Trailer Wheel Bearing Grease?

[andyfletcher]

I have a whole gallon of the pink Penzoil bearing grease. The stuff is no heavier than Vaseline. I'll regrease the bearings on my trailer and replace the seals.

I remember a while back there was a black fibrous bearing grease available. I recall the fibrous stuff seemed to have more body than this stuff.

Anyone know the best to use for heavy loads?

Thanks

 

[Junkman]

The black fibrous grease was used many years ago, when Rex was a pup. The pink stuff that you now have is probably a synthetic grease. I don't believe that the old fiber grease will be of any more value for your application than what you are presently using. Water is the culprit that destroys axle bearings, not lack of lubrication where grease is available to the bearing. Both will lubricate well and the newer products are better for overall use.

 

[California]

I have a couple of light trailers and I've wondered how often to repack the wheel bearings.

Trailer #1 -a little utility trailer that is now a couple of years old. It sees only light use, about 1500 miles per year and no extreme factors like wet pavement, snow exposure or heavy loading.

Trailer #2 - a popup camper that is at 90% of rated GVW when it goes on the road, typically 300 miles round trip a couple of times per year. I bought this one used and replaced scored bearings immediately, so I assumed it needed more attention than the previous owner gave it. But I've never found a warm hub, and everything looks perfect when repacking the bearings every third year.

Any advice on how frequently to repack each?

 

[Bird]

Everything I've seen recommended cleaning and repacking trailer wheel bearings every 12 months or 12,000 miles. So that's what I'd recommend that anyone do; however, personally, I did mine about half that often; every couple of years and never had to replace any bearings. I did always replace the seals every time.

 

[andyfletcher]

I'm with Bird on this one. Every year I'd re-pack. The important thing to watch is sliding the hub back on. Nudging it on could deform the seal, DTBT. I put a little grease on the seal to help it slide over.

They used to make good quality seals way back, the ones with the wrap around spring on the inside. With these the spring compensated for normal wear by gripping tight so you got a few more miles with them. Now they use the double contact lip seal, not as good I feel.

One time I had a small single axle trailer with 4 bolt 2000lb hubs, 8in tires used mostly for construction material. I had old hubs from a junk trailer, so I cut off about 3/8in off the seal end of each and welded them on the seal portion of my good trailer using and old bearing race for alignment at the joint. That gave me 2 (cheapo) seals per axle. Gave me a longer water and dirt free life. You need a longer and rust free seal race on the spindle to do this.