How to Grease Can-Am Maverick X3 Wheel Bearings

Keeping the Can-Am X3 wheel bearing grease in good condition helps protect the bearings from moisture, dirt, corrosion, and premature wear—especially if your Maverick X3 regularly sees mud, water, sand, or hard trail use. The easiest maintenance method is to use a compatible 39mm wheel bearing greaser tool with a grease gun rather than trying to manually pack grease around the outside of the bearing. The basic process is to safely lift the vehicle, remove the wheel and required hub components, access the bearing, insert the greaser tool, add grease gradually, and then reassemble everything to the correct specifications.

Why Can-Am X3 Wheel Bearing Grease Matters

Wheel bearings support the wheel hub while allowing it to rotate smoothly under substantial vehicle weight, cornering load, impacts, and off-road vibration.

On a Maverick X3, those bearings may regularly be exposed to:

• Mud
• Water crossings
• Sand
• Dust
• High-speed impacts
• Repeated suspension movement

Proper lubrication helps reduce friction and provides additional protection against moisture and contamination.

However, adding grease is not a repair for a damaged bearing. If a bearing already has noticeable play, grinding, rough rotation, excessive noise, or seal damage, inspect it properly and replace it if necessary rather than assuming more grease will solve the problem.

Can-Am X3 Wheel Bearing Grease Tools and Supplies

A dedicated 39mm greaser is especially useful because it allows grease to be delivered through the bearing rather than simply being spread around the exposed outside surface. StarknightMT’s current X3 tool uses O-ring seals and grease fittings designed to reduce grease leakage during servicing.

How to Grease Can-Am Maverick X3 Wheel Bearings

The exact disassembly sequence can vary by Maverick X3 year, trim, and wheel-hub configuration. Use the following as a general maintenance guide and check the service information for your exact machine before removing hub, brake, or axle components.

Step 1: Prepare the Maverick X3

Park the X3 on a flat, stable surface.

Before beginning:

• Shift into the appropriate parked position
• Set the parking brake
• Turn the engine off
• Remove the key
• Allow nearby components to cool

Loosen the wheel fasteners before lifting the vehicle if required by your normal service procedure.

Raise the X3 with a suitable jack or lift and support it securely with properly rated jack stands.

Step 2: Remove the Wheel

Remove the lug nuts and take the wheel off the hub.

This gives you access to the hub, brake, axle, and wheel-bearing area.

Take a moment to inspect for:

• Loose components
• Torn CV boots
• Brake damage
• Grease leakage
• Mud or debris around the hub

Finding another problem now is better than discovering it after reassembly.

Step 3: Access the Wheel Bearing

The original version of this article suggested that you could simply remove the rotor and apply grease directly to the bearing.

For the Maverick X3, a 39mm wheel bearing greaser tool is a cleaner and more controlled approach.

Remove only the components required by the service procedure to gain access to the bearing and allow the greaser tool to be installed.

Depending on your exact model and the work being performed, this can involve hub or axle-related disassembly.

Do not remove brake or suspension components unnecessarily.

Step 4: Clean the Area

Before inserting the greaser, clean dirt, mud, sand, and old grease from the accessible bearing and hub area.

Contamination pushed into the bearing can defeat the purpose of adding fresh grease.

Use a clean rag and avoid allowing dirt to enter around the bearing seals.

Step 5: Install the 39mm Wheel Bearing Greaser Tool

Insert the compatible greaser into the wheel bearing according to the tool instructions.

A properly sized tool should fit the bearing closely enough for its seals to help direct grease into the bearing rather than allowing most of it to escape around the outside.

The StarknightMT 39mm tool is designed for multiple Maverick X3 and X3 MAX configurations and uses two O-rings to help control leakage while grease is being added.

Before pumping grease, confirm that:

• The tool is seated correctly
• The grease fitting is secure
• The grease gun is connected properly
• Dirt has not entered the bearing area

Step 6: Add Grease Gradually

Connect the grease gun and apply grease slowly.

Avoid treating “more grease” as automatically better.

Add grease gradually so you can monitor the process instead of forcing a large quantity into the bearing under unnecessary pressure.

The goal is to improve lubrication—not to damage seals by aggressively over-pumping.

If grease immediately escapes from an unexpected location or the tool does not appear to seat correctly, stop and inspect the setup.

Step 7: Remove the Greaser and Inspect

Once lubrication is complete, disconnect the grease gun and carefully remove the greaser tool.

Wipe away excess grease from the bearing and surrounding area.

Inspect the bearing again for:

• Excessive movement
• Damaged seals
• Corrosion
• Roughness
• Unusual contamination

Grease can help protect a healthy bearing, but it cannot restore a worn mechanical surface.

Step 8: Reassemble the Hub Components

Reinstall all components removed during access.

Fasteners associated with the axle, hub, brake system, wheel, and suspension can have specific torque requirements. Use the correct service specifications for your exact Maverick X3 year and configuration rather than applying one universal torque number.

