How to Grease Bike Wheel Bearings

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

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.

Did You Know?
Ball bearing production facilities were major targets for Allied bomber forces during World War II.