How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

[vintage boat junky]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

As needed; depends on weight/distance, salt or freshwater.

I just did mine and had a hell of a time last year doing it. It seems that the Chinese who manufacture these BB's don't have the measurements right. I bought new hubs with dust caps, and the d*mn caps wouldn't go on. I tried my hardest to smack them on with different hammers, as I was constantly being told to "use force, but not too much". Still nothing. The old caps I had fit, but were too loose and would want to pop back out when driven. So I got some BB's. Same friggen problem. Would not go on at all.

So, after my dad was updating his, he ran into the same problem. He got it to go on, but only after bringing on the "big guns" from his reserve tool box. Then he measured it with a micrometer. It wasn't 1980, it was more like 1987, despite the box advertising 1980. He gave me some old BB's that he had from back in the day (when still made in USA) and they fit like a glove.

Does anyone else run into this?

 

[kamby]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

If no water gets in because of BB's or the shure lub hubs or just good seals, what would be the point of repacking them everyear? I mean people dont repack they truck or car's bearings every year. I also see on the RV forums of repacking every year. Why? They are not submerged, they are the same size tires as most of the smaller cars out there. Its not like they are spinning faster.

Grease has a tendency to dry out and become thick sludgy stuff, look at a 5th wheel on a semi sometime and you'll see what i mean. Vehicles get driven more often that boat trailers so less chance of grease drying up.

On Older vehicles if the oil change outfit does it right is supposed to hit the grease fittings on vehicles. But most newer vehicles dont have them except on some lite duty and heavy duty vehicles.

I at least check my trailer yearly as far as pulling the front bearing to look at it, plus it allows me to check for hub slop.


Dont end up like my current boat where said family member ignored my warnings about greasing the hubs as i hadnt had a chance to look at the bearring/grease condition when i bought in july. Boom outside of spokane the tire is wabling and bearings are spitting out the side of the tire and smoking like a sob. Got nabbed for 500bucks at olympic boat centers for a painted axle, the boat was in there shop for 2 weeks taking up a service bay cause they had a hard time locating a galvanized axle ended up using the black painted axle painted with galvanized paint. Time for new trailer get rid of said 85 caulkins escort. It was funny to cause i could have picked up the axle near me and brought it out to them faster than the courier service, plus i told them to use the stupid painted one when they couldnt find a galvanized on in a week, with painted sitting in shop next to boat. I guess if they had the extra room to put up with my boat..

 

[ToonArmy]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

I would suggest a minimum of once a year, more if you see signs of water in the grease/bearings. The first time you're sitting on the side of the road after your wheel has come off & your weekend/vacation is ruined you'll wish you had taken better care of your trailer.

Ever seen a loose wheel traveling at highway speed ? It can do a lot of damage, I assume insurance would cover damage or personal injury to ohthers

 

[jt57]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

I hand repack my bearings every other year. This way I can check the condition of the bearings and the races. Always install new grease seals. I have been lucky the trailer is 11 yrs old , the bearings and races,and the hub look brand new. This year I had to install new bearing buddies,as the old ones were a little loose .

 

[Shizzy]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

I have bearing buddies on mine, but they still got repacked once late in the summer after replacing them early in the season. Im going to repack before I take the boat out this season too.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

Just did 2 of four today!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

Just did 2 of four today!

How about the other 2 ???

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

I only buy trailers whose axles have the EZ Lube spindle, so you can change the grease out in less than 5 mins. I did get a trailer once that had bearing buddies over top of the EZ Lube zerc, which I thought was pretty funny.

-E

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

I run bearing buddies on both boat trailers so they get checked every boating season. NEVER put so much grease into the bearing buddy that the plate comes against the outside stop. Too much grease will push it past the seal and onto the brake assembly resulting in poorly performing brakes or unequal braking.

Another thing I do that prolongs bearing life is I wait at least 20 minutes from when I stop towing to when the boat goes in the water. This way the warm grease has less of a chance of drawing water into the hub.

I always hand pack my bearings before I install them. Simply put a wad of marine bearing grease in the palm of your hand and push the outside of the bearing into the grease. Turn and repeat until the grease is coming thru the bearing.

Jeff

 

[h.l hunley]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

I Owned A 84 Bomber Scout For 18 Years , And In That Time Frame I Repacked My Bearings 3 Times. I Used Only Ams Oil Bearing Grease That Stuff Will Not Break Down! I Now Own A 1983 Ebbtide Dyna - Trak 162 Bass Boat ,i Bought Used And I Am Still Using Ams Oil Synthedic Bearing Grease Will No Problems.

