What is the maintenance schedule on wheel bearings?

[JAL51974]

I am getting the boat ready for the season and did a bearing inspection. I replaced these bearings in 10/05 and inspected them, new grease, each season since. Not sure how many miles I put on the rig summer 06 + 07. Now I notice beginnings of corrosion and some abrasions on the surface of the roller bearingface. How often should the whole thing get replaced?

the rear seal popped right out of the hub as i removed the hub from the spindle- is that normal? i thought that should be in the hub fairly tight?

Thanks.

Joe

 

[Mark42]

Re: What is the maintenance schedule on wheel bearings?

The "corrosion and some abrasions on the surface of the roller bearingfacee" is from water infiltration into the bearing. The fact that the seal came out of the hub is probably the cause of water getting in... the seal is not seating in the hub tightly enough.

New seals are needed. If you jack up and spin the wheels and they make a rumbly noise, the bearings are pitted to the point of needing to be replaced. Bearings are not too expensive, so while you have the hub off to replace the leaking seals, it would be a good time to install new bearings too.

 

[JAL51974]

Re: What is the maintenance schedule on wheel bearings?

Mark42-
I planned on replacing everything at this point, but does 2 seasons sound about right for the replacement cycle?

when I bought the trailer I used it as is the first season, and when I inspected them at the season's end the bearings were literally falling apart, so I am a bit compulsive about pulling them to inspect now. Problem was that I couldn't see any numbers to match them up and the ShoreLandr company was helpful and supplied the likely numbers, but ChampionTrailers couldn't reference them, so I did the best I could with sizing them up. I think I did fine on the bearings and races but the seal never fit in there tight enough when I replaced it with the one they sent me. Any suggestions for getting a better seal to fit in this case?

Joe

 

[External Combustion]

Re: What is the maintenance schedule on wheel bearings?

The chances are that the seal that was supplied to you was the correct number if it was even close to a friction fit. Your hub may have been machined oversize from the factory or the seal may have been undersized from the supplier (you know either one could have been made on a Friday just before a holiday, just before a shift ending ).

Have someone mike your hub. I'll bet it is oversized, as the bearings were toast when you got it. If it is, you can use Locktite products to bridge small gaps.

I have one bearing set on one of my trailers that is 59 years old and gets dunked frequently. I have had others that did not last a season when the seal was compromised. I usually repack wheel bearings once a year on all of my vehicles and farm equipment. When I pull a trailer, I will stop and check the load and bearings after five miles and every stop after that. If the hub is warm to the back of my hand there is trouble with those bearings.

Any dark discoloration, any pitting is reason to discard the bearing and race. Replace the seal anytime you are pulling the bearings.

Personally I like to hand pack my bearings, but some of my buds successfully use packers.

I hope this helps.

 

[JAL51974]

Re: What is the maintenance schedule on wheel bearings?

Thanks for the suggestion:
"Have someone mike your hub. I'll bet it is oversized, as the bearings were toast when you got it. If it is, you can use Locktite products to bridge small gaps."

Do you mean use Loctite as a sealing compound to seal around the outer side of the seal? If so, what kind of Loctite as I know they make several different strength ones?

that trailer was used and was old so I have no idea how long those first bearings were in there...the guy I bought it from said he maintained them but I found out there were a lot of things he never maintained on the boat too!

 

[External Combustion]

Re: What is the maintenance schedule on wheel bearings?

Any of the Loctite products will work, but they make one for seals. I cannot remember the number off hand, but a dealer will have the catalog. I have used several of the strengths and high temperature resistant thread locker and they all worked well.

No, I don't have anything invested in Permatex - Loctite, but maybe I should.

 

[JAL51974]

Re: What is the maintenance schedule on wheel bearings?

Brought the hub and old bearings to a local bearing shop today and had them mic both the old seal and the hub. We ordered a different type seal and different size so it will fit snugly- this new one has spring-tension, double inside lip and a coating on the outer side that will help seal it too. Seems more of a heavy duty seal than the one I got previously.

 

[tommays]

Re: What is the maintenance schedule on wheel bearings?

I have found that the seal area on the spindle is generaly marginal even when new

And that a speedi sleeve (mine was 1.720 ) gave a smooth surface that really help with sealing

If your races are looking like this water is getting in

 

[JAL51974]

Re: What is the maintenance schedule on wheel bearings?

so is the grease seal actually on that speedi sleeve or just in front of it?

 

[tommays]

Re: What is the maintenance schedule on wheel bearings?

The seal rides on speedi sleeve it is very thin and will work with orginal size seal


I used them a long time in machine repiars before i tryed it on a trailer

 

[gstanton]

Re: What is the maintenance schedule on wheel bearings?

In an attempt to answer your question regarding mileage... I have my boat trailer re-packed at about 5000 to 6000 miles. That's about two years of running from Maryland to Florida and back a couple of times. On my travel trailer it's about every 10,000 miles - but it doesn't get dunked! The travel trailer bearings always look fine. By the time the boat trailer gets repacked, the bearings are not looking too good. There is a lot of sitting around between trips.

 

[JAL51974]

Re: What is the maintenance schedule on wheel bearings?

Mine is not so much mileage, less than 100 mi. roundtrip to the lake each weekend during the summer season. But there is a lot of months with the boat sitting on the trailer in the yard. I really think the problem was that the bearings I put on were the right size but the grease seal was not, so water was getting inside. I think I have the correct one this time. We will see...

thanks for all the help.

Joe

 

[njlarry]

Re: What is the maintenance schedule on wheel bearings?

How are speedy seals sized and installed?

 

[tommays]

Re: What is the maintenance schedule on wheel bearings?

They go on pretty easy as long as your good with a homemade driving tool BUT at 38 dollars each take your time

 

[BillP]

Re: What is the maintenance schedule on wheel bearings?

It took me a lot of yrs to learn this but bearings can go 10 yrs with constant dunkings without corrosion/failure. All it takes is good spindles, new rear seals, "bearing buddys" and doing the installation correctly.

Pack the HUB full of grease, slide it on with packed bearings and tighten up. Then install the "bearing buddys" and top off with grease per the instructions. Drive 10-15 miles and check the bearing buddys...top off...it WILL be needed. Check every 10-15 or more miles and keep topping off. When the bearing buddys stop taking grease it means the hub is totally packed with grease and no water can get in (be aware that pumping too much, too fast will pressurize and breach the rear seal). This will let you do 100s of launching and easy 5-10 yrs between bearing replacements. I check every 5 yrs and the bearings always look perfect. People who don't pack the hubs full and don't use bearing buddys are the ones who need to check and usually replace bearings every yr or two...I used to be one of them. Also, those spindo seals work great for repairing pitted spindles. Well worth the price if your spindles aren't perfect and rear seals don't last. I've been using them for 20+ yrs on the same trailer.

bp

 

[External Combustion]

Re: What is the maintenance schedule on wheel bearings?

Dang BillP: Where were you all these years I have been preachin' da truth?

Good grease an' lots o' it equals no worries with water. Seals are betterin promises, an watchin what you do is betterin cussin onesself.

Claterpillar dun taught me dat when I wuz a youngin.

 

[BillP]

Re: What is the maintenance schedule on wheel bearings?

Ah So..."I see" said the blind man. Claterpillar was a good teacher. He taught me that man who fly upside down will have crackup.

bp