Advice on When and How to Repack Trailer Wheel Bearings

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  Advice on When and How to Repack Trailer Wheel Bearings

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Author Topic:   Advice on When and How to Repack Trailer Wheel Bearings

davej14 posted 07-17-2010 10:51 AM ET (US)
I have never inspected the trailer wheel bearings on my Shorlander trailer which is now 10 years old. I recently acquired an IR gun and now monitor the hub temp so I can definitively say that there is no overheating problem. I cannot perceive any play in the wheels when they are jacked free of ground contact. Should I leave well enough alone or should I remove the wheels for inspection and repack the bearings ?
Not having done this particular job before, it looks very straight forward, just messy. When researching the process there is never any information about how to clean the grease from the old bearings. Should you simply wipe away what is possible or do you soak them in solvent and blow them out with compressed air before repacking them? Should the original bearings be replaced even if they look good because they are 10 years old?
Should the rear seals be replaced if they are not leaking ?
Lastly, where can I find high quality replacement components from the USA or Japan? I have searched and literally everything is marked "made in China". I would want to have some spares on hand before attempting to disassemble for inspection.
contender posted 07-17-2010 12:23 PM ET (US)
Japan or USA bearings are ok, China no way. If the seal is not broken/leaking why replace it? The trailer is ten years old with how many miles? If you have kept grease in/on the bearing they still will be ok (my trailer is 35 years old, I think I change them once) The problem is if water/salt water gets in the bearing area and sits on the bearing it will cause rust on them. If you have nothing to do one Saturday take them apart clean them with anything that will clean the grease off, inspect them, and clean out the hubs also, need to check the race as well. If I went through this much trouble I would replace them, they are not that expensive. The hardest part will be knocking out the race out of the hub, and you need to make sure the new seal goes in correctly and straight. You will need some good wheel bearing grease, inter and outer bearings, and a seal, for each tire and the right tools. Just like you said not that hard but messy....good luck
Tom Hemphill posted 07-17-2010 05:19 PM ET (US)
I've had my trailer for about 15 years, and it's about 25 years old. All I've ever done is to inspect the hubs externally (for leaking grease) and occasionally add a little grease. (It has Bearing Buddies or the equivalent.)
It is my feeling that seals, being made of rubber, will be the first thing to go in an otherwise well-maintained hub. Repacking the bearings and installing new seals can give peace of mind. Now that I think of it, maybe it's time for me to do so.
Yes, repacking bearings is pretty strait forward but messy. Everything should be cleaned meticulously; solvent soaking and blow dry sounds right. I wouldn't replace bearings which have been working fine and look good.
Chuck Tribolet posted 07-19-2010 01:30 AM ET (US)
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. And you have the tools to
detect early of it's broke. Though a calibrated fingertip
is probably just as good.
I've had two bearing problems in 12 years and 1600 dunkings in
salt water. Both gave me an audible warning. I carry a
hub kit and the tools since the first one. I used them
the second time, got the hub changed out in the dive shop
parking lot before they got my tanks filled. And had the
parts handy when some SOB stole my SS Bearing Buddies in the
ramp parking lot.
And I had to install new hubs after an accident wiped out
the axle (truck going the other way lost a big steel loading
ramp, it bounced over the center divide, and I had nowhere
to go but over. It kicked up and bent the axle about
30 degrees, and tool out the U bolts and spring on one side.
Whaler was fine, insurance paid the repairs and my time to
fix it.
If you get a hub kit, Tie Down Engineering has galvanized
hubs with pregreased bearings installed, and a Zerk on the
back side. Want to repack? Pop the hub cap, install grease
gun on the Zerk, pump until you got clear grease, reinstall
cap.

Chuck
davej14 posted 07-19-2010 09:38 AM ET (US)
Chuck,
Thank you for the advice. My original Shorelandr hubs do not have the backside zerk on them, just bearing buddies with zerks on the front side. Upon closer inspection one of the backside seals does have some grease around the axle although it is not excessive. When I first got the trailer I was uneducated about grease until reading posts on this site. I was not too particular about using the proper type. Both bearing buddies leak grease into the "bras", they were probably overfilled by the previous owner. I have new bearing buddies ready to install.
Knowing this, would you just put on the new bearing buddies or go the extra step to clean up the bearings and replace the rear seals. I'll get a spare pre-greased replacement hub in either case.
Chuck Tribolet posted 07-19-2010 09:07 PM ET (US)
I think I'd just clean things (including on the back side
where there's a little leakage), repack with marine grade
grease, and put it back together with the new Bearing Buddies.
Clean up the old Bearing Buddies and keep them with the spare
hub. Having an old one saved the day when mine got swiped.
I had one spare new and one spare used, and it got me home.
I have two Rubbermaid tubs with spare hub, grease, tools,
paper towels, waterless handcleaner, etc. Everything I need
but the jack, and my truck jack works on the trailer. The
tubs live in the truck.

