Originally Posted by
Road Fan
BTW, even old hubs that still feel smooth need to be overhauled, if it hasn't been done for 5 to 10 years, or more. Grease dries. If its dry but smooth, there's essentially no lubrication going on, and the running surfaces of the bearings will pit and fail if they haven't.
If the hub is not sealed with rubber seals, the grease is also what keeps the grit away from the ball bearings.