repacking wheel bearings

[jjjandrbaker]

I need to get my bearings repacked. I don't want to go to the dealer. Last time, they kept my little trailer for two weeks because the big rigs are their priority customers. I can't seem to find a place to have it done. Does anyone have any recommendations for places in San Antonio?

By the way: Nobody needs to bother to tell me how easy and inexpensive it is to do it myself. I don't want to do it myself. I just don't!

Thanks.

[billyray50]

Sorry to hear that.. Not good. Here in Texas their are a lot of trailer shops that are reputable.

[Lynnmor]

billyray50 wrote:

I have also have done a lot of rv and auto/truck maintenance for 40 years and I will choose to have bearings and brake work done on my new TT by a reputable repair shop now. I do my homework choosing a shop. I do not feel like doing it anymore. Guess I am lazy!!

In PA, we are required to have all of our vehicles inspected annually. I have been to all of the highly recommended, highly skilled and reputable shops around. I could write a book on the damage done to my vehicles. Some of the work was so bad that I could have been killed had I not caught the problem in time. I have no clue how folks can operate these shops and not be shut down.

[billyray50]

LarryJM wrote:

jjjandrbaker wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:


The use of bearing buddies on a TT will eventually lead to BRAKE FAILURE when you start pushing grease PAST the inside grease seal which is not designed for PRESSURIZED GREASE..

Thanks for replying to my post. You could say it nicer, but I appreciate the information. Your post led me to researching the bearing buddies to learn more about them. You are right, they are not the wonderful cure all to bearing packing I was led to believe they were. However, what I'm thinking from what you wrote above, and a few other things I saw posted elsewhere, it shouldn't be a problem if I just don't mess with the bearing buddies at all and wait until the next time I am "lazy" and pay someone to repack the bearings again to get them taken off. Do you agree with that? It sounds like it is adding grease with a grease gun that is the problem. If I don't do that, won't they just act like caps?

Yes, but unless they gave you the old "caps", they did a "DOUBLE WHAMMY" on you since you now have to buy new caps to get things back to where they should have been. What you went thru with this "CLUELESS MECHANIC" is why most here say to "suck it up" and do it yourself and then you know it's done right.

While I've done all my oil changes and TT maintenance such as bearings, etc. for over 50 years I'm getting to the age where at some point in the near future I will have to have someone else do these type things and dread the day that comes to pass since I have a real distrust of the quality of service one can get in a lot of cases now days.

Larry

Larry

I have also have done a lot of rv and auto/truck maintenance for 40 years and I will choose to have bearings and brake work done on my new TT by a reputable repair shop now. I do my homework choosing a shop. I do not feel like doing it anymore. Guess I am lazy!!

[LarryJM]

jjjandrbaker wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:


The use of bearing buddies on a TT will eventually lead to BRAKE FAILURE when you start pushing grease PAST the inside grease seal which is not designed for PRESSURIZED GREASE..

Thanks for replying to my post. You could say it nicer, but I appreciate the information. Your post led me to researching the bearing buddies to learn more about them. You are right, they are not the wonderful cure all to bearing packing I was led to believe they were. However, what I'm thinking from what you wrote above, and a few other things I saw posted elsewhere, it shouldn't be a problem if I just don't mess with the bearing buddies at all and wait until the next time I am "lazy" and pay someone to repack the bearings again to get them taken off. Do you agree with that? It sounds like it is adding grease with a grease gun that is the problem. If I don't do that, won't they just act like caps?

Yes, but unless they gave you the old "caps", they did a "DOUBLE WHAMMY" on you since you now have to buy new caps to get things back to where they should have been. What you went thru with this "CLUELESS MECHANIC" is why most here say to "suck it up" and do it yourself and then you know it's done right.

While I've done all my oil changes and TT maintenance such as bearings, etc. for over 50 years I'm getting to the age where at some point in the near future I will have to have someone else do these type things and dread the day that comes to pass since I have a real distrust of the quality of service one can get in a lot of cases now days.

Larry

Larry

[Strabo]

I just recently had the entire brake system and wheel bearings with races replaced on our 10 year old toyhauler. Two of the brake shoes were cracked in half. Dexter made an entire replacement package that worked perfect including the wheel bearings. Just cause you lube it dosent mean there isnt other issues.

[jjjandrbaker]

Gdetrailer wrote:


The use of bearing buddies on a TT will eventually lead to BRAKE FAILURE when you start pushing grease PAST the inside grease seal which is not designed for PRESSURIZED GREASE..

Thanks for replying to my post. You could say it nicer, but I appreciate the information. Your post led me to researching the bearing buddies to learn more about them. You are right, they are not the wonderful cure all to bearing packing I was led to believe they were. However, what I'm thinking from what you wrote above, and a few other things I saw posted elsewhere, it shouldn't be a problem if I just don't mess with the bearing buddies at all and wait until the next time I am "lazy" and pay someone to repack the bearings again to get them taken off. Do you agree with that? It sounds like it is adding grease with a grease gun that is the problem. If I don't do that, won't they just act like caps?

[jjjandrbaker]

bstar1952 wrote:
Hi jjandrbaker - Check out Class A RV Repair in Pipe Creek http://classarvrepairs.com/. They offer a lot of services, including state inspections, which you'll have to get when its time to renew your registration. Pipe Creek is about 25 miles outside of SA on Hwy 16 going towards Bandera.

Thanks for the tip. I pass that way all the time on my way to Kerrville Schreiner Park. That's a whole lot closer than where I went today.

[Gdetrailer]

billyray50 wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:

jjjandrbaker wrote:
Well, went this morning and got the bearings repacked. They installed bearing buddies and taught me how to grease them. All in all, I am very satisfied with the service and the price. Anyone who knows me knows how often my attempts at minor repairs or DIY projects routinely lead to disasters and much more expensive repairs. Like some people have no green thumb and can't keep a plant alive, I have no handyman skills.

