Trailer Wheel Bearing Issue

[63corvette]

Originally Posted by 340Cuda

Rick,

This has been a very interesting thread.

Thanks for sharing it with us.

Bill

This has been my pleasure and I received much more than I put into the thread.
I hope this helps everyone who pulls a trailer as everyone will have a bearing issue at some point.
I will follow up when I take my next trip with more info.
I really believe the key is balancing the load over the axles without to much tongue weight and having the front up just a little.
Those things seemed to keep the temps balanced when I checked.
I just wish I had done that earlier to know what they were when I was having issues.
More to come in November after the Finals in Pomona.
Thanks to everyone.
Rick Cates

[63corvette]

A quick update on the trailer bearing issue.
The son was found to have a brain tumor the first of October with two surgeries to follow that my racing was done after the trip to Topeka for 2017.
I have now pulled all the China bearings out of the 2 remaining axles and all axles now have fresh grease and new USA Timkin bearings.
There were a couple of the China bearings I pulled that looked discolored. Not rough in any way just like they were etched in a few places. They are now trash anyway.
The next racing trip will now be in February or March 2018 and I will take the temps and post again how it goes for everyone to view.
I really believe with a better balance front to back and side to side in the trailer and the bearings change will take care of my issues.
My personal idea is that the balance of a trailer weight over all the axles is more important than I had previously thought. I thought in the past the three axles balanced the weight themselves better than I do at this point.
Again thanks to everyone for the input.
Rick Cates

[340Cuda]

Rick,

Thanks for the update.

That is a disadvantage to the torsion axles, they don't equalize like the leaf springs on most of our old open trailers.

I hope your son is doing well.

Thanks,
Bill

[63corvette]

My trailer is a leaf spring and shackle system and I also thought that would balance the load however, I believe balancing the load is the key.
I will watch it again on the next trip and report back to everyone.
Bill, thanks for the concern for the son. He is doing better every day.
Rick Cates

[63corvette]

Update to the trailer bearings. All new Made in USA bearings.
We made the pull to Las Vegas about 1,000 miles.
I took temps at each stop and when we arrived in Vegas.
The ambient temps ranged from the 30's to the 80's.
One thing I noticed is the one bearing I had been having problems with (front road side) was 6 to 8 degrees hotter on both the bearing and tire.
This being the case I believe the load inside the trailer may have been the key to the bearing issue.
I did rebalance the load after the last bearing failure, which I believe has helped.
I probably still have to much weight to that side as my rather large tool box and generator are both on that side and to the front of the trailer.
After we return home I plan to take more weight off that side and from the front.
I carry to much stuff and a lot more than I actually need.
Thanks to everyone for the input and suggestions. I really had not thought of the balance of the load as I thought the triple axle would balance it out. That is what I get for thinking.
Thanks again and any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Rick Cates
Canyon, TX

[voltdr]

Rick, I think that the 6-8 degrees is more than tolerable for towing. What were the actual temps of the bearings? Like you I carry more stuff than I need. That's why I like having the TPMS for my trailer tires. You can watch the tire and ambient temps around each wheel to see how things are changing. Safe travels and good luck in Vegas.
Dan

[63corvette]

Originally Posted by voltdr

Rick, I think that the 6-8 degrees is more than tolerable for towing. What were the actual temps of the bearings? Like you I carry more stuff than I need. That's why I like having the TPMS for my trailer tires. You can watch the tire and ambient temps around each wheel to see how things are changing. Safe travels and good luck in Vegas.
Dan

Thanks, this is our first race since Topeka the end of July 2017.
The bearing temps ranged from a low of 60 degrees F with a ambient of 34 degrees to a high of 118 degrees F with a ambient of 83 degrees when we made it into Las Vegas.
The tires on the front axle were both at 129 degrees F and on the rear axle they were 120 and 119 when we made it into the traffic nightmare they call Vegas, so I think I may still be a little nose/hitch heavy in the front. The stacker has a attic up front and I have it full. I plan on doing a little house cleaning when we get home and take some of that weight out of the very front.
Thanks for all the input.
Rick Cates
Canyon, TX