Grease weeping out of bearing felt seal

[TomB]

I tore and replaced one wheel bearing felt seal on the upright over winter. I lightly oiled the new one before fitting, now there is weep of grease through the seal after a hundred miles. There is black grease visible and greasy feel on the inside of the brake disc and the contact area on the disc looks like it could have had some grease on it. 

The old one I tore during replacing the brake disc didn’t weep grease Any thoughts? A poor quality seal? To much grease inside the bearing? 

[Geoff Brown]

The 'old style' stub axle felt seals do exude a little grease over time. Even the 2003> bearings with integrated seals do the same to some extent.

You could say that a little grease showing is just the equalisation of what you put in there....just a little too much probably but nothing to worry about unless it is a gusher!!

[TomB]

I’ve just cleaned up the assembly and checked the pads for grease contamination. They seem fine. I’ll keep an eye on it and hope the grease level equilibrates. There does appear to be a taller felt part than other seals, so maybe that’s the problem. 

[SM25T]

The grease should be worked into the bearings with your fingers. Don't fill the void in the hub ... there is no point.

[elie boone]

Too much oil on the felt seal is the likely cause. 

[TomB]

Ellie, Please can you elaborate - I put a blob of clean engine oil on my finger & worked it into the seal. I have a spare fresh seal, if I change it, what should I do differently? 

[elie boone]

Tom, i don't know how much a blob is ( if it's like you would do on an oil filter, that is way to much ) i use a light coat of grease on the felt seal where it mates the upright.

[TomB]

I used a finger tip or two of clean engine oil. 

Ive been out this morning & it’s still weeping. Should I strip and replace it but with just a smear of grease on the felt? 

[Paul Deslandes]

I wouldn't put grease on the seal felt, only thin oil.  When I greased my seals they tore out very quickly, presumably because of the stickiness of the grease.  Even engine oil may be too thick and sticky so I'd use 3 in 1 type bicycle oil.

I wonder if you just have too much grease in the hub or they're getting hot and the grease melting.

Paul

[elie boone]

That is not much, i have seen far worse and wouldn't worry.

[TomB]

For now Ill keep an eye/ periodic wipe and see if it stabilises once any over filling has gone.  The photos is after a clean, followed by a 75 mile run out yesterday.  There is no grease on the disc so Ill just keep an eye on it for now.  

[Englishmaninwales]

Anyhow Tom,  it all looks far too clean and shiny for a 20+ year old car, so it deserves some grease splatters!