While servicing my trailer bearings I got to wondering why our cars and trucks don't have the same maintenance schedule. There is no difference in design or quality so why the big difference in mileage or time? Components are designed to carry a a specific weight. When is the last time you serviced your car bearings, never? Boat trailers I can understand because of possible water intrusion.

Bowti wrote:While servicing my trailer bearings I got to wondering why our cars and trucks don't have the same maintenance schedule. There is no difference in design or quality so why the big difference in mileage or time? Components are designed to carry a a specific weight. When is the last time you serviced your car bearings, never? Boat trailers I can understand because of possible water intrusion.The design of some trailer spindles is faulty and the cheap Chinese wheel bearings are of very poor quality. My 41 year old van has the original USA made bearings that get serviced when the brakes are replaced. My trailer had wasted bearings after the first long trip.

If you used your TT as often as your car, maintenance wouldn't be so often.

I have a 20' flat bed trailer with tandem 3500 axels. I put spring load bearing caps that are used on boat trailers on it. Dusty

Most modern vehicles have sealed bearings that can't be packed or serviced. You just replace them when they go bad.

Dexter does make a sealed bearing cartridge for some of their axles. Nev-R-Lube bearings don't need any maintenance during their lifetime. Mine are 12 years old, function like new, and have never been touched. They are not an aftermarket add. The axle has to be specified with the bearings.

Servicing Wheel Bearings | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

1320Fastback
Explorer
Sep 25, 2020
I've done the rears on the full floating axle when I was changing the shoes a few years ago. Never looked at the fronts in all the years I've had the truck.
Durb
Explorer
Sep 25, 2020
Dexter does make a sealed bearing cartridge for some of their axles. Nev-R-Lube bearings don't need any maintenance during their lifetime. Mine are 12 years old, function like new, and have never been touched. They are not an aftermarket add. The axle has to be specified with the bearings.
2112
Explorer II
Sep 25, 2020
Most modern vehicles have sealed bearings that can't be packed or serviced. You just replace them when they go bad.
Dusty_R
Explorer
Sep 24, 2020
I have a 20' flat bed trailer with tandem 3500 axels. I put spring load bearing caps that are used on boat trailers on it.

Dusty
K_Charles
Explorer
Sep 24, 2020
If you used your TT as often as your car, maintenance wouldn't be so often.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Sep 24, 2020
Bowti wrote:
While servicing my trailer bearings I got to wondering why our cars and trucks don't have the same maintenance schedule. There is no difference in design or quality so why the big difference in mileage or time? Components are designed to carry a a specific weight. When is the last time you serviced your car bearings, never? Boat trailers I can understand because of possible water intrusion.

The design of some trailer spindles is faulty and the cheap Chinese wheel bearings are of very poor quality. My 41 year old van has the original USA made bearings that get serviced when the brakes are replaced. My trailer had wasted bearings after the first long trip.

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Servicing Wheel Bearings

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