Filling front Planetary hub (wheel end assembly) with oil

[Strobi1]

I'm curious about checking the oil level and filling the front wheel end assembly. I've seen you guys talk about checking the level by rotating the fill plug to the 4 o'clock position, but has anyone ever used the 3 inch "Grease Cap" in the center of the hub? I ask since the plug is stuck and I may have destroyed it :-/ . I will repair it in due time, but I'm trying to take this thing on a test drive and don't want to add this to my list of projects right now. Thanks!

 

[Floridianson]

Yes you could but it will take a long time if it's empty.

 

[Strobi1]

Thanks for the reply! You are right, it is definitely a slow process

 

[Floridianson]

Yea I should have fix the plug. I took some duck tape and covered half the hub hole and filled it up and let it drain into the housing. Took forever. When I went to drill out the plug the bit stopped when it hit the magnet. I had a good centered drill hole so when the drill bit hit magnet I took a punch and knocked it out to the inside with the hub removed. Then a easy out to remove what was left of the plug.

 

[Strobi1]

That sounds like a good strategy. I was worried about metal shavings dropping into the housing, but I guess with the magnet stopping your bit early took care of that. Was it easy to retreave the magnet after tie fact?

 

[Floridianson]

The hub was off when I did that and replaced with new plug.

 

[Strobi1]

Thanks for the info. I'll be tackling that before too long. How involved is taking the cover off? It looks like it supports the planet gears.

 

[Floridianson]

A light tap with a brass hammer and the cover will come off. Sometimes by it's self sometimes the whole cross and gears come with it. If the cross/gears stays in the spindle should stop it from falling to the ground. If the gears/cross drop out to no worries they don't fall apart. If your is like most of them then they will have way to much silicone and you might as well drop the cross/gears and clean it real well. Also I used air to clean out the bolt holes that hold the hub on. I sprayed brake clean in the holes and then used air to get all the silicone out. I do not use silicone on the bolts or any in the holes.

 

[Strobi1]

Thanks! That sounds pretty easy

 

[Floridianson]

All the hub kits I have they all had Loctite in the box so one would think that's what the bolts call for. If you tap on the cross with the hub still on then both should come off as one. After you clean the cross don't forget to put a little grease on the hub shim and thrust bearing so they stay in place when you put the hub back on. I put them back together by putting the cross/gears in first then the hub. If you have any trouble with everything/gears lining up just rotate the tire/wheel and the hub will pop on.

 

[Strobi1]

Awesome, Thanks for the advise!

 

[TNriverjet]

It all makes much more sense once to take it apart the first time.



I had silicone sealant and standard hand tools. Then there's the whole shim deal and setting gear backlash...