Truckster (Vic) replied:

Depends on road conditions, rain, etc..

Fair few variables. but since its only a 20min job, do it while rotating tires, and checking brake pads... or every 2 times. It isnt going to hurt.

Diff oil, depending on which oil you are using... and hwy klms or city..

Member - Browny (VIC) replied:

Steve,

My mechanic repacks mine (GU Patrol) every 40,000 k all gear oils also. I do 90% black top if you were playing in water alot, more often would be advisable.

Browny

DARREN replied:

In typical fashion Truckster seems to have covered everything with his thoroughly informative post, but in the event that his post doesn't contain everything you need to know:

For diffs I don't know off the top of my head. But for wheel bearings, about 40,000 but more often if you a fair bit of off road, water in particular. My GU recently had it's 40,000 service and the bearings were checked in accordance with the manual, one had suffered some water ingress and was a little dry and was replaced. My 40,000 were mostly road with a few weekends away (incl. river crossings) incl. 10,000 during a a Cape York trip from melbourne.

With 99% road I think 40,000 should be fine.

Member - Fred replied:

20 minutes !
Does that include washing the bearings and hub - inspecting bearings and then repacking
Should go in to business at this speed

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Member - Brian F H (QLD) replied:

Which grease ? Is more the question..A highly qualified (and a good one) mechanic fitted my Detriot™ locker to my front live axle.Re-packed wheel brngs..Fine! Yeah rite! Next thing I know my wheel is leaning over.Mmm! Jacked it up,pulled free-wheel hub off.Bearing is in loose bits averywhere.Cage all chopped up.Only thing keeping wheel on and reasonably vertical was disc brake in caliper..Why? Contacted lube expert..Mechanic had used black grease (low speed for U/V joints etc-Although they spin fast the frictional surfaces don't do much milage)..A trucker friend who has all older trucks and multi-axle semis,almost never buys wheel bearings.He pulls them out,washes them and packs with Wynns™ red grease.I use same grease on U/V joints in our 1980 (we got it new) Diahatsu.Original U/V joints still have no wear after 25yrs pulling tandem trailer etc.(I bought new crosses to put in for our 1989 trip to Cape York..Mechanic said no wear..Keep them.Still on shelf) Wynns grease is not soap based.Not at all expensive.

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Member - Toonfish replied:

need to do mine soon wazza can i get a hand mate ????????????

got a whole weekend spare .
lol

ianmc replied:

Triton bearings have done 240,000kms & original as are unis.
Have used black moly everywhere for a few years no probs.
Maybe I should repak em with bearing grease as they have never been repacked, just a bit added occasionally . Any thoughts.??

BlackJack replied:

Steve 21, aAbout the grease.
The main things that destroy grease are contamination and high temperature.
If you go through alot of water, you have to check the bearing grease frequently.
Water can get in from the inside seal, if its worn or damaged.
If the grease stays clean, its good for 40,000 klms easy before re-packs and the bearings will last for 100,000s of klms..
If water gets in, the bearings will get corroded and noisy.

Lithium-based greases are best for bearings and this is what you will find in most auto shops, garaages, etc.
The black Molydisulphide grease is normally a Lithium -based grease with Moly additives that makes it good for sliding surfaces and low speed (uni-joints etc).
Lithium-based grease with high temperature and EP (extreme pressure) additives is better for faster aplications like wheel bearings. Its normally light in colour (pale, yellow or red).
Cleanliness in applying the grease and re-packing it when its changed apperarance due to temperatrure or contamination is more important than the brand of grease.