Jim Harmon
Wellington, Ks
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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Yeah,I carry a spare bearing as well. I thought about buying a spare drum with bearing installed. This doesn't solve the problem either as this assembly also has the Timken(China) bearing installed in it.
I'm over the 5 years, but only at about 40,000 miles. I log every trip and miles the 5th wheel makes. I guess if no other manufacturer makes this bearing, we all will be hoping the Chinese quality problem has been fixed. I jack up each wheel and check for noise or roughness before every trip to California. And I also check the wheel and spindle hub for excess heat at every single stop. I just think we all will be having to replace these bearings at some point. We better figure out what we're going to do before the situation is absolutely forced upon us.
I still am hoping to find another manufacturer............... Let me know if any of you have a good idea!!!
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stripit
Casa Grande, AZ
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Joined: 02/24/2004
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The last time I was talking with the Dexter rep he was remarking that there were no plants in the USA making the never lube bearings anymore. All the plants have closed down and suppliers are buying off-shore bearings and reselling them. I don't think your going to have much luck finding a USA bearing.
Stacey Frank
'04 Mobile Suites 36 TK3 #1341
'99 Int'l 4700 Lo Pro MDT
'08 Lexus 400H
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Jim Harmon
Wellington, Ks
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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The original bearings in the 5th wheel are made in France. I tried bearing.net and it showed four manufacture for the bearing, but I couldn't figure out who they were. I can accept the bearings being made out of the USA, though I wish they were, it's the Chinese made bearings I think have a problem.
Still hoping for another source.....
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big buford
Buena Park, Ca
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Joined: 05/25/2004
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My rig has the 50mm neverlubes. Axles are 06 vintage. Had one that I wasnt happy with a while back, play grabbing the tire at top and bottom and rocking with grease showing around the outer edges.
Dexter was very good about replacing under warranty. From my reading the larger bearing has a better rep than the 50mm one.
The one that went bad (timken)was stamped USA all over it. It was easy to replace the bearing and in my opinion could easly be done on the road. Maybe my hub is a little loose? But it wasnt a real tight fit. Snug, but not needing a press. I did use a press but think I could have done it with hand tools.
Did alot of searching locally and only thing I came up with is a National bearing Part # 513058 Only makings are nsk on the outer shell. It was $45.12 at O'rileys. Cartridge bearing 42mm x 76mm x 39mm. Onboard for a spare. The timkens were very expensive if I remember right?
Seeing one apart didnt give me a warm fuzzy. Lucky to get a teaspoon of grease in one.
I also carry the old shell to press a new one back in if needed on the road. Hope this helps BB
04.5 GMC 2500HD D/A
06 38 CKS Dune Chaser
Chenowth 4-seat Subaru pwr
06 Rhino
06 Raptor 700
Beautiful wife that's much nicer than me
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big buford
Buena Park, Ca
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Joined: 05/25/2004
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P.S. Axle nut is 1" 7/16ths so you'll need that socket and a torque wrench too 
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Denny & Jami
Home Base Nebraska
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Joined: 08/05/2004
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I replaced ours last spring after 8 years and 75K miles. I ordered them from Dexter and they where made in China, after 8K miles no problems.
Denny
2013 F350 SC DRW 6.2 V8 4.30 gears Air Lifts
2003 HitchHiker Premier 35FKTG 215/75/17.5 Sumitomo tires
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Jim Harmon
Wellington, Ks
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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I tried O'Reily's, no luck. Perhaps the Chinese Timkens are OK now.
Did you use a punch from the back side to get the 50mm out? I thought about trying to get a machinist to make me a bushing to press the new bearing in. Of course, that's if I can find some worth buying. Also tried BRC in Wichita, no luck there either.
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Denny & Jami
Home Base Nebraska
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You have to use a very big press to get them out and back in, they come out very very hard. The shop I used had a 50 ton air over hydraulic press I also tried a friends 20 ton and they would not move. We used one of the old bearings to push the new ones in.
Denny
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Jim Harmon
Wellington, Ks
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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Wow, I'm shocked Denny, I had no idea they would be that hard to get out. I planned on driving them out with a long drift and hammer from the inside, and pressing new ones in with a press. I don't even know anyone with that large a press. I was going to try to get a bushing made to use to press the new ones in. I guess I'd better find someone who could press the new ones in, first.
I will take each wheel off one at a time this week, look at the bearings closely for leakage or roughness. If they seem OK, I may talk myself in to waiting one more year. I added up the miles this week, and I actually have 35,000 miles on the original bearings. I keep a log book with all the mileages, just hadn't added it all up.
However, this will be year eight for the trailer. The fifth wheel is only outside it's totally enclosed building in the summer for three months. Anyhow, I guess this week I will have to make a decision.
If old ones are OK, it's going to be a hard decision to take them out for the currently manufactured bearings. But, like I said maybe the problems quality problems with the Timken's is a thing of the past...
Jim
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Denny & Jami
Home Base Nebraska
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Jim when I checked ours last spring after removing the nut the inner race would move up and down in the seal because the seal was had to much wear so it was also allowing some of the grease to come out. On a sealed bearing the inner race should not move in the seal. All the bearings were still smooth but one was running warm. I also replaced 3 of the brake magnets because of wear, I could see the magnet coil through the epoxy filler so it was time to replace them. The 4th one was replace a few years back because it failed.
Denny
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