New guy from Ohio - Wheel hubs / bearing question

[Ohio Rusty]

I just posted about the odd boat trailer that came with the 12 foor starcraft V-hull I just bought. The wheel hubs have bearing buddy's on each side with rubber covers over the grease nipple. Before I brought the boat home. I pumped grease into the hub. I brought the boat and trailer home, about 60 miles. When I arrived home, the hubs were not hot, just lightly warm. The odd thing is one of the rubber cover cups on one of the bearing buddys was sucked in some. I noticed quite a bit of grease on both of the hubs where it meets axel area. If the grease is leaking out quite a bit from the hubs onto the outside of the hub, does that mean these wheel hubs have bad seals because they aren't holding all the grease ?? I also felt/heard an odd constant 'come and go' vibration of the right wheel at about 50 miles per hour and above. No squeaks or squeals, Anyone experienced anything like this before ??
Ohio Rusty

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Pull the hubs and inspect the bearings, races and seals. Repack or replace as needed.

 

[muskyfins]

Good bet bearings and seals are worn out. Luckily, it's a pretty easy fix.

 

[UncleWillie]

If the vibration is very sensitive to the speed and comes and goes with a ~5 mph change, it would indicated a wheel out af balance.

 

[bruceb58]

And after you put new seals and bearings in there, fill the bearing buddys until the piston just starts to move and you are done. Don't do what a lot of people do and pump grease into them every outing. Once the hub is full of grease, you are done needing to put anymore grease in there.

 

[keith2k455]

While you are doing bearing service, inspect the tires and check their date code. Something tells me they are over 10 years old and need replaced. This is where it will get expensive.

 

[Ohio Rusty]

Thanks for all the great information ... the trailer is going to my local garage next Thursday for seal and bearing replacements. I'll also have Kevin check the tires for anything that may be amiss or not normal.
Ohio Rusty ><>

 

[series9]

In my experience, hubs can actually generate heat when pumped too full of grease.

 

[bruceb58]

In my experience, hubs can actually generate heat when pumped too full of grease.

My hubs are full of grease with a buddy bearing and run nice and cool.

 

[UncleWillie]

My EZ-Lube Hubs are packed absolutely 100% Full by design, and run nice and cool.

 

[keith2k455]

My sure lube hubs only get warm when I'm using brakes. They're colder than the truck wheels cruising at 70.