This is what you can do or Family RV will do it for $ 115.00 an axle.
Email service or fill
in this form (easiest way)
or here is the infomation below on how you
can get it done to have a safe trip with your trailer
This subject as old as trailering itself, but
keeping wheel bearings properly greased and maintained is a ritual
many still forget to perform. The evidence of that is clear. It's still
easy
to catch
a very
familiar sight on the side of any highway in America on a hot summer
day; a family sitting dejectedly on the grassy roadside, perhaps eating
a picnic
lunch, while Dad goes off to find a marine service dealer who can
replace the
trailer's damaged wheel bearings. While servicing wheel bearings
isn't glamorous or sexy, it sure can save a lot of lost time and certainly
prevents the loss of valuable vacation time — something no one can
afford to lose.
Today's wheel bearing assemblies are no different than those of twenty,
thirty or even fifty years ago. They still use as a
lubricant and coolant, they still employ caged rollers that roll
on a pressed-in race, and they still use a rubber-lipped seal to keep
grease
in and water out. What's changed is the grease used to lube them;
today's synthetic
greases, if used, can offer longer bearing life and a more forgiving
environment against roller failure. In addition, there are more methods
of protecting and greasing the bearings without actually changing
the grease than ever before. While "Bearing Buddy" protectors
have been available for many years now, they've since been improved,
and have
met
many forms
of competition. In addition, new forms of lubrication have been introduced
in
recent years; oil bath systems offered by several manufacturers have
become more popular.
While greasing the bearings through an outside fitting can keep the
water and potential corrosion at bay for a while, the most effective
way to
ensure that
the bearings are full of fresh lubricant is to change the grease
on a regular schedule, just like your Dad did before you. The only
advantages
that
protectors like Bearing Buddies gives to today's trailer boaters
are reduced grease change intervals and the ability to "top off" the
grease between changes. Regardless, the grease should be changed
at least once
per season (more often if you trailer long distances or trailer frequently).
SIMPLE TOOLS
If you've never changed wheel bearing grease before, be prepared
for a messy afternoon. Time-wise, that's about all it will take you,
even
for first-timers;
it's an easy job. Tools needed are few and simple. You'll need pliers
(side-cutting pliers work well when removing stubborn cotter pins),
a lug wrench to fit the lug nuts on your trailer, a jack, jack stand,
a hammer, large
flat-bladed screwdriver, and a short (six inch) length of scrap 2x4.
Of course, a grease gun with \zerk end fitting
will be needed if your wheels have bearing protectors installed (such
as part number A large pair
of pliers (water-pump pliers or Channel Locks as they're sometimes
called) may be needed if the large nut holding the hub on has been
tightened too much.
If they don't have them now, this is the time to fit your wheel hubs
with bearing protectors. Available from just about any trailer dealer,
hitch
installer or auto parts store, bearing protectors have become
commonplace — Family RV stocks
the most popular sizes. Most common among boat trailers are the 1.781" and 1.980" inner-diameter
sizes, but if you're in doubt, take your dust cap along with you
to match up the inner diameter (the part that fits
into the bore of the wheel hub). A pair of bearing protector covers
will only add a few bucks to the tab, and protect your wheels from
any excess
grease
that may escape the hubs at highway speeds.
While you're shopping, pick up a tub of wheel bearing grease.
For those on a budget, regular mineral-based grease will work fine,
but for the ultimate protection at slightly higher cost, synthetic
grease will
last
longer
in the hub and tolerate water ingestion better. Lastly, though it's
not needed, a bearing packer will make filling the bearings with
grease a much
easier
job — and much easier to clean up. Without one, you'll have to
pack the bearings by hand. This simple tool allows you to capture a
wheel bearing
between its two plastic discs and pack it with grease using a grease
gun. That's a lot neater and quicker than filling your palm with a
blob of grease
and wiping it into the bearing cage. Bearing packers can be purchased
at any auto parts store, Sears, or big-box home centers for less than
$20. It's a good
investment, and besides — what fun would the job be if you didn't
get to buy a new tool for your collection?
