re-packing greasing the bearings / axle

[Happy_Camper3]

Hello,

how often should I be re-packing the bearings ?

I have a 2003 forest river salem le

If I don't tow it much, should I be doing it less often ?

I've owned it for 3 years, only towed it 200 miles in 3 years.

it goes down the road fine, and seems fine .

Is there a way to tell if it needs to be packed ? will it squeek or something first ?

the dealer wants $140 per axle, so about $300 with tax, I have two axles . I don't want to just throw money away .

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

How often should you do it? I can only tell you how often I do it.

I tow about 4 to 5K a year and I "check" mine about every 7 years.

Even then sometimes I don't pack them. I just check them. I've had the same trailer for 28 years.

It's a sealed system so the grease has no where to go unless a seal is bad. I use a good quality grease and generally the bearings look just like when I pack them after 30K to 40K miles.

I have no idea why people get so crazy about trailer bearings? Most have the same bearings that autos have. Out of the dozen or so trailers I have owned over my lifetime I have never had any bearing troubles.

Do what you want but I will keep to my schedule. 🙂

[BarneyS]

Take a look here for a complete tutorial with pictures on how to not only grease your wheel bearings but adjust your brakes. 🙂
Barney

Edit: Looks like there is a problem with the pictures. I will try to get it corrected!
2nd edit: Looks like the problem corrected itself. Pictures are showing ok now. 🙂

[Grit_dog]

LarryJM wrote:

jfkmk wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
There is not a set answer here. Pop the caps and see how the grease looks. If it's all grey (metallic) and runny (compared to fresh grease) then it's time. Easy to check.
If the grease is still close to original color and not degraded then top it off with a few squirts and let er rip for 3 more years!
I disagree that sitting and not being used does any sort of real degradation to the bearings. Doesn't even make sense. That's like saying the grease goes bad in the bucket of tube after 2 years.
Just bought an 05 or 06 Sno machine trailer last year. Had like no miles on it. PO claimed 500 mi and I believe it.
Hubs/ bearings were never touched. Put a couple squirts of grease in each wheel to top them up and put maybe only 1500 mi on it since. No issues.
Never even took the hubs off my old sled trailer in close to 10 years and probably 15-20k miles, guessing. Just kept them greased.
RnR the hearings before heading to AK and re packed the hubs. Bearings were still fine and proceeded to put another 4-5kmi on it, loaded to the gills. No problems.

What??? Where on earth are you going to " put a couple of squirts of grease" to "top them up"? The OP never stated he has EZ Lube and since it's not a boat trailer he probably doesn't have Bearing Buddy's. Even with EZ Lube there is a procedure to follow, you don't just "top them up". The OP doesn't really have a clue about bearing maintenance (that's why he is asking), why would you tell him something so blatantly wrong?

You took the words right out of my mouth on this terrible advice of "put a couple of squirts of grease" to "top them up". While the OP has admitted not knowing much about bearing maintenance and has wisely asked for advice I'm amazed at the folks that are willing to jump in and give blatantly "BAD" advice and demonstrating they know as little or less than the OP that has at least wisely asked for advice.

For the OP as mentioned a lot of "book" answers say every year or so here is my take on this. First I use a moly fortified grease that meets the specs for the particular axle. IMO these EZ-Lube or equilivant axles at least for TT is an interesting idea in search of a reasonable application and TTs is not one of them. Reason is that it takes "A LOT OF GREASE" and as mentioned a very detailed and specific procedure to do it correctly. Also, when you do finally tear things down that is a lot of grease to get rid of and then reapply. My recommendation is to forget trying to use the EZ-Lube or equilivant feature and do a regular tear down and repack. I see no real reason to do this every year and my limit is around 20K miles total or 5 years which ever comes first except for the first one and that should be done as soon a possible so you have a good known starting point. These "personal" limits is something I have just developed a "FEEL FOR" over the 50+ years that I have been doing my own bearing maintenance on all my curent and past trailer and vehicles.

