Wheel Bearing Lubrication Schedule

rentalguy1

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Sep 12, 2007
Messages
90
How often should I lube the trailer's wheel bearings? Each trip, weekly, monthly? Thanks in advance.
 

bgbass.1

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 1, 2007
Messages
558
Re: Wheel Bearing Lubrication Schedule

Do you have bearing buddies? if so its recomended that when you pull it out of the water you should hit with grease if you wait to pull home if any water entered then it will stay there and have time to mix with grease.
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Wheel Bearing Lubrication Schedule

on the boats i use the most, i change the bearings every season, as they get pulled 100miles, per trip. the others, i remove and inspected each year.
 

rentalguy1

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Sep 12, 2007
Messages
90
Re: Wheel Bearing Lubrication Schedule

Do you have bearing buddies? if so its recomended that when you pull it out of the water you should hit with grease if you wait to pull home if any water entered then it will stay there and have time to mix with grease.

Oh crap...I wish the dealer had told me that. I've been to the lake with this thing a few dozen times now and haven't hit it with the grease gun the first time yet!!!

Thanks for the info!
 

kenmyfam

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
14,392
Re: Wheel Bearing Lubrication Schedule

I usually give them a quick squirt with the grease gun when they have been submerged and before a long trip. Keep an eye to the temperature of them when you stop during a longer trip.
 

1730V

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 14, 2004
Messages
563
Re: Wheel Bearing Lubrication Schedule

Water doesn't always get into wheel bearings, on boat trailers. Especially a new one.

What cuases the water to enter is the temperature differential-cold water/ warm wheel hub. You can lower this potential by backing the baot in to the water with the water just touching the hub. That cools it off and minimizes the temp. differential.

I repack my bearings annually. I rarely replace them unless they show signs of pitting. I always replace the rear seals. Over greasing can cause failures too. Most Bearing Buddies have a relief hole that relieves the pressure of over greasing. I'm pretty stingy on the grease. I like clean wheels.

I have NEVER had a bearing failure.
 

kenmyfam

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
14,392
Re: Wheel Bearing Lubrication Schedule

Water doesn't always get into wheel bearings, on boat trailers. Especially a new one.

What cuases the water to enter is the temperature differential-cold water/ warm wheel hub. You can lower this potential by backing the baot in to the water with the water just touching the hub. That cools it off and minimizes the temp. differential.

I repack my bearings annually. I rarely replace them unless they show signs of pitting. I always replace the rear seals. Over greasing can cause failures too. Most Bearing Buddies have a relief hole that relieves the pressure of over greasing. I'm pretty stingy on the grease. I like clean wheels.

I have NEVER had a bearing failure.

My wheels are a little greasy but I know that there is enough in there and the relief valve is working.
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,313
Re: Wheel Bearing Lubrication Schedule

I run Super Lube hubs. I pull them and repack as part of my winterization routine and that's typically it for the year. The bearings in the trailer where installed 3 years ago and where still in good shape back in December when I last checked them.

Grease is not a consumable. If you need to add grease you either have a leaking seal or you didn't back the bearing correctly in the first place. I can't remember the last time I had to add grease to my wheel bearings during the season and I pull maybe 3500-4000 miles a year.
 

kenmyfam

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
14,392
Re: Wheel Bearing Lubrication Schedule

I run Super Lube hubs. I pull them and repack as part of my winterization routine and that's typically it for the year. The bearings in the trailer where installed 3 years ago and where still in good shape back in December when I last checked them.

Grease is not a consumable. If you need to add grease you either have a leaking seal or you didn't back the bearing correctly in the first place. I can't remember the last time I had to add grease to my wheel bearings during the season and I pull maybe 3500-4000 miles a year.

Whether I need it or not I always do as stated in my post above. If it did not need it then "Oh Well" If it did then it could be a lifesaver from stopping the bearing giving out. I pull around 3,000 miles per year.
 
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