Is die kool die sous werd...??? Short answer, on shimano BSA BB's...yes, everything else(headset / wheel / pivot) no. The rubber seals themselves become worn and although you think you are doing a sterling job of extending your wheelbearing's life by packing it with mountains of grease, you are actually just making it messy to work with and a magnet for other dirt and debris. Water is but one enemy in a bearing's life span. Pivot bearings is a classic example where you will "feel" the worn spot in the suspenion travel path with all the air out of the shock...No amount of grease or new seals will solve it. I havent replaced bearings on my current hope hubs for about 2 years...they still going strong with NO additional grease anywhere, I do however make a point of not bringing any clean green(or any concentrated de-greasing cousin) near my bike and don't use a pressure washer either.
