Wheel Bearing Maintenance
When do most folks repack their wheel bearings, is it my time, like once a year or more like mileage? Thanks!
Forum Discussion
RAS43 wrote:Likes to tow wrote:
Every other year for me also. I replace the seals about every 4 years. Never do I use the grease fitting!! This is great for boat trailers that get submerged in water but it will hose down your brake shoes if the seal is not 100%.
Why would you go thru the trouble of repacking the bearings and not replace the seals? The seal has to be removed to remove the inner seal anyway and they don't cost much. Just curious.
I don't actually pull the inside bearing out to pack in more grease. I only visually inspect and feel for the amount of grease it has, then grab some more grease with two fingers, go through the seal and pull the grease off my fingers as I withdraw my hand. I do this several times. I wipe some of the excess off with a clean towel. The outside bearing is of course removed when I pull the hub and I go through the routine of packing it with "grease in the palm of hand" method. In pulling boat trailers for over 50 years...I have never lost a bearing. I only pull my 5th wheel about 2000 miles a year. Every other year seems to work good on the bearings and every 4 years on the seals. The seals never show leakage. If I pulled more miles I would step up the schedule.
