Grease Caps: Why Do Grease Caps Lengthen The Life Of Bearings?

When it comes to bearings, there’s a delicate balance between over-greasing, and not greasing enough. Doing one or the other may end up ruining your ball bearings, or drastically cutting its life-span. Sound like a tricky issue? It may seem that way at first, but once you come to understand why your bearings need grease, the easier time you’ll have with your bearing maintenance.

Grease caps are the peg-like covers found at the center of a wheel and are a necessary component of keeping your ball and roller bearings in tip-top shape. Often time’s grease caps go ignored until your bearings are already cracked and broken. If you want to increase your bearings designed lifespan, then you’re going to want to start paying attention to grease caps.

One of the hard-hitters in taking down your bearings are the elements: dirt, debris, water, salt, and sand that can be transferred from the road into your vehicles bearings. Bearings need lubrication, and using grease caps will ensure your bearings are running smooth and clean while reducing the odds of debris and other contaminants getting stuck inside your bearings. Grease caps improve the function and lifespan of your bearings by ensuring that they receive proper lubrication and come in all different varieties to fit every possible application. These caps can be either threaded, or press-on.

No matter which type you choose, keeping a grease cap on your vehicle is an absolute must. To ensure the best possible protection of your ball bearings, clean and repack your bearings with grease at least once a year. This is essential in wheel bearing maintenance. For more information on bearings and grease caps, or to request a personal quote, feel free to call VNC Bearings at 800-862-3211.

Lubricating Your Bearings: What You Need to Know

At VNC we know bearings. We also know that you want your ball bearings and roller bearings to last as long as possible without rusting or wearing out. Lubricating your bearings will help to keep them in great shape, and requires little time and energy on your part for something that will benefit your bearings’ performance in the long run.

First start by removing your bearings by using a bearing puller.

Next remove the bearing seals. You may be able to do this with a small screwdriver. Your bearing may having one or two seals to remove before getting to the cage and balls. Be careful not to damage the seals during removal.

Clean your bearings first. You’ll want to remove old grease and grime from the bearings for optimum performance afterwards. You may soak your bearings in alcohol, solvent, or use a pre-packaged bearing cleaner. Soak for several minutes before rinsing with clean solvent.

Now you’ll want to reapply lubricant to your bearings. Start by letting them air dry.  Never use compressed air to spin the bearing without lubrication. Apply the recommended amount of your chosen lubricant and reinstall the seal(s).

Now you’ve completed greasing up those bearings and you’ll be in for a smoother spin. VNC has been around since 1993, building a reputation for supplying high-quality bearings to our customers. At VNC we’re all about bearings. Call us at 800.862.3211 with any questions or to REQUEST A QUOTE.