Wheel bearings
What is so different with RV wheel bearings that they have to be packed at least every year or two. My truck and car does not require this yearly maintenance, why does the RV axles??
Forum Discussion
I have a 2004 Rockwood 8318ss.
After I bought it I checked the bearings. There was just a barely adequate amount of grease. I took everything apart and completely flushed the bearings with mineral spirits to clean out all the old grease. Then I bought a bearing-greasing tool from the auto parts store which holds the bearings and has a grease fitting. You just pump the grease and it forces it through the bearing. I used Mobil 1 synthetic grease (red).
For a couple of years I removed the bearings every year and pumped new grease through them. After the first few years, I checked them every other year. The only change I saw as that the red grease had gotten dirty. I just pump new grease through (remove bearing and put in tool) until fresh red appears.
I still check it every few years, it only costs about $10 in new seals. I have a HF infrared thermometer and check the hubs every time I stop at rest stops.
Like others have said, check the bearings immediately after purchase (new or used), clean and repack if needed and don't worry. They would probably be OK for many years. For every bearing failure you read about on the forum, there are dozens of posts about tire failures. If you are going to worry, worry about something more likely to happen.
Steve
After I bought it I checked the bearings. There was just a barely adequate amount of grease. I took everything apart and completely flushed the bearings with mineral spirits to clean out all the old grease. Then I bought a bearing-greasing tool from the auto parts store which holds the bearings and has a grease fitting. You just pump the grease and it forces it through the bearing. I used Mobil 1 synthetic grease (red).
For a couple of years I removed the bearings every year and pumped new grease through them. After the first few years, I checked them every other year. The only change I saw as that the red grease had gotten dirty. I just pump new grease through (remove bearing and put in tool) until fresh red appears.
I still check it every few years, it only costs about $10 in new seals. I have a HF infrared thermometer and check the hubs every time I stop at rest stops.
Like others have said, check the bearings immediately after purchase (new or used), clean and repack if needed and don't worry. They would probably be OK for many years. For every bearing failure you read about on the forum, there are dozens of posts about tire failures. If you are going to worry, worry about something more likely to happen.
Steve
