greasing trailer wheel bearings

[dullpain]

Anybody that dry spins a bearing with air pressure to test I would be suspicious of the quality of their work, or of their knowledge of mechanics.

 

[em14]

Well said!
Leo

 

[tawilson]

I don't have a problem putting in a new seal, but how do you know ahead of time what one to get? I figured I'd have to take the old one to NAPA to get the right one.

 

[midlf]

While you are getting the seal, get a spare one and a spare bearing, race, grease cap and a small tub of wheel bearing grease. Take the bearing, race and seal out of their packages and sink them in the tub of grease. You now have everything you need if you have a problem on the road. Oops - cotter key, washer and nut also. Write down the seal and bearing numbers so you can get them ahead of time the next time you need them.

 

[leaddog]

I saw a guy spin a timken bearing once with air. It will hit about 30,000rpm in a hurry. The race came off and it spun on his finger. Cut it all around down to the bone. They almost didn't save it.
Never never never spin a bearing with air aftercleaning it as you will scratch the rollers and the bearing is ruined. Every bearing manufacturer will tell you that and any grease monkey that does it isn't going to work on my stuff.
Leaddog

 

[Jagmandave]

I was going to relate a similar story, a buddy a work did a similar stupid stunt after I warned him not to. It not only tore up his finger but it flew off and went thru the windshield of an old Rolls Royce - cost the owner hugely to replace it. We were just glad it didn't go thru someone's head...... Moral - don't ever spin a bearing with air, it can hurt you real bad!

 

[Junkman]

I take this one step further and purchase a complete spare hub, which comes ready to be installed. I have found that buying the hub complete at the trailer sales yard is quite inexpensive. I had a new bearing and hub self destruct on the road, and it was only the fact that it happened in front of a salvage yard, that saved the day. They came out with a cut off wheel and cut the old race off the axle shaft. Hunted around town until we were able to find a bearing to replace the one that seized. They didn't have the seal or the other bearing. Repacked everything and tied a rag around the axle to act as a seal and drove home with no more problems. After that, I decided that a cold chisel, hammer, and the tools to install the new hub were in the tool box with the trailer. This happened to a new axle that made it 600 miles one way, and seized up 30 minutes into the return trip. I have no idea to this day, why it didn't happen on the original trip. Murphy's Law??????

 

[Alan L.]

Maybe they all fly apart when they spin them with air, so they get to replace them.....

I'm supposed to pick up my trailer tomorrow. Hopefully they haven't screwed it up too bad. Now I will be worrying that the bearings held up but are ruined by the air spinning trick /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif.

 

[JimR]

Most parts stores carry bearing kits for trailers. They carry 3 different kits. One is the 1" inner and outer, 1 1/16" outer and 1 3/8" inner and 1 1/4" inner and outer. All these kits come with the seals. One kit does one wheel. The cost is around $14.95 - $19.95 per kit. I just did my dual axle 24' trailer for $80.00.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( not to use air to dry any bearing )</font>

I think that recommendation has existed since before my time. However, I've used compressed air a lot to dry bearings, but not to spin them, because you really could get some tremendous RPM that way. And as someone else has said, that sure ain't the way you inspect one for damage. I do that by turning them very slowly by hand and visually inspecting them for any pitting, chipping, etc.