Mission accomplished!!! (Bearing service)

[shadows4]

Serviced my wheel bearings today. I haven't done a service on them since I have had the trailer. I found out the 5er has EZ lube axles.

After I got the first one apart I took the bearings and seal to the local trailer supply. I had them match up the seal and look at the bearings. I didn't think they looked wore out. One of the mechanics checked them out said they looked ok.

Just for the heck of it I asked how much for new bearings and seals. It was only about $14 an axle for new bearings and grease seals so I bought 5 sets. Decided to buy an extra set to keep in the trailer.

Went back home and completed the job in about 4 hrs. The EZ Lube works pretty well. This is a job I will definately do probably every two years from now on. It really wasn't hard to do, just labor intensive. (First time I have ever done trailer bearings)

We have about a 1,000 mile trip coming up and I had a nagging feeling I was going to endup on the side of the road with a bearing failure. Now I can rest assured I have take the steps to prevent this. Now to load the 5er up. It's going to be a long week at work I feel.

Oh Oh!! Almost forgot!! When I put each wheel back together I adjusted the brakes as they seemed weak. Well guess what??? Two of the four didn't work at all. Both of them had what looked like cut wires on the backing plate. Can't wait to try them out now!!!

[Cummins12V98]

tvman44 wrote:
I always change the races along with the bearings. Not doing so is a half axx job IMHO.

Agreed!

If one side NEEDS replacing so does the other side. Bottom line a waste of money replacing a bearing that is still good!

[tvman44]

I always change the races along with the bearings. Not doing so is a half axx job IMHO.

[Dave_H_M]

After all that theory, I bet you are going to be on edge for the upcoming trip. :h

I don't disagree with all the theory here, however I am assuming you wiped the races clean and made sure they looked good. If so i would go with the following advice:

I would monitor hub temps with a IR thermometer though.

It's not like the $15/axle bearing sets were run in at the factory to match the rollers to the races. They just get a cage out of one bin, a race out of another and wrap them up together.

I use my paws instead of the IR shooter.

If all feels god after the run in of 100 miles or however you want to use as a yard stick, you should be good to go.

Oh and don't forget to let us know that the trip went well, so all of us theory folks can immediately come back and say you were lucky.

[FlatBroke]

$14 a set for bearings and seals? I installed all new Timkem cones and cups (no Chinese) and it cost a bunch more than that.

[FlatBroke]

$14 a set for bearings and seals? I installed all new Timkem cones and cups (no Chinese) and it cost a bunch more than that.

[ScottG]

The old races and the new bearing will now have to wear into each other. You'll end up with far more wear than if you'd have just stuck with the perfectly good old ones.
The shop you went to gave you very bad advice and I don't know of any professional that would advocate such a thing.

[Cummins12V98]

TXiceman wrote:
New bearings always get new races. It is not worth taking a chance and ruining a new bearing. Always get US or German manufactured bearing...no Chinese JUNK.

Ken

Exactly! My concern would be the "OLD" ones may have been US Made Timkens and now at that price the "NEW" ones are probably Chico!

Sorry OP.

[Cummins12V98]

shadows4 wrote:
I did not replace the races. I asked about that and was told the old bearings looked to be in good shape so the races should be fine. If this is not the case please explain to me why? Are the races not hardened steel?

We have owned this 5er for just the last 3 years. I was told when we bought it that everything had been serviced and brought up to date.

If the bearings looked good I would not even think about replacing them. But if i had the hankering to do so I sure would have replaced the races also. Mating surfaces that have worn into each other is why I would have never miss matched them.

[TNRIVERSIDE]

TXiceman wrote:
New bearings always get new races. It is not worth taking a chance and ruining a new bearing. Always get US or German manufactured bearing...no Chinese JUNK.

Ken

While I agree with Ken it is getting really hard to find USA or German made bearings. The best I could do was go with a big name bearing manuafctor.

[TXiceman]

New bearings always get new races. It is not worth taking a chance and ruining a new bearing. Always get US or German manufactured bearing...no Chinese JUNK.

Ken

[Sport45]

I too prefer to replace them as a set. But then I don't generally replace bearing unless they've failed are or showing wear, heat, etc.

If the old bearing was good enough to be cleaned and repacked I'll bet the outer races were good enough to re-use as well. I wouldn't sweat it. I would monitor hub temps with a IR thermometer though.

It's not like the $15/axle bearing sets were run in at the factory to match the rollers to the races. They just get a cage out of one bin, a race out of another and wrap them up together.

[3oaks]

40 years working in a heavy industrial setting, we always changed tapered roller bearings in sets. Cup and cone (inner and outer race) together as a pair. I would never think of changing just 1/2 of a bearing in any application.

And what TNRIVERSIDE said: "The mechanic's coments would be correct if you were reusing the old bearings. Even then the bearing should be placed back in the original race."

No, your bearings will not disintegrate. But you will not get the long life out of them as you would have by changing them in sets.

[TNRIVERSIDE]

I never put new bearings in old races. They should be sold in sets. And replaced in sets. I know that you can buy them sepearate. Bearings can vary in demenions if made by different manuafctors. It's a gamble but its your trailer.

The mechanic's coments would be correct if you were reusing the old bearings. Even then the bearing should be placed back in the original race.

[shadows4]

I did not replace the races. I asked about that and was told the old bearings looked to be in good shape so the races should be fine. If this is not the case please explain to me why? Are the races not hardened steel?

We have owned this 5er for just the last 3 years. I was told when we bought it that everything had been serviced and brought up to date.

[2112]

You went 10 years without even looking at the bearings?