Rear hub bearings - each side is a different colour!

[rusky]

Decided to service the rear hub as there has been a loud clicking coming from it all week but noticed that the drive side bearings are a different colour than the other.

 

[longers]

I've done three hubs recently and have had the same thing on two of them. Mine are cheap Alex wheels and the cups aren't perfect anymore but will have to do until they get really bad.

I've not had much practice or success at greasing hubs before and they seem ok.
So far

 

[rusky]

These are from Truvativ hubs on Alexrims.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Fairly common thing I think. The drive side bearings tend to get protected by all the oil etc used on the chain and sprockets/freewheel whereas the other side gets less lubrication and more exposure to the weather. I've sometimes had my drive side bearings bathed in a wonderful mix of oil and grease with the other side being essentailly dry ( )

 

[GrasB]

26x25 is probably right but I have seen the drive side ball bearings been made of a higher grade steel before, I assume this is because it can potentially take more load than the non-drive side.

 

[rusky]

Cheers, I regreased them & refitted with the dark ones on the drive side.