Trailer wheel bearing question?

Philip Saran · 06-22-2009, 03:47 PM

How often do you repack the wheel bearings on your car trailer?

Base it on time or milage?

I've owned my open car trailer for about 2 years, but only have
hauled it about 6000 miles.

I've heard that on a travel or enclosed car trailer that even if not
towed, the wind will still cause the trailer to move around on the
bearings causing wear while parked.

Wade Mahaffey · 06-22-2009, 05:27 PM

Phil, there are many different combinations of trailers,axles,wheels,and tires that would require different maintenance conciderations. I would do the bearings now, and note the conditions of the bearing, grease and seal. That will provide some insight as to how often you should inspect those components. Doing this will also allow an inspection of the brake shoes, springs, retainers, magnets, and related hardware. Procure the bearing seals before you start the job (they're cheap). Do the maintenance....go down the road.....have fun! I saw a good thread on here about trailer tires recently....read it !

scott helms · 06-22-2009, 05:29 PM

every year or 10,000 miles witch ever comes first,while sitting grease get dry or melts depending on climate.I do it at the start of every season

gmonde · 06-22-2009, 06:59 PM

one thing you mite want to invest in is a set of bearing buddys,they have a grease fitting that allows you to use a grease gun to pump grease in this way you can know there is grease in there ,still need to pull them apart once in a while to check things out gmonde

Bruce Schoenbaechler · 06-23-2009, 09:50 AM

Ditto on the bearing buddies...had them on my enclosed trailer for years, never had any problems with bearing failure. I do recommend that after they are seated in you use some silicone around the bearing buddy and the hub junction as a safeguard. I have seen the bearing buddies work loose and come out.

Phillip marvetz · 06-23-2009, 10:12 AM

You should only use the bearing buddies on axles that are meant to use them, They have a small hole drilled in the axle shaft to let the excess grease escape. If you dont have that relief hole you can push the seal out of the drum and then you have a mess and alot of dirt in your bearings.

Myron Piatek · 06-23-2009, 10:15 AM

* Be careful that you don't over-lube the bearing buddies. Otherwise the grease will seep into the drum and "lube" the brake shoes.

* There was an obvious increase in bearing life when I switched from conventional HD bearing grease to synthetic. (I use Amsoil - www.thelubepage.com

* Manually adjusting the trailer brakes on a regular basis will extend their life also.

06-22-2009, 03:47 PM	#1
Philip Saran Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Parker, CO. Posts: 721 Likes: 158 Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Trailer wheel bearing question? How often do you repack the wheel bearings on your car trailer? Base it on time or milage? I've owned my open car trailer for about 2 years, but only have hauled it about 6000 miles. I've heard that on a travel or enclosed car trailer that even if not towed, the wind will still cause the trailer to move around on the bearings causing wear while parked. __________________ Phil Saran Parker, Colorado

06-22-2009, 05:27 PM	#2
Wade Mahaffey Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 581 Likes: 0 Liked 17 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Trailer wheel bearing question? Phil, there are many different combinations of trailers,axles,wheels,and tires that would require different maintenance conciderations. I would do the bearings now, and note the conditions of the bearing, grease and seal. That will provide some insight as to how often you should inspect those components. Doing this will also allow an inspection of the brake shoes, springs, retainers, magnets, and related hardware. Procure the bearing seals before you start the job (they're cheap). Do the maintenance....go down the road.....have fun! I saw a good thread on here about trailer tires recently....read it !

06-22-2009, 05:29 PM	#3
scott helms Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Pierre Part,la. Posts: 253 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Trailer wheel bearing question? every year or 10,000 miles witch ever comes first,while sitting grease get dry or melts depending on climate.I do it at the start of every season

06-22-2009, 06:59 PM	#4
gmonde Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 615 Likes: 56 Liked 166 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Trailer wheel bearing question? one thing you mite want to invest in is a set of bearing buddys,they have a grease fitting that allows you to use a grease gun to pump grease in this way you can know there is grease in there ,still need to pull them apart once in a while to check things out gmonde

06-23-2009, 09:50 AM	#5
Bruce Schoenbaechler Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Myrtle Beach, S.C. Posts: 33 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Trailer wheel bearing question? Ditto on the bearing buddies...had them on my enclosed trailer for years, never had any problems with bearing failure. I do recommend that after they are seated in you use some silicone around the bearing buddy and the hub junction as a safeguard. I have seen the bearing buddies work loose and come out. __________________ SCHOENY

06-23-2009, 10:12 AM	#6
Phillip marvetz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lynden ,WA Posts: 820 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Trailer wheel bearing question? You should only use the bearing buddies on axles that are meant to use them, They have a small hole drilled in the axle shaft to let the excess grease escape. If you dont have that relief hole you can push the seal out of the drum and then you have a mess and alot of dirt in your bearings.

06-23-2009, 10:15 AM	#7
Myron Piatek VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 1,539 Likes: 34 Liked 135 Times in 49 Posts	Re: Trailer wheel bearing question? * Be careful that you don't over-lube the bearing buddies. Otherwise the grease will seep into the drum and "lube" the brake shoes. * There was an obvious increase in bearing life when I switched from conventional HD bearing grease to synthetic. (I use Amsoil - www.thelubepage.com * Manually adjusting the trailer brakes on a regular basis will extend their life also. __________________ LOCOMOTION Racing