JACK IT UP
You'll have to jack up the trailer's axle, one side at a time, to
service the wheel bearings. A floor jack is best but if you don't
have one,
the bottle jack
from your truck will do fine. A jack stand is also needed to secure
the trailer in the raised position and ensure that it won't come
crashing down on you in the
middle of the job.
Before raising the trailer, loosen the lug nuts. Jack the trailer
up until the wheel can spin freely. Remove the lug nuts and the wheel,
exposing the hub
assembly. Check the back side of the hub, wheel and tire for grease
spatters. If you see grease, the rear seal has failed and will need
replacement.
You can now remove the hub. The dust cap or bearing protector must
come off first. A dust cap has a small lip that can be pried off
by carefully using a
flat bladed screwdriver; lightly tap the screwdriver blade under
the lip with the hammer, rotating the hub as you pry off the cap.
Bearing
protectors have no
lip to pry under, so you'll have to (again, carefully) tap the outer
diameter of the protector as you rotate the hub. If you use a plastic
mallet instead of
a hammer, you won't mar or dent the protector.
After you remove the protector/cap, rotate the hub slowly as you
listen closely for irregular noises. You should hear nothing as the
hub spins;
if you hear
grinding, scratching or rattling noises, of if the hub moves excessively
on the axle shaft, you probably have bearing problems. A cotter pin
keeps the castle
nut from loosening; bend it out straight and remove it with pliers.
If it's been bent too many times, replace it with a new one. Remove
the castle nut and
washer, then remove the outer bearing. Keep
plenty of rags handy to catch loose globs of grease that may fall
out as you remove the
hub assembly from the axle.
CLEAN AND INSPECT
A parts washer makes this step much easier, but if you don't have
one, you can improvise with an old wash pan and a half-gallon of
gasoline
or parts cleaning
fluid. Remove as much loose grease as possible from the outer bearing,
hub, and inner bearing. If the rear seal is damaged, or if you detect
problems with the
inner bearing, pry out the seal with the flat screwdriver and discard
it. Remove the inner bearing. Often, if the grease is still in decent
condition and
you can inspect the inner bearing by feel and with a flashlight,
you might be able to get away with cleaning it and regreasing it
without removing it (and the seal). You can leave it in place along
with the rear seal; just be sure to wash out all the old grease and
dirt using the
solvent. However, I'd recommend replacing the seal and cleaning/regreasing the inner bearing every time.
Wash the parts as thoroughly as possible in the solvent (don't forget
the nut, washer and cotter pin, as well as the dust cap/bearing protector).
If possible,
blow-dry them with compressed air to remove all remnants of old grease,
dirt and washing fluid. NOTE: BE CAREFUL and DO NOT spin the bearings
at high speed
with compressed air! Spinning a bearing at high RPM with no lubricant
can cause it to literally EXPLODE in your hand, causing severe injury.
DON'T DO IT!
After cleaning and drying, inspect all the parts closely. If the
roller bearings appear pitted, scored, galled or rusted, you must
replace
them. Take them to a trailer dealer for an expert opinion, if you're
in doubt; replacing
them with new ones now is far easier than when you're stuck on the
roadside. If you replace them, replace the bearing races as well;
these are press-fitted
into the hub. They can be removed with a hammer and screwdriver,
but have the dealer do it while you're there buying the new bearings;
it's
easier for him to
do it with a shop press, and you won't risk damaging the hub with
the hammer and screwdriver.
PUT IT BACK TOGETHER
Packing the bearings with grease goes quickly with the bearing packer.
Place the bearing on the bottom cup, screw the top cup down snugly
over the bearing,
attach a grease gun, and pump grease into the bearing until it just
begins to flow out the sides of the rollers. If you elect to do it
by hand, place a
gumball-sized dollop of grease in the middle of your palm, and taking
the bearing in your other hand, firmly wipe
the edge of the bearing through the grease. Do this repeatedly until
grease begins to
appear on the other side of the bearing. Rotate the bearing as you
go, ensuring that it's filled completely around. This is why the
bearing packer is highly
recommended; it ensures a fully-greased bearing, makes the job easier
and cleaner, and the cost is low compared to the value the tool gives.
