Does anyone repack old bearings anymore or do they just chuck them and buy new ones. I had a couple that were discolored which I went to replace and the guy at the RV place advised me to get a full set of races and bearings and not to half ass it.
All the stuff costed about 140 with tax and I figured that wasn`t to bad.
I do it my self. Don't really like doing it but my shop rate is very competitive rate of only a few beers. Never had to replace any parts other than the seals.
2009 Komfort 256TS
2001 Dodge Ram 3500 QC 4x4 Cummins DRW
2005 Dodge Durango Limited AWD HEMI
2001 Sebring Convertible
1995 Miata M-Edition
2005 DRZ400
1 Wife 2 Boys UW & Bellevue College
1 Trixie (Bichon Frise)
Only 23 years to retirement!!!!
As a springtime ritual I clean and inspect my bearings, races, and brake system. Replace anything needed, repack the bearings and put her back together. That way I know without a doubt its done and done right.
If after you clean them they look like new, then they will work like new and can be reused. If they are discolored or pitted at all replace the whole issue. You can get by with beat up bearings on a utility or construction trailer, etc. but TTs and fivers etc are built as cheaply as possible meaning that springs, axles, bearings and tires are just barely up to the task when they are in peak condition. If they are overly worn, they are about to fail.
Stu
Stu & Jackie Metcalfe
2000 Salem 27FKSS
2008 Sierra 2500 HD gasser
I agree with BOTH of above. I've never replaced a TT bearing, knock on wood, and I grease my own.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Australian Shepherd
2010 Ford Expedition TV
2010 Outback 230RS Toybox, 5390# UVW, 6800# Loaded Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
If they don't show any signs of excessive wear, scoring, spalling, pitting, blueing, corroding, dragging, galling, skidding, or the heartbreak of psoriosis, then by all means, clean and repack. They start wearing on day one, and stop when you decide to replace them. Let your conscience be your guide.
"It`s not important that you know all the answers, it`s only important to know where to get all the answers" Arone Kleamyck
"...An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." Col. Jeff Cooper
Sunset Creek 298 BH
Got almost 90,000 miles on my OEM wheel bearings. I repack them every 30,000 miles or two years. Costs me about $2.00 each time I clean and repack them.
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR - 2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles) 2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
I manually tear down and re-pack my trailer bearings every year. Only replace their rear seal every 2 years. As stated in above posts by others, I clean and visually inspect bearings, seals, Cotter pin, etc.. If they do NOT look brand new, then I replace the part. As a general statement, one only needs to manually clean / manually re-pack wheel bearings for the life of the TT (assume they are cleaned / packed properly). Bearings often last the life of the TT - if greased properly / yearly and the axle isn't over abused (on rough roads or over loaded).
Forgot to mention… For grease, I use HD Boat grease. Marine grease is made to withstand water / natural moisture exposure much better compared to normal dry land trailer wheel bearing grease. Grease quality is like gasoline quality. Better the quality, more wear / tear "abuse" the wheel bearings will take. Thus, it creates much longer bearing lifespan as well…
* This post was
edited 04/24/12 08:17pm by batman99 *
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2 Boys UW & Bellevue College
