when you repack bearings and you put hub back on i have heard you tighten down the nut to seat the bearings than loosen it, than retighten to finger tight is this the proper way.

rtaylor0830 wrote:when you repack bearings and you put hub back on i have heard you tighten down the nut to seat the bearings than loosen it, than retighten to finger tight is this the proper way.Pretty accurate. Except when you first torque the nut down, you should be spinning the tire, while tightening. That seats the bearing in the race, and equalizes the pressure on the balls and races. Then back off the nut, before figure tightening. I then try to tilt the tire top and bottom to feel how much slop. should be just a very little. A little loose is always better than a little tight.

Yup,pretty close.I would only add,tighten the bearing down is somewhat subjetive. You only tighten it lightly wrench tight while slowly spinning the wheel.Stop spinning wheel,loosen nut half round,finger tighten to last hole that will recieve retainer. If you wrench tighten as you would the lug nuts,the bearing will likly be deformed and soon catastorply fail.:S

The best way is to use a dial indicater and measure the play or deflection. If you have to do it by feel, err on the side of being a little loose rather then too tight.

Unless you have an Al-Ko axle like I do that requires you tightening the nut to 20 lbs using a torque wrench while spinning the wheel, then loosening the nut and re-tightening again to 7 lbs before inserting the cotter pin. I find those instructions ridiculous and just do it like I learned fifty years ago, i.e., tighten down while spinning the tire till it feels right then backing off the nut, before finger tightening till I can insert the cotter pin. Like Vulcaneer said, "try to tilt the tire top and bottom to feel how much slop. should be just a very little. A little loose is always better than a little tight."--------------------------------------------------------------------------------fty years ago, which is

I can't resist this one. Why does pinion bearings require approximately 55 inch lbs of rolling torque and axle bearings require free play all running in the same oil 2 feet apart? My obesrvation has been that pinion bearings out last axle bearings. Loose bearings beat themselves to death and cause seals to leak.

can someone please explaing this | Good Sam Community

mountainkowboy
Explorer
May 19, 2013
I've always spun the wheel and tighten to about 10-15lbs. Then back it off to the next hole in the castle. Never had a problem.
Gib3633
Explorer
May 18, 2013
da bees
Good one . I didn't recall saying my trailer had pinion bearings. I guess if you can't explain or answer a question you just try to make the other person feel dumb.
2oldman
Explorer II
May 12, 2013
If you want to avoid the nonsense use Youtube.
da_bees
Explorer
May 12, 2013
wildernesshd wrote:
no comparison between pinion bearings running with gear oil and trailer axle bearings running in grease. dont know how someone compare

I never realized 5ers even have pinion bearings,much less how to service them. Maybe they are one of those seldom heard of options that help with side winds and tail-heavy wag steering.:h If only I could find them,I want to check mine out before hitting the road again.
wildernesshd
Explorer
May 12, 2013
no comparison between pinion bearings running with gear oil and trailer axle bearings running in grease. dont know how someone compare
time2roll
Nomad
May 12, 2013
rtaylor0830 wrote:
when you repack bearings and you put hub back on i have heard you tighten down the nut to seat the bearings than loosen it, than retighten to finger tight is this the proper way.

Yes.

And then back off to the next cotter pin slot.

A pro will bend and cut the cotter pin in a unique way to create a signature when working on other people's stuff to know if you were the last one in there.
Water-Bug
Explorer
May 12, 2013
da.bees wrote:
Gib3633 wrote:
I can't resist this one. Why does pinion bearings require approximately 55 inch lbs of rolling torque and axle bearings require free play all running in the same oil 2 feet apart? My obesrvation has been that pinion bearings out last axle bearings. Loose bearings beat themselves to death and cause seals to leak.

:? Your trailer has pinion bearings>?

It would be hard to stear without them. :)
da_bees
Explorer
May 11, 2013
Gib3633 wrote:
I can't resist this one. Why does pinion bearings require approximately 55 inch lbs of rolling torque and axle bearings require free play all running in the same oil 2 feet apart? My obesrvation has been that pinion bearings out last axle bearings. Loose bearings beat themselves to death and cause seals to leak.

:? Your trailer has pinion bearings>?
wilber1
Explorer
May 11, 2013
I've always tightened the nut and spun the wheel to seat the bearings then backed off the nut, tightened to finger tight then backed off until the pin would go in. Always worked for me, never had a wheel bearing failure after using this procedure.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
May 11, 2013
rtaylor0830 wrote:
when you repack bearings and you put hub back on i have heard you tighten down the nut to seat the bearings than loosen it, than retighten to finger tight is this the proper way.

Ig Dexter axles (or ?) go to their web site or call customer support. Then it is done right!