Visually inspect the bearing and race surfaces.Grease also breaks down on stored trailers, allowing corrosion to form. In general, trailer wheel bearings should be serviced annually or every 10,000 miles, whichever occurs first.Thoroughly clean all old grease from bearings, races and hub cavities using a solvent such as brake cleaner. All grease isn’t always compatible among brands.Any high-temperature wheel bearing grease will work.One of the least-expensive parts of the system is probably the most important.
HOW TO REPACK TRAILER WHEEL BEARINGS HOW TO
(However, bearing-service kits that include seal-pullers and drifts in varying sizes are available for serious home mechanics.) To ensure we weren’t missing any subtleties, Conejo Vacation Trailer owner Mike Niedrich demonstrated how to repack trailer bearings based on nearly 30 years’ experience. The job doesn’t require any special skills or tools. Trailer owners who do their own routine maintenance know that bearing service can be done in less time than it takes to make an appointment, drive to an RV shop and either wait for the trailer or make a return trip. It’s the proverbial squeaky wheel syndrome. Unnatural sounds that vary depending on speed often indicate that the bearings need attention. The dust cap with rubber plug is for a Super Lube axle (cotter pins and Super Lube grease fittings not shown).īearings normally whine before they grind and ultimately fail. These are Lippert Components’ 3,500-pound replacement parts.
Regardless, grease seals should always be replaced. Murphy’s dictate: If you buy replacement parts before tearing into the axle, the existing bearings will be fine.