How to Clean Your Bearings With Nail Polish

Wheel bearings get caked with oil, grease and dirt over time. This caking happens when the lubricant on the wheels mixes with grease and the caking prevents the wheels from rotating freely. Instead of buying new wheels, clean the bearings on the old wheels. Use nail polish remover to uncake the dirt and help the wheels rotate freely.

Things You'll Need

  • Bearing pusher
  • Thumbtack
  • Rubber tub
  • Nail polish remover
  • Bearing lubricant
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the bearing from the wheel by pressing a bearing pusher in the middle of the wheel. Pushing the bearing out through the other end of the hole.

    • 2

      Remove the rubber shield from the bearing by prying it out with a thumbtack.

    • 3

      Remove the metallic shield from the bearing by prying out the C-ring with a thumbtack until it is loose and knocking out the bearing. Set the C-ring and the shields aside.

    • 4

      Place the bearing in a small rubber tub.

    • 5

      Fill the tub with nail polish remover; shake back and forth until the bearing is clean. Do this for several minutes until the nail polish remover appears dirty and the bearing is clean.

    • 6

      Set the bearing out to dry for several hours.

    • 7

      Apply two drops of lubricant to the bearing.

    • 8

      Slide the metallic shield into the bearing. Press the C-ring into the bearing. Press the rubber shield back into the bearing. Reinstall the bearing in the wheel by pressing it into the hole.