Grease behind front spindle dust cap?

[jc72]

I just replaced my front wheel bearings and found that the spindle end and axle nut were covered with thick orange grease behind the dust caps. The Bentley manual doesn’t mention this or say what kind of grease it is. Is it there to block dust/moisture and do I need to replace it before putting on new dust caps?


I torqued the nut to 214ft lbs but I don’t have an air chisel to bend the locking tab into the groove on the spindle, how necessary do you think that is?

[Blue Shadow]

I don’t have an air chisel to bend the locking tab into the groove on the spindle, how necessary do you think that is?

Very necessary. Air chisel for that job? Really? Just get a hammer and a drift, screwdriver, punch or whatever will put a dent in that soft metal rim of the nut to put the locking tab into it.

Air chisel that is kinda funny. Way too much power for the job.

[jc72]

I don’t have an air chisel to bend the locking tab into the groove on the spindle, how necessary do you think that is?

Very necessary. Air chisel for that job? Really? Just get a hammer and a drift, screwdriver or whatever will put a dent in that soft metal rim of the nut to put the locking tab into it.

Air chisel that is kinda funny. Way too much power for the job.

Thanks, hammer and screwdriver did the job. What about the orange grease?

[Blue Shadow]

The grease on the cap is not necessary and if the bearing is sealed, you might not need any more grease in there. But the original grease was to keep the part lubricated and extra was used so there wasn't a case of not enough or was used to keep dirt out to increase the life of the bearing. Probably showed up as the inner bearing has the grease in a big glob and putting the hub on the car moved a mess of that grease to the spindle and next to the dust cap.

OK checked the BMW manual, pack the cap with grease and install. Use sealing compound on cap. Page 31-8 in that manual. Bentley should have the same info.