dmcgiffin
Idaho Falls, Id.
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Anyone have a good step-by-step procedure to repack trailer wheel bearings - I have a hard time paying for something I believe is probably an easy procedure.
Thanks
Doug and Cathy
2003 F250/HD4WD Turbo Diesel 4 Door
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old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
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go to this link http://www.sailingtexas.com/Movies/TrailerBearings/trailerbearings.html just copy and paste
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Retiredblade
Western, Pa
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Joined: 06/16/2003
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It is very easy, you get yourself a good quality wheel bearing grease, comes in a can, like a can of planters peanuts come in. get your outer wheel bearing in one hand put some grease in the palm of your other hand, about a tablespoon amount or so. Then press side of the bearing into the grease, press down to your palm, work it in around the whole bearing. you have to work it into the roller bearings. I do mine every other year. the inner one is a little different. You either pull the seal out, most of the time you end of damaging it and have to put a new seal in. I always try to work the new grease in by leaving the seal and bearing in, working the grease in with my finger. Hasn't failed me yet.
Sam USCG
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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clickable from Old guy
http://www.sailingtexas.com/Movies/TrailerBearings/trailerbearings.html
2004 F-250 SCREW Long Bed (new)
OR 2004 F-150 HD (85,000 towing miles)
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bobofthenorth
Somewhere in North America
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What Sam said except you always need to do the inner bearing because it carries most of the load and you always need a new seal when you do the inner. Take a good look at the races at the same time - if there's any marks on them then just throw the whole works in the bush and put in new bearings & races. Bearings are dirt cheap to replace in the yard and a serious PITA if they fail on the road.
There's a couple of theories about how to preload trailer bearings. My personal favorite is to torque the nut up as tight as I can while turning the wheel. Don't put a snipe on the wrench but run the bearing up really tight. Then without disturbing the wheel back the nut off and tighten it up finger tight and then go to the next notch using the wrench. At that point you can spin the wheel to see if there's any drag on it but there won't be. YMMV but that system has worked for me for longer than I care to remember.
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Road Runners
Tampa Bay, Florida
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I have done my own bearings for almost fifty years on my tow trailers, boat trailers and for the last ten years on my fifth wheel. But, this spring my back could not take removing the tire and lifting the brake drum off and then back on. I guess I'll have to pay for this job from now on. I hate to have to pay $200 or more for this as it is such a simple job "a cave man could do it". I am going have to figure a way to do this without all the lifting. Any suggestions?
'05' F-250 Power Stroke
'00' 30' Cameo Fifth Wheel
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geezer34nh
New Hampshire
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Check this blog on RV.net. http://blog.rv.net/2008/03/wheel-bearings-lubrication-and-adjustment/
Brad & Lucy aka the Geezer & The Hedgehog
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helperzack
Treasure Coast, FL
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Road Runners wrote:I have done my own bearings for almost fifty years on my tow trailers, boat trailers and for the last ten years on my fifth wheel. But, this spring my back could not take removing the tire and lifting the brake drum off and then back on. I guess I'll have to pay for this job from now on. I hate to have to pay $200 or more for this as it is such a simple job "a cave man could do it". I am going have to figure a way to do this without all the lifting. Any suggestions?
Russell,
Do you have any grandsons? Offer one of them $50 to "help" you do the job. More economical that the $200 and will be teaching them something too!
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quabillion
Viva Terlingua!!!
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throw the bearing into a "foodsaver" vacuum sealer bag along with a blob of proper grease. Place the bag into the vacuum sealer and press go. The vacuum will force the grease into every possible place in the bearing. Open the bag, remove the now packed bearing and install.
You can even do all of the bearings at the same time in the same bag if you like to save on bags.
I spend every day of my life trying to understand that other people in this world do things differently than I do.
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doogdoog
Honolulu, Hi USA
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Road Runners wrote:I have done my own bearings for almost fifty years on my tow trailers, boat trailers and for the last ten years on my fifth wheel. But, this spring my back could not take removing the tire and lifting the brake drum off and then back on. I guess I'll have to pay for this job from now on. I hate to have to pay $200 or more for this as it is such a simple job "a cave man could do it". I am going have to figure a way to do this without all the lifting. Any suggestions?
Aloha,
You make a tire jack or buy one.
Mahalo,
doogdoog
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