Forum Discussion

Bobbyg2013's avatar
Bobbyg2013
Explorer
Feb 12, 2017

Tire wear

Feedback from this forum tells me I should have my 2015 26' two axle TT aligned due to excessive wear on the outside of the tires plus have the bearings packed because it is recommended every year. I have about 9 to 10K miles on the tires and unit. The price in Mesa, Az seems high at $380 for the alignment and $200 for the bearings work. Is this a reasonable price?
  • Trackrig's avatar
    Trackrig
    Explorer II
    Feb 12, 2017
    The bearing pack at $200 is reasonable. Shop time averages $100 an hour so that's two hours worth of work.

    Bill
  • spike99's avatar
    spike99
    Explorer
    Feb 12, 2017
    For wheel bearings....

    I re-pack grease and replace inner seals myself. Lots of videos on U-Tube. And while the wheel hubs are off, I also inspect my own brake parts as well. Money saved means I can spend dollars on other items. And, it's re-greasing is done properly - not by a young kid working at minimum wage.

    This works for me...
  • mbopp's avatar
    mbopp
    Explorer
    Feb 12, 2017
    I paid over $500 to have my axles re-aligned at a heavy truck & frame shop.
  • Huntindog's avatar
    Huntindog
    Explorer
    Feb 12, 2017
    mbopp wrote:
    I paid over $500 to have my axles re-aligned at a heavy truck & frame shop.
    This is one reason I am not a fan realigning TT axles.

    For that money, the underlying problem could have been fixed.

    There are basically two reasons a TT axles can be out of alignment.
    1. The spring hangers were welded on wrong when the TT was made.


    2. The axles became bent in use. Either from overloading, or an impact.

    To realign an axle most shops BEND it.

    This can work, but... If it was out of alignment because the spring hangers were welded on wrong, then thay still will be wrong... What you will have is a custom bent axle that compensates for the improperly installed hangers... If an axle later becomes damaged and needs replacing, then a NEW axle will need to be custom bent to match the old one. If you fix the real problem, then you can simply bolt a new axle in and be ready to roll.

    If the axle became bent from overloading or impact, replacing it with a heavier rated axle will fix the alignment, AND make it less likely to happen again.... This is especially true as most TT manufacturers put the smallest axles on that they can legally get away with.

    Axles are pretty affordable, compared to a 500.00 one time probably temporary realignment.

  • harley4275's avatar
    harley4275
    Explorer
    Feb 12, 2017
    spike99 wrote:
    For wheel bearings....

    I re-pack grease and replace inner seals myself. Lots of videos on U-Tube. And while the wheel hubs are off, I also inspect my own brake parts as well. Money saved means I can spend dollars on other items. And, it's re-greasing is done properly - not by a young kid working at minimum wage.

    This works for me...


    This may work for you (and me) but if a guy that has never done it before relies on utube , they should not attempt it . Pay the money and have a reputable place do it . Or have a friend or neighbour that knows how to do it right ,help and show them. just my opinion..
  • spike99's avatar
    spike99
    Explorer
    Feb 12, 2017
    harley4275 wrote:
    spike99 wrote:
    For wheel bearings....

    I re-pack grease and replace inner seals myself. Lots of videos on U-Tube. And while the wheel hubs are off, I also inspect my own brake parts as well. Money saved means I can spend dollars on other items. And, it's re-greasing is done properly - not by a young kid working at minimum wage.

    This works for me...


    This may work for you (and me) but if a guy that has never done it before relies on utube , they should not attempt it . Pay the money and have a reputable place do it . Or have a friend or neighbour that knows how to do it right ,help and show them. just my opinion..


    Once upon a time, I didn't know how to do myself. I learned and saved tons of money - by doing it myself. People can learn - even folks who don't know how to do it today.
  • harley4275's avatar
    harley4275
    Explorer
    Feb 12, 2017
    spike99 wrote:
    harley4275 wrote:
    spike99 wrote:
    For wheel bearings....

    I re-pack grease and replace inner seals myself. Lots of videos on U-Tube. And while the wheel hubs are off, I also inspect my own brake parts as well. Money saved means I can spend dollars on other items. And, it's re-greasing is done properly - not by a young kid working at minimum wage.

    This works for me...


    This may work for you (and me) but if a guy that has never done it before relies on utube , they should not attempt it . Pay the money and have a reputable place do it . Or have a friend or neighbour that knows how to do it right ,help and show them. just my opinion..


    Once upon a time, I didn't know how to do myself. I learned and saved tons of money - by doing it myself. People can learn - even folks who don't know how to do it today.
    .

    What I was leaning for was the fact that there are some people that should not touch anything like bearings and especially brakes as those parts are important to safety. I have friends that are not mechanically inclined and they feel safer having knowledgable folk do the work they feel unsure doing. That's all.
  • fulltimedaniel's avatar
    fulltimedaniel
    Explorer
    Feb 13, 2017
    spike99 wrote:
    harley4275 wrote:
    spike99 wrote:
    For wheel bearings....

    I re-pack grease and replace inner seals myself. Lots of videos on U-Tube. And while the wheel hubs are off, I also inspect my own brake parts as well. Money saved means I can spend dollars on other items. And, it's re-greasing is done properly - not by a young kid working at minimum wage.

    This works for me...


    This may work for you (and me) but if a guy that has never done it before relies on utube , they should not attempt it . Pay the money and have a reputable place do it . Or have a friend or neighbour that knows how to do it right ,help and show them. just my opinion..


    Once upon a time, I didn't know how to do myself. I learned and saved tons of money - by doing it myself. People can learn - even folks who don't know how to do it today.


    Spike is right...this is re-packing wheel bearings it is NOT rocket science or brain surgery. And THE BEST reason to do it yourself is that you learn yet another aspect of your rig which makes you that much more self reliant and not dependent on overpriced simple repairs from so called "experts".

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