How to Grease Bike Wheel Bearings

Taking apart and greasing your wheel bearings is a good project for the intermediate bike repair hobbyist.

Instructions

Step 1: Remove wheel Take the wheel off of your bicycle and lay it on a hard surface covered with an old cloth.
TIP: Start with the front wheel, which is easier to disassemble. Taking apart the rear wheel requires additional bike-specific tools such as a socket tool to remove the gear cluster.
Step 2: Remove locknut Loosen the locknut with a wrench while holding the cone-shaped piece still with a cone wrench. Then remove the nut.
TIP: If you don't have a crescent wrench in the right size -- typically 17 millimeters -- then use an adjustable wrench.
Step 3: Remove cone Loosen the cone-shaped end piece with the 15 millimeter cone wrench. Then remove the cone.
Step 4: Remove axle Pull the axle out of the hub or cylinder and set it aside.
Step 5: Remove bearings Use your fingers or a magnet to extract the bearings from the well of the hub.
Step 6: Inspect and clean Wipe the bearings, hub, and cones free of grease and dirt. Inspect the parts for cracks or defects.
TIP: If the bearings are rusty, damaged, or misshapen you can replace them with new bearings purchased from a bike shop.
Step 7: Lubricate Pack a generous amount of grease into the well that holds the bearings. Then coat the bearings with grease and replace them in the well.
Step 8: Grease opposite side Repeat the process of cleaning and greasing the bearings on the opposite side of the hub.
Step 9: Reassemble Reassemble the hub by reversing the process of taking it apart. Adjust the distance of the cones from the hub to make it fit securely.
Step 10: Clean up Wipe away any excess grease and wash your hands with soap and water.
FACT: Ball bearing production facilities were major targets for Allied bomber forces during World War II.