Wheel bearings again!

[byways]

A year ago I lost two bearings (nearly at the same time) after extended travel (about 6 hours straight) in hot weather. Both axles were replaced with 6,000 lb. axles (upgraded from 4,000 #).

Last week, while traveling in extended hot weather, I lost another bearing. Each time I stop, I always feel the hubs for any heat build up. Nothing, until now. I pulled in to fuel up and checked my bearings. Found one smoking. Pulled away from the fuel line and the hub immediately broke and the wheel nearly fell off. What am I doing wrong? I do tend to drive a little fast (around 65-67 MPH), but not excessive.

I KNOW the axles were properly lubricated on both occasions (prior to failure). This recent bearing/axle has less than 3,000 miles on it, and is less than 1 year old.

What causes this?

[Bamarickandlisa]

It does not take a professional to replace, pack, grease and adjust bearings.
I'm 56 and have been doing them on different types of trailers since I was about 14.
He clearly is not doing the job you are paying him for.

[daveyboy12]

Grease them bad boys

[byways]

TucsonJim wrote:
I've got many, many thousands of miles on my FWs over the years. I've never lost a bearing. This is detective work. As posted above, it could be an inept installation job, incorrect application of grease, or the wrong grease.

But something else to consider is who replaced your bearings in the first place. If your bearings went out in the past, and they were replaced, then the race SHOULD have been replaced too. If they just slapped a new bearing in, but didn't replace the bearing race (the part the bearing mates with) then another failure is pre-ordained. Other things to consider were if they also replaced the grease seal. If not, the grease could have heated up and leaked past the seal which would leave a dry bearing.

They changed both entire axles. One bearing on each axle self-desctructed. This time, only one (of four) bearings went out. The bearing (and races), hub, and brake assembly were replaced.

[byways]

westend wrote:

byways wrote:

coolbreeze01 wrote:
Not caused by speed, that's for sure. Find a shop that knows what they are doing. Good luck.

thank you. I am so frustrated right now...and skittish about towing.

Don't worry. Once you have new bearings and they are installed correctly, you should have years of towing ahead. I have the original hubs on a '72, that's 41 years, if my math is right.:)

Thanks. I could only dream of service like that!

[byways]

Shadow Catcher wrote:
There are bearings and then there are bearings, they come in different grades and from different countries. The ones that came with my Dexter axle were from China and I replaced them with SKF. I also used Amsoil synthetic grease and checked the castle nut adjustment my self.

Thank you for the information. I have saved this and will investigate the possibility of changing them out to SKF and using Amsoil synthetic grease. Anything is better than sitting on the side of the road.

[byways]

Slownsy wrote:
He posted that he had new 6000lb axles installed but I don't se how he new they were properly greased unless he did it himself after installation. He dos not say so.

Sorry for the confusion. When the axles were installed, the installer (a trailer shop) indicated he personally hand packed and adjusted the bearings. That is the only way I know they were done correctly. I am not a professional, that is why I hired a professional to do the job. My knowledge was based on the reputation of someone else.

[Slownsy]

He posted that he had new 6000lb axles installed but I don't se how he new they were properly greased unless he did it himself after installation. He dos not say so.

[Shadow_Catcher]

There are bearings and then there are bearings, they come in different grades and from different countries. The ones that came with my Dexter axle were from China and I replaced them with SKF. I also used Amsoil synthetic grease and checked the castle nut adjustment my self.

[Lynnmor]

I use wheel bearing specific grease, pack them right and adjust them carefully. Then, once per year, they are screwed up by the Pennsylvania State Inspection. After each inspection, I need to go straight home and go over them again. I've had bearings too loose, seals bent, cotter pins too small and wrong grease slopped in with filthy hands. The last time the inspector wanted to jack the trailer by the axle way inboard from the spring. You really have to do all this yourself.

[ScottG]

Probably adjusted wrong. Many shops, even those that do this kind of work everyday, will set them too loose. I had a Midas screw up the front bearings on my last truck. When I checked them at the CG because they were binding and locking up the brakes, they were stupid loose.
You could also have grease on the brakes if your using the EZ Lube "feature". Given enough grease, this will cause the whole assembly to overheat eventually.

[TucsonJim]

I've got many, many thousands of miles on my FWs over the years. I've never lost a bearing. This is detective work. As posted above, it could be an inept installation job, incorrect application of grease, or the wrong grease.

But something else to consider is who replaced your bearings in the first place. If your bearings went out in the past, and they were replaced, then the race SHOULD have been replaced too. If they just slapped a new bearing in, but didn't replace the bearing race (the part the bearing mates with) then another failure is pre-ordained. Other things to consider were if they also replaced the grease seal. If not, the grease could have heated up and leaked past the seal which would leave a dry bearing.

[westend]

byways wrote:

coolbreeze01 wrote:
Not caused by speed, that's for sure. Find a shop that knows what they are doing. Good luck.

thank you. I am so frustrated right now...and skittish about towing.

Don't worry. Once you have new bearings and they are installed correctly, you should have years of towing ahead. I have the original hubs on a '72, that's 41 years, if my math is right.:)

[byways]

coolbreeze01 wrote:
Not caused by speed, that's for sure. Find a shop that knows what they are doing. Good luck.

thank you. I am so frustrated right now...and skittish about towing.

[coolbreeze01]

Not caused by speed, that's for sure. Find a shop that knows what they are doing. Good luck.

[byways]

69 Avion wrote:
As long as I have been building trailers, I haven't gone through that many bearings. Are you packing them? If so, how tight are you setting the nut? That is probably the issue.

I had them professionally installed by a trailer company (unfortunately over a thousand miles from where I am right now!). I did not pack them myself, they were new less than a year ago and less than 3000 miles ago!