The lubrication section of the 122 Volvo service manual shows a cross section diagram of the front wheel bearing with a shaded area indicating where grease should be packed. The entire cup covering the axle nut is included in the shaded area.

Is it necessary to pack the entire cup with grease? I have always packed up to the inside of the big washer and have never experienced bearing failure. Then again, I have never put more than 60K miles on a single car.

Thanks much,

Joe M in WV

Joe;

I've noticed that too, it looks like they want the whole volume filled with grease and no airspace (maybe for better thermal conduction/cooling???), but I've never done that either...in my experience, as long as the bearing is well lubed, the grease in the cup is extra and just along for the ride...

Thankfully, 122 wheel bearings are waaaayyyyyy understressed...I saw the wheel bearings which came out of Irv Gordon's 1800 at 1 megamile....they looked little different than new...I would have cleaned and reused them! ....now the cam...that's another story...

Cheers

Look at the grease spec. Those old greases needed help in the form of lots of extra as they tended to get pretty runny when hot (especially on disc brake applications!).

A good quality "disc brake and high temp" bearing grease with Molybdium Disulfide in it has better "sticktion" and won't run out of the bearings when hot.

Yup, I put a decent size glob between the bearings (smear it in the hub) and just a little smear on the outside of the washer after assembly... cap goes on "dry" and all is well.

--
Mike!