Servicing rear hubs/joints necessary? Good idea? Leave it?

[pgtrr]

1990 240SX 2.4L SOHC 140K mi (KA24E S13)

Servicing rear hubs/joints necessary? Good idea? Or if it ain't broke, dont' fix it?

I'm about to do the rear brake pads - they are worn and starting to get some 'groans' when applying pedal especially in reverse.

But I'm wondering if, given the 140k mi, it's worth getting into the hubs/joints. W/ the rear brake rotors removed I can turn the hubs and I hear sort of a 'whirring/rubbing' sound and feel a corresponding pulse or roughness at the outer hubs. Seems to come from the center, maybe gears but probably the inboard CVjoints or carrier side bearings - dunno (maybe it's normal). I can't feel anything obviously wrong or rough at the hubs themselves by hand turning - seem smooth but then it's highly subjective. Putting a stethescope to the hubs and turning by hand doesn't reveal any add'l specific noises however. Also the CVboots like look intact, no signs of leakage. I can feel no looseness or slop in the half shafts themselves. (I have no experience w/ IRS using CVjoints)

Q: What kind of mileage do folks often get out of the rear CV joints or hubs? Is either more or less likely to require service than the other? Should I let them go until an obvious symptom occurs? I've got 140K currently.

Q: Anything in particular I should look/feel/listen for in the axle and/or hub assembly area under there?

Q: For a DIYer are these generally 'serviced' (clean/re-grease) or replaced and how involved is it? (I've done clutches, brakes, front hubs, ujoints, timing chains but don't have any special tools for cvjoints and such)

On my various cars I'm used to repacking front hubs and the only rears I've done was on solid axles w/ bearings pressed on the shafts or IRS cars w/ UJOints on halfshafts. Never done any sort of hub work on a rear IRS and never had CVJoints before either. All kinda new to me as to both diagnosing and servicing.

Appreciate any discussion or insight into this topic! Thanks,

[ricebike]

"if it ain't broke, don't fix it"

I believe it's a sealed system; so no re-packing of hubs are necessary. Just keep an eye on the rubber cv joint covers/mebbe spray silicone on them?

also looks like u did a correct visual inspection on the CV joint system, so u r good to go.

i'm @ 197K miles on the rear system & the only things i replaced were the brake components; heh, still have original shocks/springs too!

mebbe just change the differential gear oil (GL-5) every 2 years/30K miles & regular visual inspections of the rubber bushings are about it for that system.

[pgtrr]

Thanks ricebike,

At a glance I saw a castle nut w/ cotter pin and signs of grease behind it so kinda thought the hub bearings may be serviceable/greasable w/ just a set of new seals - but not sure and don't have a good service manual on this car as of yet.

Yep - did the GL5 thing when I did the clutch last year and had the driveshaft rebuilt (Thanks Nissan for the non-servicable ujoints!). Splurged and went w/ some synthetic M1 or Valvoline or something.

Also put in some synthetic GL-4 for the transmission - buttery smooth shifting now.

(one of these days gotta do that timing chain)

[ricebike]

haha, ya i dunno why they omit those ujoints as well as zerk fittings on the front suspension points <lower ball joints/ outer tie rod ends>