Stupid "mechanic".

Hope he didn't charge you for the bearing buddies, they are not for RV trailers.

They are for BOAT trailers.

The "idea" behind bearing buddies is to JAMB every nook and cranny full of grease.. This is supposed to reduce water from being sucked into HOT bearings when you dunk a boat trailer into water.

The idea does not "translate" very well to RVs which the axles typically are not submerged into water.

The use of bearing buddies on a TT will eventually lead to BRAKE FAILURE when you start pushing grease PAST the inside grease seal which is not designed for PRESSURIZED GREASE..

The grease seal does not take kindly to pressure, properly hand packed bearings will leave a lot of empty air space between the bearings. This space allows for any expansion or contraction of the grease without pushing it past the seal.

That grease ultimately ends up INSIDE the brake drum..

Then the grease will get slung around and COAT your brake shoes..

Once the brake shoes get grease on them you no longer will have brakes.

FIND YOURSELF A REAL MECHANIC IF YOU ARE TOO LAZY TO DO IT RIGHT..

That last statement is uncalled for. Just because one wants to pay to do bearings does not mean one is lazy..

The NEXT "poor sap" (IE mechanic) who ends up removing the drums to INSPECT and adjust the brakes WILL be saying the very same thing plus cussing all the while..

Poor guy will end up with nearly half a tube of grease in each drum it will be all over the brakes, drum, floor, clothing..

Nothing like a lazy mechanic to encourage the owner to be even lazier.. Ultimately the OP will pay for it in the end at the worst possible moment when the brakes fade out..

Friends don't let friends use bearing buddies..

[AmericalVette]

Gdetrailer wrote:

jjjandrbaker wrote:
Well, went this morning and got the bearings repacked. They installed bearing buddies and taught me how to grease them. All in all, I am very satisfied with the service and the price. Anyone who knows me knows how often my attempts at minor repairs or DIY projects routinely lead to disasters and much more expensive repairs. Like some people have no green thumb and can't keep a plant alive, I have no handyman skills.

FIND YOURSELF A REAL MECHANIC IF YOU ARE TOO LAZY TO DO IT RIGHT..

.. Ouch!!! ...

[bstar1952]

Hi jjandrbaker - Check out Class A RV Repair in Pipe Creek http://classarvrepairs.com/. They offer a lot of services, including state inspections, which you'll have to get when its time to renew your registration. Pipe Creek is about 25 miles outside of SA on Hwy 16 going towards Bandera.

[billyray50]

Gdetrailer wrote:

jjjandrbaker wrote:
Well, went this morning and got the bearings repacked. They installed bearing buddies and taught me how to grease them. All in all, I am very satisfied with the service and the price. Anyone who knows me knows how often my attempts at minor repairs or DIY projects routinely lead to disasters and much more expensive repairs. Like some people have no green thumb and can't keep a plant alive, I have no handyman skills.

Stupid "mechanic".

Hope he didn't charge you for the bearing buddies, they are not for RV trailers.

They are for BOAT trailers.

The "idea" behind bearing buddies is to JAMB every nook and cranny full of grease.. This is supposed to reduce water from being sucked into HOT bearings when you dunk a boat trailer into water.

The idea does not "translate" very well to RVs which the axles typically are not submerged into water.

The use of bearing buddies on a TT will eventually lead to BRAKE FAILURE when you start pushing grease PAST the inside grease seal which is not designed for PRESSURIZED GREASE..

The grease seal does not take kindly to pressure, properly hand packed bearings will leave a lot of empty air space between the bearings. This space allows for any expansion or contraction of the grease without pushing it past the seal.

That grease ultimately ends up INSIDE the brake drum..

Then the grease will get slung around and COAT your brake shoes..

Once the brake shoes get grease on them you no longer will have brakes.

FIND YOURSELF A REAL MECHANIC IF YOU ARE TOO LAZY TO DO IT RIGHT..

That last statement is uncalled for. Just because one wants to pay to do bearings does not mean one is lazy..

[westend]

If you do start adding grease, go easy on it. If the bearings were packed properly, you can haul for a long time before they need more grease.

[Gdetrailer]

jjjandrbaker wrote:
Well, went this morning and got the bearings repacked. They installed bearing buddies and taught me how to grease them. All in all, I am very satisfied with the service and the price. Anyone who knows me knows how often my attempts at minor repairs or DIY projects routinely lead to disasters and much more expensive repairs. Like some people have no green thumb and can't keep a plant alive, I have no handyman skills.

Stupid "mechanic".

Hope he didn't charge you for the bearing buddies, they are not for RV trailers.

They are for BOAT trailers.

The "idea" behind bearing buddies is to JAMB every nook and cranny full of grease.. This is supposed to reduce water from being sucked into HOT bearings when you dunk a boat trailer into water.

The idea does not "translate" very well to RVs which the axles typically are not submerged into water.

The use of bearing buddies on a TT will eventually lead to BRAKE FAILURE when you start pushing grease PAST the inside grease seal which is not designed for PRESSURIZED GREASE..

The grease seal does not take kindly to pressure, properly hand packed bearings will leave a lot of empty air space between the bearings. This space allows for any expansion or contraction of the grease without pushing it past the seal.

That grease ultimately ends up INSIDE the brake drum..

Then the grease will get slung around and COAT your brake shoes..

Once the brake shoes get grease on them you no longer will have brakes.

FIND YOURSELF A REAL MECHANIC IF YOU ARE TOO LAZY TO DO IT RIGHT..

[Lynnmor]

Good luck with the Bearing Buddies, they are for boat trailers.