Can You Over Grease a Bearing?

Yes, it is possible to over grease a bearing. Grease works by creating a barrier between the metal surfaces and keeping them apart from each other.

If the excess grease creates too thick of a barrier, it will pressure our smallest ball bearings and cause them to fail early under high-stress situations such as cornering hard at race speeds or high speeds on the highway.

On the other hand, overgreasing is more likely to cause issues with dirt and debris getting into the grease or oil used to lubricate it. This buildup of dirt leads to even more friction because the dirt acts like sandpaper inside the bearing. As a result, the bearing will start to spin slower and create a lot of heat which causes the grease or oil to leak out of the bearing.

Grease is designed to stay in place, not run out as it gets warm, and flow from the bearing as the axle turns. If you put too much grease inside a bearing, some grease can escape between the races and balls as they spin on their axis. It will lead to increased rolling resistance, make your bearings feel sluggish, and lead to premature bearing failure.

What to do in the case of bearing over greasing?

The first step is to clean the bearings. You can do it with a degreaser or solvent. However, cleaning the bearings may require special tools or solvents, so it’s best to consult a professional if you’re unsure how to do it. You may also need to use a brush to get into all nooks and crannies.

Once the bearings are clean, re-grease them using quality bearing grease. If your bearings are sealed, this means that you need to use special lithium grease. Be sure to use enough grease, but not so much that it will leak out of the bearings. Finally, reinstall the bearings and check for leaks.

How to prevent bearing over greasing?

The most common way to prevent bearings from over greasing is to use an effective lubrication management system. An effective lubrication management system will help ensure that the correct amount of grease is applied to the bearing and help keep track of when the grease needs to be replaced.

Another way to prevent bearings from over greasing is to use high-quality grease. High-quality grease will help keep the bearing lubricated for longer and help protect the bearing from damage.

Finally, it is essential to ensure that you install the bearing correctly. If you install the bearing correctly, you can quickly become over greased.

What is an optimal amount of grease?

The amount of grease required to lubricate a bearing properly varies depending on the size and bearing. However, a good starting point is to apply one thin coat of grease to the entire bearing surface. If you are not sure how much grease to use, it is always better to use too little than too much. Excess grease can cause the bearing to run hot and eventually fail.