Bearing repack - hub noises?

[penguin149]

I'm in the process of putting new tires on my TT and will do bearing maintenance at the same time. Got one of the wheels off; when I spin the hub, it makes a dragging, scraping sound. The hub stops after about 1/4 of a turn. I'm pulling the hub tomorrow and inspecting, repacking, etc. Does this sound like a bearing or brake issue? Or is this normal? It's a single axle Jayco with a 3500# EZ lube Dexter hub.

[opnspaces]

It's normal for drum brakes to make an intermittent dragging scraping sound when turned by hand. Bearings have to be really bad to make any noise and even then it's usually a rumble not a scrape and occurs at high speeds.

But no matter what, you'll know when you pull it apart. Just inspect the bearing rollers and matching raceway for pits.

[azdryheat]

Strongly disagree with the above post. The problem isn't the electric brake. The brakes's star wheel is adjusted too tight, which is why the wheel isn't turning, the brakes are too tight. I can back off the star wheel sufficiently so that there is no noise at all when the tire freely spins, which shows the electric brake doesn't make noise like the tight brakes do. And the electric brake has no juice to it so it's not going to cause a tight brake.

While you're there check the adjustment of the castle nut, which holds your wheel together. It should be hand tightened then backed off to the first hole the cotter pin can go through. Too many people over tighten the castle nut and the bearings fail. This process is only for trailer brakes.

[fj12ryder]

theoldwizard1 wrote:

Bird Freak wrote:
Sounds like brake to me. Bearing would be more of a growling sound.

Concur ! Also a bearing going bad will actually spin fairly well.

A bearing bad enough to make noise is not going to "spin fairly well".

[K_Charles]

Could be the magnet dragging on the drum like dodge guy said.

[theoldwizard1]

Bird Freak wrote:
Sounds like brake to me. Bearing would be more of a growling sound.

Concur ! Also a bearing going bad will actually spin fairly well.

[Mike134]

dodge guy wrote:
Ok people. Electric brakes will make a noise when turned. The magnet is in contact with the drum by a spring. It rides along the drum until the brake controller sends a signal for current. Then it drags harder against the drum and increases braking proportiently. So it's normal to hear a scraping/dragging noise when turning. The drum will not freewheel because of this. It does sound like it may be slightly adjusted too much. You should be able to freely turn it with a couple fingers and not much effort.

/\ /\ what he said

[dodge_guy]

Ok people. Electric brakes will make a noise when turned. The magnet is in contact with the drum by a spring. It rides along the drum until the brake controller sends a signal for current. Then it drags harder against the drum and increases braking proportiently. So it's normal to hear a scraping/dragging noise when turning. The drum will not freewheel because of this. It does sound like it may be slightly adjusted too much. You should be able to freely turn it with a couple fingers and not much effort.

[Lwiddis]

“Sounds like out of round brake drum. Might take them in for turning while apart!”

Excellent suggestion.

[enblethen]

Sounds like out of round brake drum. Might take them in for turning while apart!

[fj12ryder]

"Does this sound like a bearing or brake issue?"

Yes. 🙂

It could very easily be either. Brake dragging, or bearing running dry.

[Bird_Freak]

Sounds like brake to me. Bearing would be more of a growling sound.

[Lwiddis]

Brake to me. Please let us know.