Grease seals bad on a trailer less than a year old?

[Newblue]

I have a 16K gooseneck trailer that when towing the other night I heard some funky noise when braking. Pulled the drums/hubs and found grease migrating out of the rear seal onto the drum face and to the magnet face on all four. This trailer is less than a year old and has around 1800 miles on it. I think I'm lucky and no grease got on the shoes. What would cause this when the seals looked pefectly fine? The castle nuts being set too loose? The axles are 7000 lb "American Axle" I ordered 4 new seals this morning (and lots o' brake clean) and hope that will take care of it.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[rus_geek]

I've only had two things pop the seals. If the hubs have grease zerks, you can over-pressurize the system and force grease past the seals. On a closed system, if the bearings overheat they can create the same pressure and force grease past the seals. A little bit of water in the grease can create a lot of pressure if things get hot enough to create steam.

Does all seem "right" inside the hubs? No excessive play, plenty of *clean* grease, etc?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Are the seals a single or double lip? No matter what replace with a double lip seal.

Chris

 

[FlaDon]

Are the seals a single or double lip? No matter what replace with a double lip seal.

Chris

What he said.:thumbsup:

 

[Newblue]

Thanks guys, no grease zerks on this and the bearings/grease looked and felt OK. The seal that came out was a double lip seal. The new ones are double lipped also. Carquest gave me an option of a cheap double lip seal at $8 each or the premium at $25 each. I went with the $8 ones. I did see/felt some nicks on the spindle where the seal rides. What would be the best way to clean this up?

Thanks again,
Mike

 

[firefighter jim]

$25.00 for a premium seal, Yikes.....................................

 

[Diamondpilot]

You can use a little emery cloth in strips to clean up spindles. Get it in a few grits and cut it in about 12" lengths and work it around the whole spindle, not just the nicked area. Go slow and clean things up with brake parts cleaner when done.

Chirs

 

[skipmarcy]

You can use a little emery cloth in strips to clean up spindles. Get it in a few grits and cut it in about 12" lengths and work it around the whole spindle, not just the nicked area. Go slow and clean things up with brake parts cleaner when done.

Chirs

And don't forget to wipe some grease on the seal lips and/or the seat surface on the spindle right before installing the hub assembly - never install dry. Also, seals get damaged quite often while installing the drum/hub assembly to the spindle if you're not careful, especially if they are heavy and hard to handle.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Very good point. A little grease and some care installing them will assure the will last.

Chris

 

[427ricky]

If the nuts are to tight the grease will get hot and run out, make sure the grease is heavy enough to handle the heat.