Larry

Well you 2 keyboard jockeys are obviously the trailer bearing authorities, lol. (Like the weight police and them guys that weigh every ounce of they're putting on the truck including whether him and the ole lady had their BM for the day yet!)
Since ole Larry goes 5 years and 20k before looking at the bearings then that is what you should do! Oh wait, that sounds like worse advice than inspecting and periodically adding grease......... Whoever said that!
As long a you got a "feel" for it we will all be fine!
That's why I love this forum. It's pure entertainment!

Oh and if you can't figure out how to add grease to a trailer wheel without a bearing buddy or easy lube then you shouldn't be giving out advice!

[Mr_MrsSchleppro]

Some good advice here, and some bad. Since the OP doesn't know much about bearings but knows enough to come and ask I would recommend searching for a reputable shop to go in and check/repack his bearings as he may not catch any issues a trained eye may catch. As far as a good price I have no clue as I've always done my own. Jmho

[RCMAN46]

At a minimum pop the dust caps and check the condition of the grease.

I just did this on a utility trailer that had been repacked 6 months ago. One of the dust caps had water in it. I found the grease seal had failed. I will check the dust caps before any long trip with a trailer from now on.

Also jack up each tire and check the wheel turns free and check for side play.

If you are not sure when the last repack was then by all means repack them and carefully check condition of bearings and brakes.

[LarryJM]

jfkmk wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
There is not a set answer here. Pop the caps and see how the grease looks. If it's all grey (metallic) and runny (compared to fresh grease) then it's time. Easy to check.
If the grease is still close to original color and not degraded then top it off with a few squirts and let er rip for 3 more years!
I disagree that sitting and not being used does any sort of real degradation to the bearings. Doesn't even make sense. That's like saying the grease goes bad in the bucket of tube after 2 years.
Just bought an 05 or 06 Sno machine trailer last year. Had like no miles on it. PO claimed 500 mi and I believe it.
Hubs/ bearings were never touched. Put a couple squirts of grease in each wheel to top them up and put maybe only 1500 mi on it since. No issues.
Never even took the hubs off my old sled trailer in close to 10 years and probably 15-20k miles, guessing. Just kept them greased.
RnR the hearings before heading to AK and re packed the hubs. Bearings were still fine and proceeded to put another 4-5kmi on it, loaded to the gills. No problems.

What??? Where on earth are you going to " put a couple of squirts of grease" to "top them up"? The OP never stated he has EZ Lube and since it's not a boat trailer he probably doesn't have Bearing Buddy's. Even with EZ Lube there is a procedure to follow, you don't just "top them up". The OP doesn't really have a clue about bearing maintenance (that's why he is asking), why would you tell him something so blatantly wrong?

You took the words right out of my mouth on this terrible advice of "put a couple of squirts of grease" to "top them up". While the OP has admitted not knowing much about bearing maintenance and has wisely asked for advice I'm amazed at the folks that are willing to jump in and give blatantly "BAD" advice and demonstrating they know as little or less than the OP that has at least wisely asked for advice.

For the OP as mentioned a lot of "book" answers say every year or so here is my take on this. First I use a moly fortified grease that meets the specs for the particular axle. IMO these EZ-Lube or equilivant axles at least for TT is an interesting idea in search of a reasonable application and TTs is not one of them. Reason is that it takes "A LOT OF GREASE" and as mentioned a very detailed and specific procedure to do it correctly. Also, when you do finally tear things down that is a lot of grease to get rid of and then reapply. My recommendation is to forget trying to use the EZ-Lube or equilivant feature and do a regular tear down and repack. I see no real reason to do this every year and my limit is around 20K miles total or 5 years which ever comes first except for the first one and that should be done as soon a possible so you have a good known starting point. These "personal" limits is something I have just developed a "FEEL FOR" over the 50+ years that I have been doing my own bearing maintenance on all my curent and past trailer and vehicles.

Larry

[rtz549]

Jack up the trailer and spin the tire by hand. Any bearing noise? Does it spin nice? Grab the tire and try and shake it back and forth. Any slop or play in the bearing?

Knowing the condition of the grease is a good thing to know. Knowing the amount of grease in the bearings is good to know.

Plenty or not very much? Is the grease still good or dried out or broken down and separating?

