Wheel/Brake/Bearing Question
Hi All, I was having some poor braking on our last trip so, after scolding myself for failing to adjust the brakes or lube the bearings since we got the trailer (probably 12,000 miles ago) I decide...
Forum Discussion
Based on the responses here, I would NOT recommend you take your trailer to the dealer for bearing service. It seems there are quite a few that don't know how to adjust wheel bearings. And there are a few that know how to do it right.
The Dexter instructions are correct. As are some others that do similarly.
Rotate tire while tightening the nut to 50 ft lbs. When the tire stops turning, back off the nut and retighten with fingers. Then back off to next slot on nut. Insert cotter pin. If you feel a slight 12:00 and 6:00 O'clock rock. that is what you want.
But Scott G seems to think that all experienced mechanics, trade school instructors, and knowledgeable DIY'ers do it his way, is precisely the reason to not trust that job to some unknown someone else. They might do it that way. A tech at an RV dealer is also risky. Might be trained by one of those Trade School instructors.
Now for the grease in the cavity. Most of that grease does nothing but go for the ride. And it is there so that when you pump some more in, the stuff that is already in there gets squeezed into the bearing and race interface. A big waist of grease. Unless you submerge the hubs in water. Best to hand pack the bearings fully. Saves a whole load of grease. And you know you are getting the grease into the bearing...where it needs the grease to be. And when you clean and inspect the bearings for hand packing, you can inspect them for reliability. Can't do that by simply pumping them with grease.
The Dexter instructions are correct. As are some others that do similarly.
Rotate tire while tightening the nut to 50 ft lbs. When the tire stops turning, back off the nut and retighten with fingers. Then back off to next slot on nut. Insert cotter pin. If you feel a slight 12:00 and 6:00 O'clock rock. that is what you want.
But Scott G seems to think that all experienced mechanics, trade school instructors, and knowledgeable DIY'ers do it his way, is precisely the reason to not trust that job to some unknown someone else. They might do it that way. A tech at an RV dealer is also risky. Might be trained by one of those Trade School instructors.
Now for the grease in the cavity. Most of that grease does nothing but go for the ride. And it is there so that when you pump some more in, the stuff that is already in there gets squeezed into the bearing and race interface. A big waist of grease. Unless you submerge the hubs in water. Best to hand pack the bearings fully. Saves a whole load of grease. And you know you are getting the grease into the bearing...where it needs the grease to be. And when you clean and inspect the bearings for hand packing, you can inspect them for reliability. Can't do that by simply pumping them with grease.
