How often do you re-pack/replace your trailer bearings??
 

Just wondering. I replaced mine last summer, early. June I think. They have about 4000 miles on them, with regular shots of grease into the bearing buddies. Should I remove them and repack them again this year??? Or just make sure they have grease???

Depends on how your grease system works. My 97 Eagle has drilled axles and greases the rear bearing first, and pushes the old grease out the front bearings, so when I see new grease, it has been completely refreshed with new grease , there is no reason to pull this system apart every year. If yours does the front bearing, then the inner ones never really get greased and should be pulled apart annually.

Well I just blew rear seal off mine while punping grease in thru the buddy bearing so I guess its greasing the rear bearing. I usually add grease until it starts to come out the little weep hole on the buddy bearing chrome sleev toward the front. The hole must have had somthing plugging it cause I kept pumping till bang...the rear seal let go. My axle are solid but the grease still gets back there.

Mike,
I usually check mine every spring by getting the wheels off the ground, turning them slowly listening for any sound and then check for any freeplay. I then pump in some grease to push out any moisture. I disassemble and repack every other year. So far after thirteen years I have only found one bad bearing and I always trailer my boat.

See you at LOTO:D :D :D

P.S. Have you got the motor back in yet?

Dave

Mike. YOU DON'T NEED NO STINKING BEARINGS:D I would just lift them and check for back and forth movement. If you greese them often you should be fine. Let me know when you need a chase boat. I am really sick of this non event spring. If it doesn't warm soon I will just put on the dry suit and forget the tan.:D But be careful as said above you can blow the rear seal and make a mountian out of a mole hill.:rolleyes:

great topic
 

I was just wondering about that myself. I guess I'll just check'em and greas'em.

Intolerant,

Sorry thats the part I left out,,, that style tends to build pressure, then like you said ,,,,,,,, pop !!!!

I prefer to pull non drilled axles once a year,,, it doesnt take all that long, and that way you know there ok,,, not just guessing/hopeing !!!!

With my drilled axles I flush new grease trough them every fall so that if there is any water in them it gets pushed out. I also add grease every third time out. Whith the bearing buddy type you are only supposed to add grease untill the piston starts to move and then stop. Whit this type I used to pull them apart every fall.

How often should you repack or replace the wheel bearings,
If you drive alot you should repack at least every other year, check the bearing for play and replace if needed. It don't take that long to repack all the bearings. Take the time to inspect the bearings once and a while, unless you like to replace bearings when you are along a highway! Why take any chances.

trailer bearing graduate
 

Oh I could spin yarns for hours about trailer bearings but I have learned from experience on the shoulders of life's highways. The most important thing is the grease you use. It has to be waterproof, don't use the auto brown every day stuff. It will disolve in water, trust me. NAPA sells some of the nastiest grease known to man made by Castrol called pyroplex blue but I'm sure that there is other stuff out there just as good. They also sell a double lip inner seal that works very well to keep water out in the first place. Several trailer experts have told me that the best thing to do with bearing buddys is to throw them in the woods, that they cause a false sense of security and that you can't walk by them without pumping grease in and eventually blowing the seals out without realizing it. After several "incidents" when I first bought my trailer I had to replace both axles and all the hubs and after using the good grease and the double lip seals I've not had another problem in three years. Salt and fresh, tows up to six hours each way. Good luck with yours.

You know what else is a great idea. Have a full hub assembly with seals installed and a small tube of grease. It can be attached to the spare or just stowed somewhere in a zip-lock bag. I even carry an extra brake plate for the real emergency. I have had to use both before and I laughed the whole time i was installing it on the shoulder because I could!!!!:D

I carry an entire extra axle.... Triple axle trailer.

Usually right after I look in the mirror and see the wheell wobbling back and forth.:mad:

Actually, Donzi Mitch has my idea. I have a complete hub assembly ready to go, that way even if the lugs nuts are frozen on and rounded off, you can remove the entire hub, and replace it, if you carry a spare tire too.

Also, one of the things I do is replace all lug nuts with the full coverage type from mag wheels, that way the water can't get to the stud, and if you do round it off, (does it sound like I have experience with rounded off lugs?) there is more metal to get the pipe wrench on.

gotta love those sure lube axles, I haven't repacked bearing in years, Like everyone says, mike, BE CAREFUL with those damn bearing buddies, I've blown many a seal with those things.

Bearings are packed every year. It may not be needed, but it makes me feel better. I just want to be sure that it's not my trailer you see on the side of the road.

I have had bearing buddies on many trailers and have never had a problem, but then again I read the instructions and only pump grease in until the spring loaded disc where the grease nipple is located moves outward and seats, NOT until something goes POP!. Before I grease I carefully clean the inside of the bearing buddy of dirt and old grease on the surface where the disk slides back and forth to allow the thing to do its job properly. I see guys trailers where you cant even SEE the grease nipple for old grease and crud!!! GROSS!! I grease after every weekend, have been using the blue "nasty" grease for a few years now, its great. I also make a habit of "hand testing" the hubs for undue heat at stops, something I do at work all the time, there WILL be excess heat before ANY bearing failure........Doug

I do mine annually whether they need it or not because it sux doing it on the side of the rode with improper tools and after the parts store closes, plus auto parts stores don't stock the right stuff for my trailer, I had this happen a couple of weeks ago,. The best grease is mercruiser 2-4-C