to be on level pavement when you check the final oil level. Most wet hubs have a ring with arrow and "full" marked. Do not over/under fill.

[ramblinboy]

Hmmm as I suspected. Thanks very much Brett. Saves big bucks in labor charges.

[gulfstreambob]

Ok not to sound to stupid, how do you check the level of the wet hubs? I was messing around with the front wheels, took off the middle plate to the chrome wheel covers and saw the wet hub system, I have never seen one before and have no idea how to check it. Thank you

[wolfe10]

The clear plastic "hub" should have a concentric ring with arrow and writing showing minimum oil level. Max is sometimes another marked ring or the bottom of the removable rubber plug.

[desertdeals69]

Some hubs have a drain plug on the side so you don't have to pump out.

[gulfstreambob]

Thank you very much. The reason I wanted to top off the hub was I had a small clicking noise coming from the left side hub wheel area and thought it might be the problem. I was wrong! Is it possible for the front chrome wheel cover to flex and make that clicking noise? I was able to remove the center plug and top off the oil. It took maybe 1oz. to top off. Now the chrome wheel cover is kind of a pain to remove since I don't have a large enough wrench to remove the fake lug nuts. Any tips or secrets on how to remove them?

[desertdeals69]

Wheel covers are notorious for making creaking noises. Usually there is a light duty socket wrench that comes with the wheel covers for taking the sheet metal nuts off. When topping off the gear oil level let it set for a couple of hours and then recheck it. You are adding oil to the outer bearing and it takes time to get to the inner bearing.