Checking on Wheel Bearing Heat

[DogTrainer]

I was wondering how many of you check your hubs for overheating when you stop and get gas or pit stops.

While driving home from Branson (232 miles total one way) I stopped for gas and two hubs were kind of hot (different axles) but touchable and two were cold. I took the camper yesterday to get the bearings checked. I just had them packed last year and I told the service writer that the technician may have tightened two of them down to tight.

Since repacking last year I have only driven 1200 miles and I don't consider that excessive miles.

I would assume while driving they should all be close to same temperature.

[Lynnmor]

Mike134 wrote:

I don't see anything wrong in this view. Color change to the grease is normal

The grease contains metal fines that turned it gray. Some of the other bearings with the same service had red grease. You are wrong, the bad bearing had a ridge that wore away and that is the metal that wore off.

[Edd505]

Commercial drivers at thought to hold you hand at the hub and if you can touch them your good to go. Those guys drive 10-12 thousand miles a MONTH so if it's OK for them why all the heat guns stuff? Most RVs are weekenders and a couple weeks vacation way less than a week on a commercial truck.

[Thermoguy]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Oil bath on my 8k MORryde axles and they run nice and cool in all temps. Check hubs and tires at each stop. Running near capacity on the GY "H" tires with ambient in the low 80's.

you need an upgrade:)

Real Temp Gun

[azdryheat]

I do my own repacking so I know it's been done correctly and that the bearings haven't been over tightened. Periodically (when I think of it), I'll check how the tires and hubs feel, which confirm I did the repack correctly.

[Mike134]

Lynnmor wrote:
Just keep in mind that a temperature gun is not a good tool to diagnose bearing condition. The bearing can be in the beginning stages of failure and the temperature may not be elevated much. Ask me how I know.



This grease was new and red at the beginning of a long trip, temperatures of both the TPMS and heat gun showed normal. Diagnosis; cheap Chinese bearing was manufactured poorly.

I don't see anything wrong in this view. Color change to the grease is normal

[Lynnmor]

Just keep in mind that a temperature gun is not a good tool to diagnose bearing condition. The bearing can be in the beginning stages of failure and the temperature may not be elevated much. Ask me how I know.



This grease was new and red at the beginning of a long trip, temperatures of both the TPMS and heat gun showed normal. Diagnosis; cheap Chinese bearing was manufactured poorly.

[Allworth]

I walk around the trailer with a HF gun every time we stop. Infra red on the hubs and visual on the treads, hatches, doors, and any fluids that might be falling out..

[HappyKayakers]

ksbowman wrote:
Yes, they should be close although the side receiving the sun will be elevated. I use an infrared temp gun from Harbor Freight and it makes checking temps very easy. They are very reasonable there.

This ^^^^^^^^

[delwhjr]

I use the TST TPMS and it is reliable. I am also a creature of habit and still check with IR thermometer as part of my walk around at each stop. A few extra seconds for safety is not a bad thing.

[DogTrainer]

TPMS will be another addition for me as well...

[ACZL]

East way to tell also if something is hot is by smell and appearance. Hot/dragging brakes emit a distinct odor and makes your rims nice and black. If you use the hand test method when checking temps, ALWAYS use the back of your hand when placing it up to rim. Lil trick of the trade from early days as a fireman, never to use palm of hand when testing a doorknob to see if hot cuz natural reaction is to close it if hot right around the doorknob.....not good. Was taught to use back of hand, so IMO, same rule should apply here tho you cannot clasp it onto anything, better to be safe than sorry.

[Cummins12V98]

Oil bath on my 8k MORryde axles and they run nice and cool in all temps. Check hubs and tires at each stop. Running near capacity on the GY "H" tires with ambient in the low 80's.

[cummins2014]

work2much wrote:

That TST is the one I have. Temps stay pretty even, thats all I need to know. I do check by touching them on occasion, but as said the TST tells me everything I need to know.

[DarkSkySeeker]

DogTrainer wrote:
I was wondering how many of you check your hubs for overheating when you stop and get gas or pit stops.

Off and on I touch the tires and wheels. It would make sense for me to do that every stop.

[work2much]