<VV> Bearing lube intervals

[NicolCS@aol.com]

Definitely take a look.  Just remove the hub nut and pop out the outer 
bearing.  (Im assuming we're dealing with the front).  If the bearing if full of 
happy, gooey grease, you are probably ok.  If the grease is dried, runny, or 
absent, you know what to do.

Here's a little story.  In 2001 I purchased two Corvairs, a '65 Van and a '67 
Sedan from a barn in central WA.  The sedan was parked in '73 and the van in 
'86.  The front wheel bearings in the sedan (parked 28 years) looked like they 
were done yesterday.  The van, (parked 15 years) looked like it was packed 
with carmelized sugar.  The grease had to be chipped off.  BTW, although it is 
recommended to service the bearings when the brakes were done, there is little 
relationship to the jobs.  In the world of "what do you charge for?" many 
customers don't go for "upsells".  I'd say that there is less than a 50/50 chance 
the bearings were done at the time of the brakes. 
<snip>
>  Bearing Lube Interval
> 
> I have had my Corvair for 17 years, and driven it about 15,000 miles.  I had
> the brakes done when I first got the car, and I assume that my mechanic
> lubed the wheel bearings at that time, way back in 1987.
> 
> The GM service manual recommends lubing the wheel bearings whenever brake
> service is done.  But I still have good brake linings 17 years later.
> 
> The car is up on jackstands with wheels removed right now for some other
> work.  Should I go ahead and lube the wheel bearings, or just leave them
> alone?  Is there any risk of making things worse by lubing them?  Is it
> risky to not lube them?<unsnip>