Rear wheel bearings.

[Biker Joe]

I have a Carrera 'Vanquish' road bike. The stock wheels are OK. Built up they only weigh 1.8kg and run true.
The only problem is that the rear wheel has this really thick grease packed into the ball and cone bearings that's creating a drag when you turn the hub.
I've loosened the cones a little which helped a bit.The bearings still drag however.
The wheels are only a few weeks old so the bearings shouldn't be worn.There is no roughness.
Do you think it would be worth repacking the bearings with a lighter grease and if so what grease should I use?
The front wheel is fine, by the way, and seems to have the same grease

 

[fossala]

If you know what you are doing and have some grease laying around, it's only a 10 min job. Saying that, if you are having problems with the wheelset, maybe head back down to halfords and see what they say before taking it apart.

 

[Biker Joe]

If you know what you are doing and have some grease laying around, it's only a 10 min job. Saying that, if you are having problems with the wheelset, maybe head back down to halfords and see what they say before taking it apart.

I can do the job myself. I didn't get the bike from Halfords. Bought it second hand. The wheels are fine apart from the rear bearings which seem to be running in thick sticky treacle. If you know what I mean.

 

[fossala]

I can do the job myself. I didn't get the bike from Halfords. Bought it second hand. The wheels are fine apart from the rear bearings which seem to be running in thick sticky treacle. If you know what I mean.

Might as well just give it a once over. I would do that on most second hand bikes I get within the first month anyway.

 

[actonblue]

Sounds normal to me As long as they are not binding they will be fine.
New hubs feel like they are too tight but thats the way they come out of the factory.

 

[actonblue]

Remember there is a lot more force going through the rear wheel so the bearings have to cope cope with that.

 

[gbb]

If it were my bike Joe, i'd replace the grease. Its amazing how much drag heavy grease causes. A lighter grease will do no harm whatsoever. It may not last as long as the heavier grease, but if youre proficient at hubs, doing them a little more often will compensate.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Vaseline works a treat .... for wheel bearings I mean.

bear in mid they may feel draggy to your fingers, but on the road it's probably naff-all.

 

[Gravity Aided]

White Litium for grease for me. Sticky grease may be Marine Bearing Grease, like used on the main shaft bearing on a boat. Good for the bottom bracket, a bit draggy on the wheels.

 

[Koga]

I would replace the grease but I do not think you will notice the difference on the bike. Just make sure that the cones are set up correctly to prevent wear and tear.

 

[fossyant]

Finishline Teflon waterproof stuff - works a treat. Strip the hub, clean it out and replace.

 

[compo]

Bog standard lithium grease from Earnest Doe's at Fyfield. If it's good enough for combine harvesters and other expensive machinery it is good enough for my bike!

 

[Koga]

Perhaps I should have added, I did the same myself, bought a tube of bearing grease (can't remember which one, but it was fine) and replaced the old grease.
I also cut back some of the outer bearing seal as it was rubbing and much as it kept things out, it also kept it in ! So my view was to service the bearings regularly, that was until I broke the wheel (Norfolk roads) and had to buy a new one....

 

[Biker Joe]

Perhaps I should have added, I did the same myself, bought a tube of bearing grease (can't remember which one, but it was fine) and replaced the old grease.
I also cut back some of the outer bearing seal as it was rubbing and much as it kept things out, it also kept it in ! So my view was to service the bearings regularly, that was until I broke the wheel (Norfolk roads) and had to buy a new one....

Thanks for that. I didn't notice the seal was rubbing too. I shall sort everything out the weekend. Thanks again.