380: Steering maintenance

[rogrog]

I have a 2009 380 Premium and the wheel is squeaky. There seems to be no way of getting to the bearing which is where the noise is. I have tried taking the wheel off and spraying WD40 in the area of the bearing and reaching up from the access below the wheel to grease the chain and spray more WD40. There have been some improvements from time to time but nothing permanent.
Can anyone help?

[David M]

Don't use WD-40. It is more of a solvent than a lubricant. WD-40 only lubricates temporarily until pretty much all of it evaporates away in a week or so. WD-40 will dissolve what little grease you already have. The only idea I have is to disassemble the squeaky part and to lubricate it with a water resistant grease, something like wheel bearing grease for boat trailers.

Pack what grease you can in there but if the bearing is sealed and it is squeaking it may need to be replaced. You definitely don't want your helm wheels bearing to fail, I know that's really obvious.

[rogrog]

Thank you. The trouble is that you can't get to the bearing without dismantling it which I am not prepared to take on. I assume it is a sealed unit but I wonder if anyone else has something to add......

[David M]

Is there a zerk fitting for that bearing? Look around, sometimes they are pretty well hidden.

Maybe get a can of white lithium grease that you spray in there with a straw? Would a small straw like you see on WD-40 cans get in there?

[Steve_C]

I agree with David M, WD 40 is NOT a proper lubricant. Find a spray lube until you can disassemble and do it correctly. The white lithium works well, as noted. Home Depot sales it for less than $5. Good luck.