Wheel Bearings Packed? Yearly Maintenance

smkettner wrote:
Bearing buddy is for boat trailers that submerge the axle to launch the boat.
Keeps pressure on the grease to keep the water out.

No use for an RV trailer. JMHO

If you would read at least two of my posts you would have seen OR Equivalent! OK-NEV-R-LUBE.

Never Lube

Item #1 From the above link
No need to pull the hubs to repack the bearings OR replace the seals when checking the brakes.

Bearing buddy is for boat trailers that submerge the axle to launch the boat.
Keeps pressure on the grease to keep the water out.

No use for an RV trailer. JMHO

jfkmk wrote:

PapillonOne wrote:

CKNSLS wrote:
That's one of the issues with repacking bearings. More often than not your better off just using the bearing buddy (if equipped)and leaving the bearings alone as far as dismantling everything IMHO. I can't count the number of posters who say they repack their bearings every year, every two years, etc., and when they take them out they really even didn't need repacking. I'm going the bearing buddy route and checking temps with an IR gun.

Could you provide more info or a link as to that the "bearing buddy" route is that you spoke of? And what is an IR gun and what does it do please. Thank you.

Janet

Janet,
Just do a quick search on bearing buddy and it'll take you right to their web site. The IR he's refering to is an infrared thermometer. You can "shoot" it at the hub and get an idea if one is running hotter than the other, indicating a potential bearing failure. These thermometers are now very cheap, especially at places like harbor freight.

Unfortunately, once the bearing starts to run hot, damage is already starting. If you're on the road, this could mean an expensive repair. Bearing maintenance, at least in my opinion, is preventive maintenance. In other word, do the maintenance before it is needed, not once a breakdown has begun.

Bearing maintenance, at least for even the most mildly mechanically inclined, is very basic and quite inexpensive, especially compared to a breakdown on the road. To each their own, but I'll invest a little time and a couple of dollars each spring to help ensure a trouble free camping season.

Repacking bearings is an EASY JOB in the sense that everything is basic. However, jacking up the trailer, pulling the bearings etc., is not an easy operation and it's even a messy affair and shouldn't be attempted by those who don't even change oils in their own vehicles. Once a year is overkill. For everyone on this forum that repacks their bearings annually, there are several that use the bearing buddys (or equivalent). There is no anecdotal evidence to suggest one way is better than the other.

What right do they have? You use their roads - so they have the right to inspect what you put on those roads. I've lived in places with and without inspections, and have to say that I prefer those with. All too often I see things one shouldn't ever pull on a road in the places without inspections.

That said, I wouldn't expect them to cause damage (and haven't ever had damage as the result of inspection), and wouldn't accept that without complaint. If they do cause damage, go elsewhere if you have a choice and write to the appropriate agency with proof of the damage so that they know they need to train their people better.

I have to shake my head at things like this. What business do they have doing these kinds of inspections? I might could see them jacking up the trailer, spinning the wheels and twisting on the wheels checking for wheel bearing nut adjustment, brakes too tight or loose, etc., but removing your wheels and messing with the bearings? That's way over the top. Fortunately here in NC, they don't inspect trailers, yet.

You can't even allow them to jack up a trailer. I stopped one idiot from placing the jack near the center of the axle. When I wrote about it here folks on this forum responded that I was the problem.

I only mentioned a few of the many problems I've had with inspections. The most recent was with my F250 when they destroyed one hub cap and torqued the lug nuts to 70 instead of 140. This was at a station that has an excellent reputation, you have never seen one cleaner.

Lynnmor wrote:

nomad297 wrote:
I have my bearings and brakes checked and maintained every winter when I take my trailer in for the VA State inspection.

Bruce

We have the same nonsense in PA. When I get it home from "inspection" I need to correct all the damage. I've had lugs stripped, lugs too loose, bearing adjustment way off, contaminated grease put in, grease seals damaged and wheels marked up. If you never check their work, you won't know till it is too late.

I have to shake my head at things like this. What business do they have doing these kinds of inspections? I might could see them jacking up the trailer, spinning the wheels and twisting on the wheels checking for wheel bearing nut adjustment, brakes too tight or loose, etc., but removing your wheels and messing with the bearings? That's way over the top. Fortunately here in NC, they don't inspect trailers, yet.

nomad297 wrote:
I have my bearings and brakes checked and maintained every winter when I take my trailer in for the VA State inspection.

Bruce

We have the same nonsense in PA. When I get it home from "inspection" I need to correct all the damage. I've had lugs stripped, lugs too loose, bearing adjustment way off, contaminated grease put in, grease seals damaged and wheels marked up. If you never check their work, you won't know till it is too late.

PapillonOne wrote:

CKNSLS wrote:
That's one of the issues with repacking bearings. More often than not your better off just using the bearing buddy (if equipped)and leaving the bearings alone as far as dismantling everything IMHO. I can't count the number of posters who say they repack their bearings every year, every two years, etc., and when they take them out they really even didn't need repacking. I'm going the bearing buddy route and checking temps with an IR gun.

Could you provide more info or a link as to that the "bearing buddy" route is that you spoke of? And what is an IR gun and what does it do please. Thank you.

Janet

Janet,
Just do a quick search on bearing buddy and it'll take you right to their web site. The IR he's refering to is an infrared thermometer. You can "shoot" it at the hub and get an idea if one is running hotter than the other, indicating a potential bearing failure. These thermometers are now very cheap, especially at places like harbor freight.

Unfortunately, once the bearing starts to run hot, damage is already starting. If you're on the road, this could mean an expensive repair. Bearing maintenance, at least in my opinion, is preventive maintenance. In other word, do the maintenance before it is needed, not once a breakdown has begun.

Bearing maintenance, at least for even the most mildly mechanically inclined, is very basic and quite inexpensive, especially compared to a breakdown on the road. To each their own, but I'll invest a little time and a couple of dollars each spring to help ensure a trouble free camping season.

I have my bearings and brakes checked and maintained every winter when I take my trailer in for the VA State inspection.

Bruce

CKNSLS wrote:
That's one of the issues with repacking bearings. More often than not your better off just using the bearing buddy (if equipped)and leaving the bearings alone as far as dismantling everything IMHO. I can't count the number of posters who say they repack their bearings every year, every two years, etc., and when they take them out they really even didn't need repacking. I'm going the bearing buddy route and checking temps with an IR gun.

Could you provide more info or a link as to that the "bearing buddy" route is that you spoke of? And what is an IR gun and what does it do please. Thank you.

Janet