Wheel/bearing issue. ++Updated++

[.Bennett]

Taking my boat out the other day (mid 70's here in eastern NC) and as I was pulling into the ramp area, I noticed the driver-side trailer wheel making a funny noise. Checked it out and the center cap was missing and it was oozing grease. After cruising the river/ICW for a bit, I trailered up and had my brother watch the wheel as I drove around the lot a bit to make sure we could make it home without issue (only 3 miles).

So it was fine (still noisy though) on the way home and now sits in my side yard as usual.

My questions are: from the pics, what do I need to replace and how expensive are the parts? What is a good site for parts? I'm a pretty big n00blet when it comes to trailers so help me out. Its an '01 Venture that wasn't particularly well maintained by the previous owner. Fenders are starting to rust and I already had to replace tongue/winch/jack assemblies.

Destruction pics:
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll175/Accord2nr/DSC09569.jpg
reference (spindle)
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll175/Accord2nr/DSC09570.jpg

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Was there a rubber plug where you now have the hole?

Is there a zerk fitting at the end of the axle (under that grease)?

If so, then you have the Posi Lube system or the Ezi-Lube system.

Here is a cut away of the Ezi-Lube (Posi Lube is similar):

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Take the wheel off and pull the hub.
New hub with bearings is about 30 bucks at Northern Tool.
They will match up the numbers for you.

Easy swap and you get new lugs and nuts in the kit too...

 

[reelnative]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

jack up the wheel and pull on it left to right up and down if theres no movement your prob good to go, if there is movement ck your berrings if there good then you need to tighten them down a bit more, take a greese gun and greese the fitting you will find right in the center of that hole, and go to northern and buy a new rubber plug, also greese both fittings on both wheels at least 2 time a yr, more if you travel more then just 5 miles a trip to and from the launch

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

He said the wheel is making a noise. That alone is reason enough to fully disassemble, clean and inspect the hubs, bearings, and races. Any scoring, cracks, chipped rollers etc., means bearing replacement. Races and bearings must be replaced as a set. Both have numbers on them. You can also refer to the chart in the sticky at the top of this forum for bearing/seal sizes and numbers. Any auto store like NAPA can supply the bearings.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Ayuh,... 1st thing ya gotta do is,...
Resize your pictures to the iboats forum standard of 480x640....
Then edit your post...

 

[robert graham]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Like Gary H said, Northern tool has the whole hub, bearings,seals as a package for about $30, do both sides and you'll be home free for under $70, pretty hard to beat! I have that accu-lube set up with the zerk in the center of the axle and the little rubber cap on the end, but add a rubber bearing buddy cap over the whole thing for double protection in case those little rubber caps fall or get knocked out, which it looks like what's happened to yours. Northern has them called "bearing buddy caps" for about $3/pair.
Good Luck!

 

[JaseBosto]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

I agree with previous posts, pull the hub and bring it down to the store. You DON'T want to mess with trying to use it if its no good. We almost had a wheel come clean off 1 day when I was a kid, father was pulling the checkmate and the bearing seal went.....out went the grease. Luckily someone flagged us down and we had the get the boat hauled away on a flatbed cause we were and hour away....

If you pull the hub off and take it apart, make sure the bearing races have no scoring, replace the bearings, and seals, good to go. Don't use the races if they have scoring..NFG

 

[.Bennett]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

I appreciate the help guys. However, I don't have a Northern Tool in my area as I'm coastal NC (wilmington area). Nearest one is Fayetteville which is a solid 90-115 minutes away. What's the next best idea? Pulling the hub and calling them maybe? I've got all sorts of Marine stores and auto-parts stores around.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Just about any town of any size has a NAPA, Auto Zone, O'Reilys, etc auto store in town. They can supply the bearings and most of them can push out the races and install new ones on the cheap.

 

[.Bennett]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Just about any town of any size has a NAPA, Auto Zone, O'Reilys, etc auto store in town. They can supply the bearings and most of them can push out the races and install new ones on the cheap.

Yeah, I have all of those. That was my question, can they do it or should I try the marine stores. I appreciate the answer. Going out to work on it now. Sunny and 80s makes me wanna get this thing in the water!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

If you want to wait a week and pay high labor rates go to a marine dealer. NAPA can do this for you much cheaper.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. Tell me what I need.

bring your hubs and NEW bearings,races and inner seals ...( who installs new bearings in used races ???) to your local ASE auto repair shop.....they will press out the old races and install the new ones...we do it all the time where I work...

 

[.Bennett]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. ++Updated++

So upon pulling the wheel off and cleaning the grease out, I'm stumped as to how to get the hub off. Thought it'd be similar to a car when I started but not so much lol. I'm guessing it has something to do with the pin in the middle but what exactly? Again, I apologize for the noobery, I really don't know trailers AT ALL.

Pics for reference (640X480 this time)

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. ++Updated++

That shiny thing on the hub with the hole in it and grease zerk in the middle -- remove it. Tap it gently while rotating the hub. It is an interference fit in the hub and simply needs to be knocked loose. WARNING: Note that I said "tap" it -- not beat it to death. The cotter pin and spindle nut and gobs of grease will be looking at you when you get it off. Remove the pin and nut and pull off the hub. Pry the seal out the back of the hub. Remove the inner and outer bearings and clean them.

 

[.Bennett]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. ++Updated++

That shiny thing on the hub with the hole in it and grease zerk in the middle -- remove it. Tap it gently while rotating the hub. It is an interference fit in the hub and simply needs to be knocked loose. WARNING: Note that I said "tap" it -- not beat it to death. The cotter pin and spindle nut and gobs of grease will be looking at you when you get it off. Remove the pin and nut and pull off the hub. Pry the seal out the back of the hub. Remove the inner and outer bearings and clean them.

Thank you, I'll do that in the morning when its light again.

 

[jshane39]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. ++Updated++

Just had mine done today and it cost me a whopping $52.00. Well worth every penny.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. ++Updated++

so upon pulling the wheel off and cleaning the grease out, i'm stumped as to how to get the hub off. Thought it'd be similar to a car when i started but not so much lol. I'm guessing it has something to do with the pin in the middle but what exactly? Again, i apologize for the noobery, i really don't know trailers at all.

Pics for reference (640x480 this time)

don't pull that pin !! It's like the pin on a grenade !!! :d:d:d

 

[saumon]

Re: Wheel/bearing issue. ++Updated++

As it's a Posi-lube hub, be aware that the double-lipped seal may be a bit harder to find than regular seals. Even my trailer place don't carry them, i had to go to a bearing/seal speciality shop to find them.