cannesdo wrote:
I found today that one of the lock/bearing nuts was a little loose so it's been tightened. Everything else looks good. It feels really solid now and when you spin it it sounds great. There's only been about 20 seconds total of squealing since this problem started and I will be keeping an eye on them as I travel, listening and feeling for heat...
I appreciate those who took the time to offer up suggestions and information. The bushings are next.
Note: I found the shaking of the tire or the brake drum to be the most helpful. You can feel when it's not tight enough.
Hi,
I see you found your problem and good for you! Sorry I'm late to the party but will pass this along for the future on the bearing nut and your question on the spring bushings.
When setting the running clearance on the tapered roller bearings, here is step that can trip you up, easily. Put the drum on, the outer bearing in and then:
You have to tighten the nut to fully seat the bearings into the race cone. If you want a torque, use 50 ft lb. It will be tight. Then spin the drum several times. There is not an exact no. of times but at least 5 to 6 or more. The other poster said 12, and that is OK. You will feel the rollers moving, this is not an easy spin as there is excess preload on the bearing.
Now here is the step that can get ya. Once you are done turning the drum, you have to back off the nut. You "must" 100% hold the drum so there is absolutely no movement. If it moves any, all bets are off and tighten it up and start over. Once loosening the nut and it spins free by hand, again not moving the drum, spin up the nut to the outer bearing washer and you have created "0" running clearance. Now you can let go of the drum. Then pending what type of nut keeper you have, cotter pin or snap over clip, you will move it to the very first hole or clip connection. That move to the hole action creates the very little running clearance. Just make sure that drum does not rotate any when backing the torqued nut off, and then spin up of the nut, or start over. Even myself I have to redo it every now and then. It is very easy to have the drum move on you. When it does, you just lost the no clearance effect you are trying to create, so start over.
And, if the nut was loose enough that you heard a squeal when turning left, we never heard which wheel it was, I suspect the rear wheel. That tire will scrub when going around a turn. The front does too, but the rear does more. And if in side, the brake drum was touching the brake mounting plate, it will leave tracks of grinding/galling somewhere. Look next time you have it apart.
Next, the infamous nylon spring bushings and you asked if there a way to know before taking the springs about, yes there is. Here is how I confirmed it to know how good or bad the problem is. Get the camper up off the ground on stands, both sides, put a bottle jack under each axle seat so the weight of the axle is not hanging down on the springs and do not over push up on the jack. You just want to hold the axle in an unloaded state.
Then using a ratchet strap, pull the axle all the way in one direction. All the play will go in that direction. Using a dial indicator on the spring, zero it out, then flip the strap in the other direction (or use 2) and pull all the clearance to the indicator. If you do not have an indicator, then C clamp a piece of metal or wood, something rigid to rest against the spring as a feeler. Shine a flashlight at the end and make sure you are touching. Then pull all the clearance away from the feeler and use the light again to see the clearance.
See the pics here for the concept. 2 ratchet straps so I can pull both directions
The indicator on the spring
The findings
And the worn out bushings
As everyone has said, between approx 5 to 10,000 miles and they are toast. They should really stop using those cheap nylon bushings, but have not yet... Get either the bronze bushing with a grease fitting on the pin or they now have a brand called, a Never-Fail bushing which are composite that they guarantee will be life time.
Never Fail I myself went the bronze and grease 2 times a year. If well greased they may last the life of the camper. I am already on 8 years with very little wear on the bronze.
Good luck and hope this helps
John
