wheel bearing service

[gerry]

We have a 2006 21ft K2 toy hauler with 5K axels and wondered how often you repack the wheel bearings. Ours has the original OEM tires (Chinese) that I will replace soon so I figure with the low time this unit appears to have the bearings probably haven't been serviced since new. We've put about 3k miles on since buying it last summer and are looking to get it ready for this year. Also does it make any difference as far as greasing is concerned if it gets used more or sits more as to how often you should repack?

 

[JMDancoe]

My personal rule of thumb: If you are heading out on a long trip (outside the area you are familiar with) pull the bearings, clean and inspect, repack and reseal (new seals). Tighten to mfg's specs. Otherwise if you do mostly short trips, I believe once a year is sufficient. The reason for "once a year" is simply if the chance of unexpected trip comes up suddenly, you will be ready to go with no worries. I do the same with my truck (front & rear). I usually change brake pads and shoes also on the truck. The cost I write off to "insurance".
I like to enjoy the trip and not worry. I have pulled and will pull a lot of different trailers.
No road breakdowns!
___________________
86 / 92 D-250 Cummins Retrofit auto 248,000 miles, 94 Ram 1500 4X4 318 auto short bed 307,000 miles, 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee 160,000 miles
Proud to be Dodge & Chrysler people

 

[jelag]

I own several trailers and all of them, both the commercial ones and my 5er have a rubber snubber in the dust cover... on these trailers you can pull the rubber snubber and there is a grease fitting behind it to grease the bearings... the axle shaft is drilled... caution here. . as too much grease is an issue also... if you end up packing the hub full it will push past the seal... ...

If I'm out and about I use the trailers, but before we take any of them more than 200 or 300 miles from the shop or home we have a walk around that includes lifting the wheels free of the ground and checking free play... and than using a brake spoon, taking up the adjuster if necessary...

Almost all these trailers have self adjusters on them... but we just don't back up enough to keep the adjusters up tight...

We usually check each work trailer every 2 years, usually in the fall when we think about anti-freeze, studded tires, water in batteries etc... .

We've pulled all the scothloc's from the trailers... see Gary's thread about this just a week or so ago... .

I really agree with JMDancoe... . the key here is to know when you last did preventive maintenance and do it so your comfortable... everyone's tolerance level is different so what works for me might not work for someone else. . like I always inspect the seals and reuse the unless their damaged... but its ok to ""agree to dis-agree"" and be comfortable with your self...

 

[CROW]

Axles on my fifth wheel are what I guess you would consider standard 6K axles made by Dexter with caps on the hubs and no grease fitting on the end of the axle stub. The Dexter Operation Service Manual indicates that bearings should be lubricated every 12K or 12 months. I repack the bearings and install new seals every year even though the trailer is towed much less than 12K per year. If this is something you can do yourself, the cost is minimal. Having it done can get expensive. I do not think a period of non use will have any effect on the bearings or races. I have packed mine after the trailer has sat for six months or so and they have been OK. That said, if I were going on a long trip and hadn't packed them for several months, I'd probably get busy and pack them for peace of mind as JMD has indicated.

 

[Fireman Dave]

I have always packed mine each spring. In 2009, we didn't tow very much, so last spring (2010) I wondered if I should skip it. But I decided to do it anyway. The first one looked so good I thought about skipping the other 3. The grease wasn't even very black yet. But as long as I was doing it, I kept going on the others. Boy was I glad I decided to do them all. The inner bearing on next one had a roller missing! It looked like a hockey player's smile - one tooth missing. The loose roller fell out once I had it apart. There was no damage done - which amazed me. It must have failed the last time I backed it into the yard for the winter. Of course I had to replace that bearing. So I was feeling pretty lucky and wise (almost foolish, though) for doing them. I won't even think of skipping a year again.