You want to go for a 1,000 mile drive down the highway wondering and worrying about the bearings and the condition and if they will make it or not; or know for certain they are perfect?

[jfkmk]

Grit dog wrote:
There is not a set answer here. Pop the caps and see how the grease looks. If it's all grey (metallic) and runny (compared to fresh grease) then it's time. Easy to check.
If the grease is still close to original color and not degraded then top it off with a few squirts and let er rip for 3 more years!
I disagree that sitting and not being used does any sort of real degradation to the bearings. Doesn't even make sense. That's like saying the grease goes bad in the bucket of tube after 2 years.
Just bought an 05 or 06 Sno machine trailer last year. Had like no miles on it. PO claimed 500 mi and I believe it.
Hubs/ bearings were never touched. Put a couple squirts of grease in each wheel to top them up and put maybe only 1500 mi on it since. No issues.
Never even took the hubs off my old sled trailer in close to 10 years and probably 15-20k miles, guessing. Just kept them greased.
RnR the hearings before heading to AK and re packed the hubs. Bearings were still fine and proceeded to put another 4-5kmi on it, loaded to the gills. No problems.

What??? Where on earth are you going to " put a couple of squirts of grease" to "top them up"? The OP never stated he has EZ Lube and since it's not a boat trailer he probably doesn't have Bearing Buddy's. Even with EZ Lube there is a procedure to follow, you don't just "top them up". The OP doesn't really have a clue about bearing maintenance (that's why he is asking), why would you tell him something so blatantly wrong?

[Ron3rd]

The amount you tow, every 5 years would be fine for an inspection and repack. Not a bad idea to have the inspection now to make sure everything is OK.

[RVcircus]

I agree with the others that say to inspect everything. With unknown service history get the trailer on stands and inspect the brakes & bearings. Replace anything worn if necessary, install new seals and repack the bearings. This way you have a baseline for future maintenance. If you're handy do it yourself and save some $$$ and learn something new.

[midnightsadie]

if your handy, even just a little you can do this, ask your friends if they,ve ever done it. do one side at a time.

[3oaks]

Happy Camper, since you really don't know the history of the wheel bearing and brake assemblies maintenance, I would definitely have them serviced by a reputable dealer at least once. Price seems a bit high to me. But then I service my own and don't really know what the going rates are.

A lot more to it than just popping the caps and adding grease:
Pulling the wheels, pulling the seals, removing, cleaning, inspecting, (replacing if necessary), and repacking the bearings, installing new grease seals, inspecting the brakes, cleaning or replacing worn parts if necessary and reassembling. Of course replacements parts will be additional cost.

[Happy_Camper3]

how often do the axles actually fail ? Is this like my cheap 5x8 trailer, where I put 1000's of miles on over 8 years, and never had a single problem ?

why didn't my cheap 5x8 utility trailer fail ?


even with that said, I think I will watch a few youtube videos and see if I can do it myself, $300 seems steep if its really just " pop the cap off, few squirts of greese"

How do I even find out what kind of grease to buy ?

[PenMan]

I agree with Old Guy. Let it sit, repack bearings more often (like yearly). Sitting is harder on bearings than moving it. Use it and repack every other year.

[Grit_dog]

There is not a set answer here. Pop the caps and see how the grease looks. If it's all grey (metallic) and runny (compared to fresh grease) then it's time. Easy to check.
If the grease is still close to original color and not degraded then top it off with a few squirts and let er rip for 3 more years!
I disagree that sitting and not being used does any sort of real degradation to the bearings. Doesn't even make sense. That's like saying the grease goes bad in the bucket of tube after 2 years.
Just bought an 05 or 06 Sno machine trailer last year. Had like no miles on it. PO claimed 500 mi and I believe it.
Hubs/ bearings were never touched. Put a couple squirts of grease in each wheel to top them up and put maybe only 1500 mi on it since. No issues.
Never even took the hubs off my old sled trailer in close to 10 years and probably 15-20k miles, guessing. Just kept them greased.
RnR the hearings before heading to AK and re packed the hubs. Bearings were still fine and proceeded to put another 4-5kmi on it, loaded to the gills. No problems.