Do I have a trailer bearing issue?
 

On my way to the lake 3 weeks ago I came down a decent-sized hill and there was some white smoke coming out of the one trailer wheel when I stopped at the bottom. I drove about4 more miles, stopped, and the little rubber seal on the wheel hub popped out and grease shot out onto the parking lot.

I jacked up the trailer and played with the wheel - there was no play at all, which tells me that the bearing is still intact (I think). I spun the wheel and aside from hanging up a little bit on the drum brake shoes, it felt fine. It didn't hang up any more than any other wheel on the trailer.

Bottom line, I shot a ton of grease into all of the hubs (especially that one). Do you think I should do anything else? The trailer & boat just need to make it 120 miles back to the dealer for a trade-in and then I don't have to worry about it anymore.

I would guess it had some moisture in the hub. When the wheel got hot from the braking downhill it turned the moisture to steam and blew it out of the hub. Run it 5 miles or so and feel the hub. If it is warmer than the other hubs you have an issue. If it's about the same its OK.

382,

That would make sense because the new grease was pushing a fair amount of water out when I was pumping it in. I'll fill it with grease and run it for a while, then check the temps.

Thanks again! God forbid something would happen to it on its way back to the dealer to be traded in!

I'd pull all the hubs and repack the bearings. If one smokes and seizes onto the axle, you'll be in a big roadside mess that isn't going to be eother easy or cheap to get out of.

cbeastwood, If you pump to much grease in your hubs you will blow the rear seal out the back of the hub. I would check to see if that didn't happen coming down the hill or after you greased them.

Me 2.

A buddy had the same thing happen on his tri axle. Smoke coming out of the wheels, pulled over to check it out, then 1 by 1 each of the 6 rubber plugs popped out followed by oozing grease. (funny as hell) Turned out the brake coupler was sticking just enough to not fully release. Greased the coupler roll pin, no more problem.

I'd venture to say yours also over heated from the down hill run do to the fact the brakes were more than likely engaged some.