Do they need lubricant during assembly? I didnt see anything of the sort when taking them apart, but as far I know they have never been removed so perhaps it wore away over 15 years.

Also, I practically destroyed the caps back there, guess I'll have to buy a pair...

 

nothing in the fsm...

 

They are sealed bearings. When they wear replace them, no maintenance.

 

late response here, but put a thin layer of grease on the axle stubs to protect them from corrosion. that's about it.
the bearing itself is sealed and should need no lube, but I'll pack a thin layer inside the hub cap too to prevent air/moisture from getting in and doing any damage.

 

Thanks for clearing up my terminology, yes I was referring to the axle stubs... not the bearings themselves.

Is there any specific type or brand of grease for this?

 

take a look at the FSM and it will probably show a certain type of grease.
I just use "axle grease" or "wheel bearing grease" from the parts store.

 

I like anti-seize

 

be wary of using anti-sieze near bearings. it contains small particles of copper or aluminum or graphite, which can build up on the bearing surfaces and cause damage to the bearings. grease is just a 'slime' that doesn't have particles in it and is better to use near bearings.

 

Thanks for the tip.

 

The 'slime' worked quite well, I now have a can of it that will last a few decades.

 

heh.. yeah. you need just one small pea-sized blob of it and you gotta buy a 12oz tube..