WHEEL BEARINGS

I usually give the zerk fittings a shot of grease every year before the big trip.

Head over to northern tools and pick up an inexpensive pyrometer. I usually check my hubs and my tires during rest breaks. Easy to do a once around the rig for loose items, bikes, etc. I then take a quick reading on the wheels just to make sure temps are even.

If you've ever blown a tire, its a real messy experience.

Jack up each wheel about an inch off the ground. Give the tire a good spin. Listen for grinding and see if the wheel binds and slows too quickly. If you have grease seepage from the hub cap or from the wheel seal, it's time for bearing service. Otherwise, I don't worry about it much. You can also pop the cap off and take a look-see for metal flakes or liquified grease which would be another indication that bearings need attention.

Took deliver of my 5ver in March 2011. I have added grease annually since new to the easy lube fitting on the end of the spindle. Just this week after over 12,000 miles of travel I took it to the axle shop to have the bearings checked. They said the bearings were in perfect shape. They just repacked them and put the them back on.

10 years havent had them apart. As others have said add lube to zerks and check temp. Boat trailers, thats another story.

2oldman wrote:

Cecilt wrote:
What is a normal temperature?

Slightly warm to the touch. Definitely nothing that will be uncomfortable or burn you.

Heat can also come from the sun or warm tires. Just make sure the hubs are not noticeably warmer.

Or the heat source could be from a malfunctioning break, etc.

Temperature alone is not a fool proof way of checking whether a bearing needs servicing. I believe it is a rather poor way. If it is the bearing heating up the wheel hub, it could be too late to save that bearing. Even if it's not to late, do you want to service it on the road, possibly in an inconvenient and unsafe location? I would much rather inspect and do my preventative maintenance while home. :@

I am not saying not to check the temperature of the wheels while on the road, just don't wait for a abnormally high temperature to take action.

I would check them every two three years at a min to make sure all is good. I waited until 5 years and had two blown seals and a cut brake wire. Bearings looked good though

Cecilt wrote:
What is a normal temperature?

Slightly warm to the touch. Definitely nothing that will be uncomfortable or burn you.

Heat can also come from the sun or warm tires. Just make sure the hubs are not noticeably warmer.

2oldman wrote:
take their temperature now and then. A sure sign of needing service is when one is warmer than others.

What is a normal temperature?

take their temperature now and then. A sure sign of needing service is when one is warmer than others.

I add some grease to Ultra-Lube axles every couple of years but never pull them apart. No need to. They run the same temperature all of the time and I have no reason to be concerned about them. Had the trailer going on 11 years with no issues to the axles. I have better things to be concerned about.