Make sure:

• Brake components are correctly installed
• Wiring and brake lines are routed properly
• Cotter pins or locking hardware are replaced where required
• No tools or loose hardware remain near the hub

Step 9: Reinstall the Wheel

Place the wheel back onto the hub and hand-start the lug nuts.

Lower the vehicle according to the normal service procedure and tighten the lug nuts in the correct sequence to the specification listed for your X3.

After servicing, verify that:

• The wheel rotates normally
• There is no obvious bearing play
• Brake operation feels normal
• No abnormal sound appears during a short low-speed check

Step 10: Repeat as Needed

Repeat the procedure on the other wheel bearings if they also require service.

If one bearing shows significantly more contamination, roughness, or looseness than the others, investigate why rather than assuming all four simply need more grease.

When Should You Grease Maverick X3 Wheel Bearings?

There is no single universal mileage interval that fits every Maverick X3.

How frequently you inspect or service the bearings depends heavily on how the machine is used.

Consider checking them more closely after:

• Frequent water crossings
• Deep mud riding
• Sand and dune riding
• Pressure washing around the hubs
• Long periods of wet storage
• Heavy trail impacts
• Noticeable wheel play or bearing noise

Normal dry-trail use may not expose the bearings to the same level of contamination as repeated mud or water riding.

Instead of greasing on an arbitrary schedule, combine bearing inspection with your normal X3 maintenance routine.

Signs a Maverick X3 Wheel Bearing May Need More Than Grease

Greasing is preventive maintenance. It should not be used to hide mechanical wear.

Watch for:

Wheel play: Movement when the wheel is rocked can indicate bearing or suspension wear.

Grinding or growling: Noise that changes with wheel speed may indicate bearing damage.

Rough rotation: A bearing that does not rotate smoothly may already be worn.

Damaged seals: Torn or displaced seals can allow water and debris inside.

Repeated grease loss: Grease escaping rapidly can point to sealing or fitment problems.

Abnormal tire wear: This can have several causes, but wheel-bearing looseness should be included in the inspection.

If the bearing is damaged, replacement is usually more appropriate than repeatedly adding grease.

Common Can-Am X3 Wheel Bearing Greasing Mistakes

Applying grease only to the outside. Smearing grease around the exposed surface does not necessarily deliver lubrication where it is needed inside the bearing.

Using the wrong greaser size. A poor fit can cause leakage and ineffective grease delivery.

Pumping excessive grease pressure. More grease is not always better, especially if pressure begins affecting the seals.

Greasing a failed bearing. Noise, roughness, or excessive play should be diagnosed before assuming lubrication is the solution.

Ignoring contamination. Adding fresh grease without first cleaning mud or sand from the service area can introduce contamination.

Skipping torque specifications. Hub, wheel, axle, brake, and suspension fasteners should be reassembled according to model-specific requirements.

Conclusion

Maintaining Can-Am X3 wheel bearing grease is a relatively small job that can help protect an expensive and hard-working part of your Maverick X3.

The biggest improvement over the old “apply grease directly to the bearing” approach is using a correctly sized wheel-bearing greaser. A compatible 39mm tool allows you to deliver grease more effectively while keeping the hub itself in place, although the surrounding components still need to be accessed correctly.

At StarknightMT, the 39mm Maverick X3 wheel bearing greaser is one of several maintenance and accessory options available for the X3 platform. Regular inspection, correct lubrication, and replacing genuinely worn bearings when necessary will do far more for long-term reliability than simply adding grease whenever a new noise appears.

FAQs

Q1: What Size Wheel Bearing Grease Tool Does a Can-Am Maverick X3 Use?

A1: Many Maverick X3 and X3 MAX applications use a 39mm wheel bearing greaser tool. Fitment still needs to be checked against the exact model and year before purchasing or servicing. StarknightMT’s current 39mm tool lists fitment across numerous 2017–2024 X3 and X3 MAX configurations.

Q2: What Grease Should I Use for Can-Am X3 Wheel Bearings?

A2: Use a high-quality grease suitable for wheel-bearing and off-road applications and compatible with the bearing and existing lubricant. If your service documentation specifies a particular grease type, follow that specification rather than choosing solely by brand or color.

Q3: How Often Should I Grease Can-Am X3 Wheel Bearings?

A3: There is no universal interval that applies to every X3. Machines exposed frequently to water, mud, sand, pressure washing, or severe off-road use may need more frequent inspection and maintenance than vehicles used primarily in dry conditions.

Q4: Can I Grease a Maverick X3 Wheel Bearing Without Removing the Hub?

A4: A compatible bearing greaser is designed to deliver grease into the bearing without requiring the wheel bearing itself to be pressed out of the hub. However, you still need to remove the components required to properly access the bearing and insert the tool.

Q5: Will Grease Fix a Noisy Can-Am X3 Wheel Bearing?

A5: Not necessarily. If the bearing has excessive play, roughness, grinding, damaged seals, or internal wear, adding grease may not correct the problem. Inspect the bearing and replace it when mechanical damage is present.

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