Checking on Wheel Bearing Heat

I think there might be some El Toro poo poo mixed into that mountain. :B

Man O man you people are a mountain of knowledge!
Thanks for being there!
SARGE

The touch method is something I learned from my Dad when I was a child. Nothing wrong with it. Using an IR gun just allow you to get into spots you can't do with your hand and allows for an across the board check on things. I have used it extensively shooting it in areas that would be the closet to the bearing which I would not be able to do with my hand. I have thought of removing the center hub cover cap which would allow to shoot the bearing cover which is probably as close as one could get but I have not done so.

ford truck guy wrote:
I too use an IR gun.. Just checking to make sure NOTHING stands out... I will find that the sun side will be warmer than the shade side, sometimes as much as 15 degrees...

I also use the "touch" if I am unsure.

Although I went to a TPMS it’s almost too much info . Joking of course, not sure I want to have anymore tools to tell me what’s going on :B But yes the touch method and the TPMS so far has kept me out of trouble.

I too use an IR gun.. Just checking to make sure NOTHING stands out... I will find that the sun side will be warmer than the shade side, sometimes as much as 15 degrees...

I also use the "touch" if I am unsure.

I had problems with one hot drum on each side, two were over 250* and the other two were about 150* so I fixed the wiring to the brakes and then I jacked up one wheel at a time. I check for wobble and spun the wheel to make sure the bearings were okay and then I adjusted the shoes with the star adjusters. I shot about a half a tube of grease in each EZ Lube fitting and I could tell that the wheels spun easier. Got one side finished this morning before it got hot outside.

Thanks for all the info, Inhad the same question that's why I live this place

Thermoguy wrote:

2oldman wrote:

memtb wrote:
I’d be very surprised if the majority of people could get within 20 degrees of the actual temperature when using there hand.

It's not the actual temperature they're after when using their hands, it's whether the warmth feels all about the same.

Since I have one it's hard to argue the benefits one might argue by not having one. But, mine takes pictures and allows you to see where the heat is. I can tell you from experience, that the tire heat is on the tread, but the bearing heat is not on an area you can touch from the outside of the tire or hub, it's on the inside. You can't touch that area and some bearings can be over 200 degrees. Good luck with your hand. Also, heat is relative, so you are looking for all to be about the same, not an absolute number. In addition, a failed brake has no heat. You're not going to feel that with your hand.

thats not true, if you put your hand on the centre hub cover you will feel if the brakes or berrings are running hot. if it warm your good, if you pull your hand back you may have an issue. you said your self it is over 200 degrees, its all metal and the hub cover will give a bit of air space so you dont instantly melt skin. now you wont know if it is brakes or a berring with out a little more investagation but your not trying to do that on a quick stop, just checking to make sure tires and centre hubs are running at simular temps, this tells you everything is good. if I feel a hot one I will start looking deeper which may mean gettin gout my gun and trying to find the hotest part of the hub from the back.

Steve

2oldman wrote:
My TPMS will show me that the wheels on the sunny side will be 10° warmer than the other. Now, whether bearing heat will show at the edge of the rim.. I don't know.

2oldman, the TPSS system is great......but, the IR gun, is just another tool in your arsenal! memtb

My TPMS will show me that the wheels on the sunny side will be 10° warmer than the other. Now, whether bearing heat will show at the edge of the rim.. I don't know.