DaveShay
Calgary, Alberta, Canada`
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Joined: 07/30/2004
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On my trip this weekend, I noticed when setting up that the dust cap on one wheel hub was missing. Must have come off as we were driving to the campground.
As the castle nut etc. is now exposed, should I re-pack my bearings or are they sufficiently protected by the nut from dirt getting in there? Can I get away with just replacing the cap?
Annoying, because I just did that job this spring.
Dave.
DaveT
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dbbls
Missouri
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Joined: 09/29/2005
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If it were mine I would at least repack the outside bearing.
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JUrban
Delaware
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Clean and repack after CLOSELY examining bearings and cones, inner and outer. An hour or two's work now will keep you from a ton of grief on the road. Cheap insurance.
John
2008 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40' QSP
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othertonka
Stockton, CA
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Yes, pull both bearings, clean, examine and repack. The fine road grit or sand will act just like sandpaper.
Othertonka
2004 Southwind 32VS
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AZJIM1
Phoenix, AZ
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Went through this exact problem TWO years in a row . . . lost a cap while on a trip. Last year I lost it on the FIRST day of an 11 night trip to Yosemite/Sequoia. The funny thing was I fashioned a makeshift cap out of foil duct tape, which of course did not stick to the hub at all, but was still on the wheel when I got home . . . 2000 miles.
Anyway this year I bought brand new caps at our local RV parts place and had no problem on our 3400 mile trip to Yellowstone and Mt Rushmore a month ago.
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smkettner
Southern California
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Unless you were off on a very dusty road with dirt caked in the grease I would just slap a new cap on. The gease does not move that much to suck all the dirt in.
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Bmach
Spfld, Ma
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Joined: 08/26/2004
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IMHO I would just put on a new dust cap and not worry about it.
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springoflife
Butler, PA
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Wow! These responses are all over the map, from one extreme to the other.
If it were me, I would take the middle ground like DBBLS and focus on just the outer bearing and race.
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DaveShay
Calgary, Alberta, Canada`
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Thanks for all the responses. Much appreciated.
I have now repacked both inner and outer bearings....probably didn't need to, but decided to err on the safe side as the job is not that bad.
I found out why the cap came off. I bought a replacement (surprisingly it was quite hard to find) and it is not a tight fit in the hub.
Anyone experienced this and have any suggestions? I will see if a slightly larger one is available, but I bet the next size up is too big.
Dave.
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smkettner
Southern California
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Use a center punch to make some slight dimples in it.
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