Blew trailer bearings

[skongolf]

Well today I blew oout my trailer bearings on the way to the lake and have a few questions.
The left (driver's side) wheel always wobbled a little bit, but today the bearings inner and outer blew out. Luckily we were not going to fast and didnt loose the wheel. Well since it was a sunday, my choices were limited, but Checker was able to match up the bearings pretty close. Well close enough to get me home. I still had play in the drum top to bottom.I have to go get the correct inner grease seal tomorrow but If i still have wheel wobble, what could be causing it?

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

Could be Wrong bearings or A worn out/Damaged hub for starters.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

did you preload the bearings ? This means cranking the nut down as tight as you can get it , and then backing the nut off 1/4 turn and then installing the nut retainer and cotter key. If the wheel was wobbling to begin with , it sounds to me like it wasn't tight enough to begin with. You may also have a bent rim...this would wear out a set of bearings as well.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

With the blowout of inner and outer bearings, and the fact that there were issues to begin with, I would check the wheel closley to be sure it is not bent and causing the problem, then consider replacing the entire hub with a new HUB set to be sure you get the correct bearings and seals on that axle and you will know that your hub is not damaged...

 

[GeneH]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

Did you replace the races as well as the bearings? Also, some hubs just have little "nubs" that support the races. If these wear, the races can get too close together so there is not enough thread on the axle to take up the play. I don't tighten the axle nut "as tight as I can". I tighten it to about half of normal spark plug torque while spinning the hub, then back it off to finger tight which might be 1/4 a turn or it might be less. The tapered roller bearings used in boat trailers are designed to run with no "compression" but just a very little amount of endplay so there would be just the slightest amount of knock at the top of the wheel when it is supported on a jack but it should not rock back and forth on the jack when grabbed top and bottom. I wouldn't go anywhere with a trailer if the wheels were loose unless it was an emergency.

 

[wellsc1]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

Ditto on not tightening as tight as can go then backing off. That may be a more correct approach, but I tighten until no slop is felt, then back off to the first cotter pin alignment. That usually provides just the slightest amount of play with tire off ground. I've never had a bearing blow yet on the various trailer owned, nor on front wheels of automobiles. Call me a "shade-tree" mechanic, but that's the way spitting on my bait works.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

why would you want any top to bottom play in your bearings ????

 

[skongolf]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

I checked the bearing numbers and they were the correct ones and I also replaced the races as well, the inner oil seal is too small so I will get the correct one today and repack and retighten everything today. Like I said there is play in the drum top to bottom after I tightened the nut and it felt like the drum didn't slide on far enough. When I tightened the nut ibwent to where it was snug then backed it off about a quarter turn maybe less. The washer that goes between the outer bearings and nut was so badly damaged I was afraid to go to tight. What is the best way to check for a damaged wheel? Also there was a ton of black grease all over the brake drum. I got alot off with brake cleaner but I was wondering what may work better to get the rear off. I dint use my trailer brakes so I don't want to have to take them apart to clean each individual part. Thanks again for the help.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

There is a difference in tighten "As tight as you can" and tighten until you cannot turn the hub on the spindel...

 

[dry dock]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

did the same thing a couple of years ago ..........wound up replacing the drum the next year the drum cracked from getting too hotttttttt.

 

[skongolf]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

Luckily I pulled over before the drum got too hot but trying to find the inner oil seal is a pain based on part numbers. Everywhere I call says they need to see the drum. Oh well better safe than sorry I guess.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

Do you have any RV places in your area? They may be able to help you out.

 

[fjohn]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

it almost sounds like you're not getting the inside bearing all the way on the spindle.. more than likely if you ran it too long with bad bearings, your spindle is wore out too.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

Tapered roller bearings need .005 inch clearance for proper operation. Too much (as in simply turning the nut a quarter turn) often is way too much clearance. Too tight, as in no free play, causes problems as well. A barely perceptable amount of free play is correct. To achieve that, preload the bearing by tightening the nut. Then back it off and tighten it finger tight and then back off the nut to the first slot and check free play. If you cannot feel that very slight free play back off one more slot. How the threads are cut on both the nut and spindle, how the bearings seat in the hub can all affect accuracy of this spindle nut setting. Some trailer manufacturers are even recommending not backing off the nut after tightening it finger tight so that gives you an idea how loose 1/4 turn would be.

 

[skongolf]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

Ok, I got the right oil seal and put everything back together. The guy at the boat shop said to snug the wheel nut down then back it off just a touch to seat the bearings. So I snuged it down and no play at all when tugging wheel at 9 and 3, backed off maybe two spaces on the nut and just a little bit of play so I think I am good. Only bad thing is my wheel is definately bent. So now I need to get a new wheel in the next week or two. Luckily the lake is only a few miles away and the guy at the tire place said it was not badly bent enough to cause issues in the near future. Just no long trips.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

did you preload the bearings ? This means cranking the nut down as tight as you can get it , and then backing the nut off 1/4 turn and then installing the nut retainer and cotter key. If the wheel was wobbling to begin with , it sounds to me like it wasn't tight enough to begin with. You may also have a bent rim...this would wear out a set of bearings as well.

You are really asking, no begging for trouble if thats how you set the preload.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

Over tight bearing is just as bad as over loose. Size for size fits are not a good idea with moving parts. There simply has to be a little clearance and adequate lubrication. If your bearings run hot enough that you can not hold your hand on them for a long period of time after an hour or so of running then there is an issue. They should be a few degrees over the air temperature.
Size for size is like running a marathon in a wetsuit. You will be chafed all over the place. So will the bearings !!!

 

[Seon]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

I too experienced a bearing blow out, replaced the bearing and two weeks later blew the other side. Odd thing was that 6 weeks prior, I replaced both side prior to driving 1000 miles roundtrip on a fishing trip.
Anyway to be safe, I ordered a replacement from Northern which was shipped via UPS who lost it in their system . Got another one shipped and after 2 weeks waiting the replacement was the wrong size . Today, I drove to the big city, bought another axle and replaced the existing. Hopefully this will be my last bout of bearing blow-outs.
But I plan on converting the boat trailer to tandem so after I catch my breath, I'll be headed back to the city and buy another axel, tandem springs and brackets along with fenders. And oh yeah, disc brakes

 

[skongolf]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

Well I made a trip to the lake today and things went OK, the hub on the side that blew was a little warm, but then again that is the side with a bent wheel that I will be replacing in the next couple weeks. The other thing that stinks is a 1980 bearing buddy wont fit in the hub anymore and a 2047 is too big. So it looks like I have to get a new drum unless any one has any ideas. The hits just keep comming. May be looking at an axel replacement in the near future as I think my spindle could be bad.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Blew trailer bearings

A bent wheel is not good -- long trips or short. Replace it.