Liquid fill front bearings

[Keith Moffett]

Fluid level on liquid fill bearings should be 'just' below the opening lip right? 
Filled with 90 weight gear oil?
I think that's right but my manual says to repack the bearings so these have been changed.
Thanks

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Keith,
That's about right. There should be a full line on the translucent ring also just below the fill port.
Steve

[Richard Davis]

Keith

My '06 Monterey came with grease packed front hubs.  I changed them to oil filled hubs because I prefer them.  It would seem the previous owner of your coach did the same thing.

Richard

[Keith Moffett]

Thanks Steve.  Just wanted to remember properly and not use the wrong stuff.
Couldnt find a leak front or back side but the RF bearing took about 8 OZ.  That was surprising.

[Keith Moffett]

Richard all three of our Beavers had liquid fill bearings.  This is the first time I needed more than an ounce or so.
Thanks for your comments.

[Jerry Carr]

Keith I would wash the wheel down and keep an eye on the front bearing you don't want the oil to leak onto the break pads. When I fill mine about every 5K miles don't over fill (I have hub caps that have to come off ) but I do check for leaks every trip looking for telling streaks. A few years ago on the Beaver during the oil service at BCS they did find a leak and this did require pulling the seal and replacement (no oil got onto the pads)  so I have always kept a close eye on the oil levels.

[Roy Boles]

Hi Keith. My hubs are oil filled. Both caps were seeping and making a mess and I could hardly see the the oil level. Replaced both caps and refilled the hubs. No more leaks.

[Gerald Farris]

Keith,
You need to pay close attention to a front (or tag) axle hub that is loosing any appreciable amount of oil. If a hub is loosing oil, you need to either replace the hub cover and gasket or hub seal. A hub that is leaking oil will result in an expensive beating failure if it is not corrected.

Gerald 

[Keith Moffett]

Gerald
I physically  checked the back side of the wheel and all and can see no place where oil is leaking and gathering dirt etc.  The only leak is when it weeps under the baby moon cap and then just an occasional trickle.  Where else might I look ? 
I am not proud of the fact that these have not been checked in over 2 years even though the miles are low most of that time. 
Could you describe the damage you refer to more?
Much Thanks Gerald

[Keith Moffett]

Hi Keith. My hubs are oil filled. Both caps were seeping and making a mess and I could hardly see the the oil level. Replaced both caps and refilled the hubs. No more leaks.

Roy, do you mean that you replaced the red plastic plug in the fill hole or the outside metal cover?

[Richard Archer]

Keith
Regarding possible damage, our right front wheel bearing got so hot that it fused the bearing to the spindle, brake fluid spilled out of master cylinder net result was a bill for about $3000!  We had to replace both front rotors, calipers, pads, wheel bearings, seals and ABS sensors for safety reasons. 
Every trip I take a quick look behind both front wheels to play it safe.
Regards,
Rich
2000 Patriot Thunder

[Gerald Farris]

Keith,
If you keep a close check on the oil level, you should see a drop in level. If the level drops, you have a leak that needs to be fixed very soon if not now. You measure the life of a dry bearing in feet instead of thousands of miles.

There are three possible leak causes. The hub cover can warp (especially the plastic covers), the hub cover gasket can leak, and the most common leak is the hub seal that seals the hub to the spindle. The first 2 leaks will show on the outside of the wheel (front or tag axle wheel), but the hub seal will leak on the inside and usually will never be noticed unless it is a very bad leak. A slight leak at a hub seal only shows up as a drop in oil level.

Gerald

[Keith Moffett]

Thanks everyone and Gerald for all the details. 
I will have to keep checking it for now.  We are almost to Minot but have no idea where this might be fixed if it is leaking.  Any suggestions on a type of shop to look for? 

[Bill Sprague]

Keith,

A front wheel bearing/seal repair/replace is very common truck shop work.  Any independent or dealer shop is capable.  A lot of motorhomes are on Freightliner chassis so most Freightliner truck shops like motorhomes OK.

Good luck!  Enjoy Minot!

Bill

[Keith Moffett]

Thanks all for the sage advice.
After driving 150 miles in 100 deg heat and having them set in the heat a couple days I checked the one most in question again today.  The lube was just to the lip.  I will be checking with a local Freightliner as well.