Chuck

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Author	Topic: Advice on When and How to Repack Trailer Wheel Bearings
davej14	posted 07-17-2010 10:51 AM ET (US) I have never inspected the trailer wheel bearings on my Shorlander trailer which is now 10 years old. I recently acquired an IR gun and now monitor the hub temp so I can definitively say that there is no overheating problem. I cannot perceive any play in the wheels when they are jacked free of ground contact. Should I leave well enough alone or should I remove the wheels for inspection and repack the bearings ? Not having done this particular job before, it looks very straight forward, just messy. When researching the process there is never any information about how to clean the grease from the old bearings. Should you simply wipe away what is possible or do you soak them in solvent and blow them out with compressed air before repacking them? Should the original bearings be replaced even if they look good because they are 10 years old? Should the rear seals be replaced if they are not leaking ? Lastly, where can I find high quality replacement components from the USA or Japan? I have searched and literally everything is marked "made in China". I would want to have some spares on hand before attempting to disassemble for inspection.
contender	posted 07-17-2010 12:23 PM ET (US) Japan or USA bearings are ok, China no way. If the seal is not broken/leaking why replace it? The trailer is ten years old with how many miles? If you have kept grease in/on the bearing they still will be ok (my trailer is 35 years old, I think I change them once) The problem is if water/salt water gets in the bearing area and sits on the bearing it will cause rust on them. If you have nothing to do one Saturday take them apart clean them with anything that will clean the grease off, inspect them, and clean out the hubs also, need to check the race as well. If I went through this much trouble I would replace them, they are not that expensive. The hardest part will be knocking out the race out of the hub, and you need to make sure the new seal goes in correctly and straight. You will need some good wheel bearing grease, inter and outer bearings, and a seal, for each tire and the right tools. Just like you said not that hard but messy....good luck
Tom Hemphill	posted 07-17-2010 05:19 PM ET (US) I've had my trailer for about 15 years, and it's about 25 years old. All I've ever done is to inspect the hubs externally (for leaking grease) and occasionally add a little grease. (It has Bearing Buddies or the equivalent.) It is my feeling that seals, being made of rubber, will be the first thing to go in an otherwise well-maintained hub. Repacking the bearings and installing new seals can give peace of mind. Now that I think of it, maybe it's time for me to do so. Yes, repacking bearings is pretty strait forward but messy. Everything should be cleaned meticulously; solvent soaking and blow dry sounds right. I wouldn't replace bearings which have been working fine and look good.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 07-19-2010 01:30 AM ET (US) If it ain't broke, don't fix it. And you have the tools to detect early of it's broke. Though a calibrated fingertip is probably just as good. I've had two bearing problems in 12 years and 1600 dunkings in salt water. Both gave me an audible warning. I carry a hub kit and the tools since the first one. I used them the second time, got the hub changed out in the dive shop parking lot before they got my tanks filled. And had the parts handy when some SOB stole my SS Bearing Buddies in the ramp parking lot. And I had to install new hubs after an accident wiped out the axle (truck going the other way lost a big steel loading ramp, it bounced over the center divide, and I had nowhere to go but over. It kicked up and bent the axle about 30 degrees, and tool out the U bolts and spring on one side. Whaler was fine, insurance paid the repairs and my time to fix it. If you get a hub kit, Tie Down Engineering has galvanized hubs with pregreased bearings installed, and a Zerk on the back side. Want to repack? Pop the hub cap, install grease gun on the Zerk, pump until you got clear grease, reinstall cap. Chuck
davej14	posted 07-19-2010 09:38 AM ET (US) Chuck, Thank you for the advice. My original Shorelandr hubs do not have the backside zerk on them, just bearing buddies with zerks on the front side. Upon closer inspection one of the backside seals does have some grease around the axle although it is not excessive. When I first got the trailer I was uneducated about grease until reading posts on this site. I was not too particular about using the proper type. Both bearing buddies leak grease into the "bras", they were probably overfilled by the previous owner. I have new bearing buddies ready to install. Knowing this, would you just put on the new bearing buddies or go the extra step to clean up the bearings and replace the rear seals. I'll get a spare pre-greased replacement hub in either case.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 07-19-2010 09:07 PM ET (US) I think I'd just clean things (including on the back side where there's a little leakage), repack with marine grade grease, and put it back together with the new Bearing Buddies. Clean up the old Bearing Buddies and keep them with the spare hub. Having an old one saved the day when mine got swiped. I had one spare new and one spare used, and it got me home. I have two Rubbermaid tubs with spare hub, grease, tools, paper towels, waterless handcleaner, etc. Everything I need but the jack, and my truck jack works on the trailer. The tubs live in the truck. Chuck