Installing Front wheel bearing lip seal

[PeterPortugal]

Guys,

The BBB recommends using a sealant when installing a front wheel bearing seal.

Lots of online resources say it is not necessary.

If anybody does use sealant do they have a particular brand they recommend?

Thanks

Peter

[Benz Dr.]

I've never used sealant but I don't see why you couldn't.

[wwheeler]

Makes a messy job messier. You wouldn't want it to mix with the grease or turn hard. There is an Aviation grade Permatex #3 that is thin and does not harden. That would be about the best I could come up with. This would be useful for all kinds of jobs on these cars. Especially the ones where there is no gasket and just a metal to metal fit.

[stickandrudderman]

Not required on the outside but you should smear a little grease on the internal lip before assembly.

[PeterPortugal]

Thanks guys, I am going with the general consensus of not required. Maybe machining tolerances have moved on considerably since the early 60's.

p.s. permatex non hardening was the name that cropped up when I trawled the net. This was mainly on US sites about trailer hubs. I think by trailer they mean the kind that you put a boat on and back into the water. That might explain it !

[wwheeler]

To diverge slightly since you mentioned trailer hubs....

On the front grease caps, I have used Teflon tape to completely seal the cap from creating a grease film slime on the wheel and hub. I used 1/4" wide Teflon tape and carefully positioned the tape up near the flange of the cap on the OD. You want the tape to stay far away from the brim of the cup. Doing that will prevent strings of tape from getting into the wheel bearing/grease area as you install the cap. When pounding the cap on, the Teflon tape scrunches up and forms a nice little gasket between the hub and the flange of the cap.

No more grease slime!