Wheel Bearings
Why do the newer cars and trucks never have to have the wheel bearings repacked but rv's still need them to be repacked. Plus why don't tt & 5 th wheel mfg. offer an odometer option on their wheel...
Forum Discussion
IMO, serviceable bearings are a better fit in higher weight carrying or rough service situations. In typical passenger vehicle applications, cartridge bearings work well.
Just because you see grease present in the hub assembly and bearing area when the hub is removed, doesn't mean that grease hasn't lost a lot of the properties that made it good when new. Friction modifiers, viscosity additives, and other properties of the grease break down with time and use. Older grease tends to hold particles of worn metal in suspension, also. If a user is inspecting bearings and hubs, it is not any more work to clean out the old grease and replace with new stuff. Since drum brakes need more frequent inspection and service, doing a bearing repack at the same time makes a lot of sense.
Just because you see grease present in the hub assembly and bearing area when the hub is removed, doesn't mean that grease hasn't lost a lot of the properties that made it good when new. Friction modifiers, viscosity additives, and other properties of the grease break down with time and use. Older grease tends to hold particles of worn metal in suspension, also. If a user is inspecting bearings and hubs, it is not any more work to clean out the old grease and replace with new stuff. Since drum brakes need more frequent inspection and service, doing a bearing repack at the same time makes a lot of sense.