Set both
bearings aside on a clean dry cloth.
If you removed the inner bearing and seal, now is the time to re-install
them. Check one more time to ensure that the inner bore of the hub
is completely
clean and dry. Place the greased inner bearing into the hub, seating
it in the race securely (the grease will hold it there). Now, replace
the rear seal. Clean the hub bore where it seats with solvent, making
sure there's no grease, old sealant or dirt there. Select a short
socket that
matches the seal's outer diameter to use when pressing it into the
hub bore. Coat the outer edge of the seal with liquid sealant, and
gently tap it into the hub
with a rubber mallet, using the socket as an installing tool. Seat
the seal flush with the end of the hub bore; don't tap it any deeper.
Clean the axle shaft and inspect it for damage. If there's deep scoring,
pitting or rust where the bearings ride, it may be time for a new
axle stub. This can be an involved job, best left to a good trailer
mechanic.
If the area
where the seal rides is scored or pitted, you can easily solve the
grease leakage problem this causes by fitting the axle with a Spindle
Seal, which is a
stainless steel seal and O-ring kit that fits over the inside of
the axle stub, forming a smooth sealing surface for the hub seal
to ride
on. Spindle Seals are
manufactured by Bearing Buddy, and are available at most marine and
trailer dealers.
Coating the axle shaft with grease before installing the hub will
help ensure that enough grease is in the hub before it turns its
first revolution.
Put a
healthy dollop of grease inside the hub, then slide
it on the axle shaft. Next, install the outer bearing, making sure
it's seated in
its race. The outer washer fits in next, then the castle nut. Tighten
the nut down as you spin the hub, ensuring that you don't tighten
it so far
that it
slows the hub or stops it from turning. Grasp the hub's outer diameter
and try to move it back and forth; if you can, the nut is not tight
enough. Tighten
the
nut to the point that it slows the hub from turning, then back off
a quarter turn and check for side-to-side movement again. If you
try this
step a
few times, you'll get a good feel for how tight the nut should be.
It can be
tricky; too tight and the bearings will wear prematurely, too loose
and the wheel will wobble. After you've found that "sweet spot," turn
the nut slightly to expose the cotter pin hole and insert the cotter
pin; bend
the ends
out and around the nut. Make sure the ends don't get in the way when
you install the dust cap or bearing protector.
FINISHING THE JOB
Clean the hub bore using solvent and a clean rag, then using the
short length of 2x4 to avoid damaging the bearing protector, tap
the protector
into the
hub with a hammer. Make sure it seats fully; you'll notice a different
tone in the
sound of the hammer blows when it does. Using the grease gun, pump
grease into the bearing protector as you spin the hub to distribute
the grease
inside. Here's another tricky part; don't over fill the hub, or you'll
blow grease
right out the back of the rear seal. Some bearing protectors have
an indicator that tells you when the hub is full. Without that indicator,
watch the
spring inside the protector carefully as you fill; when it fully
compresses,
stop
pumping grease. Wipe any excess away, re-install the wheel and tire,
and you're
done — with that wheel. Now you can repeat the process for the
other wheels on your trailer.
WHAT'S INVOLVED?
Costs and time spent are minimal for this job. Grease is cheap and
readily available. A grease gun is a good investment, and should
be taken with you on road trips in case of bearing failure or just
a simple
top-off. Grease
guns are available for less than $20 in most home centers and hardware
outlets. As mentioned, the bearing packer is a worthwhile tool to
own for less than $20.
Time involved is approximately one hour per wheel, so for a dual-axle
trailer, expect to spend the afternoon with greasy hands. In all,
this is a job every
trailer towing enthusiast should be familiar with. If you end up
needing new bearings and seals, these cost less than $25 for two
sets (enough
to do a
single axle trailer). Just be sure to take the old ones with you
to the auto parts store so the counter man can match them to a new
set.