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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Front wheel hub seals

I have a pair of S/H front hubs (disc) which I intend to try with existing bearings as they seem ok. But should I change the seals? They are metal encased felt type things. Will new ones be better or not necessarily? I only want to install the hubs once, for obvious reasons.
Bill Bretherton

depends if the felt is still wet soft and goooey with grease (probably OK) or been allowed to dry out (not OK).
David Smith

The felt ones are also easier on the seal surface on the axle spindle. They don't score the way a rubber/ neoprene one sometimes will, and they are more tolerant of slight pitting of the surface. But use a high melting point grease, not LM !
GuyW

Guy,
Castrol LM was always sold as a general purpose and wheel bearing grease suitable for high temperatures - the L was for Lithium and I think the M was Medium (they also did Catrol heavy).
I understand its now discontinued.

And to add to Nigels comments on another post about pretty oil cans in garages, I was running out of LM having used up the old tins I obtained from my relations - I like the tins as they have the easy loading metal plate for my Wanner guns.

So as local shop only has plastic pots with no inner plate I looked on E Bay - £15-18 !!! then I realised it was empty tins - that I was about to throw away !
richard b

Richard, I have been under the misunderstanding that LM stood for low melting point! I have been assuming that for years. So, maybe LM grease is correct then. Whatever you use, it mustn't liquify and just drain away. 🙂

I too have almost finished my last pot of CASTROL LM and have been on the look out for a new tub. At least I have the disc with a hole to transfer into whatever I do end up buying.
GuyW

Thanks all, seals seem quite "squishy" so I'll give them a go. Guy, the LM grease does say high temp, as Richard says and it's all I've got so I'll give it a go.
Bill Bretherton

Guy, see pic 'does what it says on the tin' !
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293071274526

I'm using this
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293442927875 but Comma and CarLube are just as good in my experience.

David Smith

David,

Nice to see it's in a metal tin, one of my pet peeves is the brittle plastic tubs they use for many greases these days that crack if you drop them.

David Billington

Why on earth do you all expect me to read the labels on the tin! I've used the stuff for well over 50 years or more without any problems and never thought to read the label!
GuyW

Strewth £20 for an (almost) empty old tin. The world's mad!
Bob Beaumont

LOL Guy! I wish I'd kept a metal grease tin with the gun loading facilty now. But I haven't had to greased a car for some time. At least I have a proper Wanner grease gun from the 70's. It's been a joy to try it out again. There's something satisfying about watching the grease feed through (and I suppose frustration when it doesn't.....).
Bill Bretherton

"never thought to read ..." - yes a very bad fault of yours, but I'm not being judgemental. :)
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed on 02/04/2020

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