There is a right way to pack wheel bearings and there is a wrong way. Many people think just smothering the bearing with grease will do. While this may work temporarily, the friction the bearing endures will cause premature wear and breakdown of the bearing. Packing bearings is easiest and most efficient with a bearing packer. If you don't have a bearing packer, you can still pack a bearing properly, but it takes a lot more work and is very messy.
Fill the wheel bearing packer half full of wheel bearing grease, and place the bearing inside with the tapered end up top. Press down the top of the bearing packer and press the bearing into the grease. Remove the bearing packer cover and remove the bearing. If you do not have a bearing packer, skip this step and proceed to the following steps.
Place a large dollop of grease in one hand, while you use your other hand to move the bearing.
Take the bottom of the bearing (the wider side), and, holding it vertically against the grease in your hand, scoop the tight area between the cage of the bearing and the hub of the bearing. The key is to fill the cage of the bearing that holds all the small bearings in place. To fill the cage correctly, you need to pack a small amount into the limited space. It will take time and repetitive motion to fill the bearing properly.
Turn the bearing every so often as one area of the cage begins to fill with grease and keep packing more grease into the cage. You will have to get more grease as necessary, and you will have to work the grease being slid up the palm of your hand back downward.
Move all the way around the bearing, and when you can see grease coming from the entire circumference of the area between the cage and the hub of the bearing at the top tapered side of the bearing, you've packed the bearing. Wipe a layer around the side of the bearing before installing, and use the rags to wipe your hands.
