Author Topic: Synthetic gear oil for wet front wheel bearing?  (Read 2082 times)

Lonne Mays

  • Guest
Synthetic gear oil for wet front wheel bearing?
« on: November 15, 2019, 07:47:58 PM »
Is it recommended to change the gear oil in the front wheel bearing reservoirs every so often? If so, should I change it to synthetic gear oil?

Steve Huber Co-Admin

  • Administrator Group
  • *
  • Posts: 3504
  • Thanked: 2689 times
Re: Synthetic gear oil for wet front wheel bearing?
« Reply #1 on: November 15, 2019, 08:16:17 PM »
Lonne,
I checked a couple of chassis and owner's manuals and saw no requirement or schedule for draining / replacing the front hub gear oil. That said, I'd recommend going to synthetic due to its higher temperature specs.
Steve
Steve
2015-          07 Contessa Bayshore C9,  400 hp
2013-2015: 00 Marquis Tourmaline, C12, 425 hp
2005-2013: 01 Contessa Naples, 3126B, 330 hp

Paul Meehan

  • BAC Member
  • *
  • Posts: 111
  • Thanked: 42 times
  • Travel with DW and two K9's
Re: Synthetic gear oil for wet front wheel bearing?
« Reply #2 on: November 15, 2019, 11:20:05 PM »
I had considered converting to synthetic fluid from non-synthetic fluid but was told the bearings would have to torqued/adjusted since the bearings were 18 years old and the synthetic fluid is thinner than non-synthetic fluid.

Any truth to this or other concerns when going from standard to synthetic fluid in the oil bath hubs?
« Last Edit: November 16, 2019, 02:44:15 AM by Paul Meehan »
Paul and Peggy
St. Johns, Florida
2001 Patriot Ticonderoga 37' 2 Slides (2015-2019)
2014 Newmar Dutch Star 4369 (2019-Current)
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee  Limited

John Compton

  • BAC Member
  • *
  • Posts: 14
  • Thanked: 2 times
Re: Synthetic gear oil for wet front wheel bearing?
« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2019, 12:28:31 AM »
There has been talk over the years about synthetic oils causing ball and roller type bearings to slide or skid rather than roll. I have run it in high performance car rear ends without any problems. It probably wouldn’t hurt to run it, but there is probably no real benefit to it. These wheel bearings run at a low rpm because of the large diameter of the tires.
2002 Patriot Thunder
C-12 Cat
The following users thanked this post: Paul Meehan

Al Anderson

  • Guest
Re: Synthetic gear oil for wet front wheel bearing?
« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2019, 07:55:53 PM »
I switched mine over to synthetic several years ago and everything has worked great the 20K I have driven since.