 

[Ram58]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

I repack mine yearly. It's cheap insurance and gives me peace of mind on the road.

 

[clemsonfor]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

Berings of the 2 most common sizes are sold at wal mart, also all auto sores sell them, ie orileys, autozone, and advance. Tractor supply sell all sizes bering s and hubs as well as northern tool, which also has complete hubs with bearings for $30 for my 5 on 4 wheels i should have gone this route the bearings are about $10 and my bearing buddies slug off, even though i think the nut is tight, they may be wallowed out and i will need to replace the hubs themselves. The northern tool hub's bearings are already greased so all you have to do is take the cotter pin out, unscrew the castle nut pull the hubb off and the outer bearig falls out the pull the grease seal, you can destroy it with a screw driver b/c you get a new one, or not at all cause your replacing it all and just unbolt the hub from the wheel, bolt the new hub up and then put the back bearing in and then the seal and wheel on the spindle and then the outside bearing and reinstall the nut and pin and dust cover/ BB your done.

If you just replace the bearings you will most likly have to replace the races un less your just doing the bearings for the hell of it, which is mor complicated but not hard just use a soft puch to take um out and push the new ones in.

For those of you who "give them a shot of grease everytime you go out or get off the highway", where is it all going? Your rims must have like a 1/2 '' of grease built up on them, like a haf a pound of grease on those rims.

The grease should not go anywhere unless your seals are bad and your pushing it out the back?

 

[5150abf]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

Apparently not enough, rolled the boat out last week and the trailer made a funy noise so I pulled the hub and the inner bearings were dry and rusted!

I use bearing buddies and just repacked the last of last year so I thought I was okay, lesson learned.

When I am done here I am off to pack some new ones in before I leave to fish tonight.

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

If you're running bearing buddies, they can be disassembled for cleaning.

Remove the c-clip ( black dots ) and the spring and the "grease pusher" will come out when pushed from the back.

There is an O ring to help seal the grease pusher.

Clean and reassemble. Check for free movement before reinstalling on the hub. I do highly recommend covers to keep your wheels clean.

Jeff

 

[stormy weathers]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

Use oil bath, not grease. I trailer a 19ft Trophy 230miles to the coast every month for a weekend. Just look at the sight glass see oil everything OK. No worries.

 

[Mr Stress]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

Hello to all on the list. I just looked at mine and see that there is grease on the back side of my rim and trailer. I'm wondering if I've over greased last season or if there is a seal or something in the back that has blown out? Or is there a weep hole back there?

I'm not using bearing buddy's I'm using the factory covers and they work just fine for me. Every season I pull the covers and take a look make sure everything looks nice nice. Maybe I put a pump or two of grease in. I sure hope that's why that grease is on the inside of the rim.

Anyone know how to clean that stain off the trailer? Also, there are a few guys that are using oil filled bearings covers what kind of service is involved in that ? Maybe one of you guys can post a picture of what it looks like.

The trailer is an 2004 30' Sealion tandom trailer.

Regards.......

Chris

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

Chris,
If all you've done on your trailer is put a couple dabs of grease in the hub, it's a very good chance the rear seal is shot. They should be cleaned and regreased at minimum.

({sarcasm} but it's your boat trailer and if you don't mind sitting on the side of the road with a smoking hub {end sarcasm} )

I just replaced the bearings and seals on my pontoon trailer. It's not hard to do but can be messy. I removed one tire and hub to get measurements so I could purchase the correct parts before I stared the whole job.

Need detailed instructions on replacing them?

Jeff

 

[Mr Stress]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

"{sarcasm}[/b][/i] but it's your boat trailer and if you don't mind sitting on the side of the road with a smoking hub {end sarcasm} )"

It's been a while since I've repacked a wheel bearing but I think I can handle it. I think your right I think I think I put to much in the hub and have blown out the rear seal. Any advice on cleaning the grease up?


Regards;

Chris

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

Brake cleaner ( spray cans @ your local auto parts store) will cut the grease. It will take off bad paint too, so keep that in mind .


I just packed my bearings by hand. To be truthful, I forgot how much of a mess it is to do it by hand. I found a nice "old school" bearing greaser on ebay for $8 shipped. Next time it'll be easier.

Jeff

 

[SS Flasher]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

It's called preventive maintenance. Repacking the bearing with fresh good quality grease is just part of the task in checking the overall condition of the bearings and seals. Contaminates in the grease (water, etc) will damage the races of the bearing while stored for winter. Repack at end of the season.