Trailer Bearings Revisited

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10-12-2015, 06:40 PM
RMGeorge

Trailer Bearings Revisited

When I got home from the lake today I noticed the metal dust cap missing from the right side wheel on my 2014 Trailstar (Tracker) trailer. This trailer has through axle lubrication so it uses a dust cap with a rubber plug rather than a Bearing Buddy. Considering the tight fit of the dust cap it was hard to believe it came off.
Well I got a new cap and jacked up the wheel to add more grease. That's when I discovered a significant amount of play in the bearings ... the ones I replaced on Sept. 26th. Hmmm! Jacked up the other side and it's even worse. It also has grease leaking from the rear seal!
As soon as I finish my coffee the wheels and hubs are coming off so I can inspect for damage. Glad it happened now and not halfway to D'Arbonne.
10-12-2015, 07:47 PM
"G"

Its possible that maybe you did not get the new races for the new bearings seated all the way down and through use they seated their selves and therefore gave your bearings slack....this would give you slack and also ruin the rear seal. Best to replace all of it again because no matter the cause everything ( bearings, races, and seals) is damaged now.
10-12-2015, 07:50 PM
SeaRay

I have to service mine before I pull it to Florida next year. Been a long time since I did it (4 trailers ago) . Seem like I remember being told to run it about 5 or 10 miles and jack the wheels up and see if it needs snugging up a bit more from the bearings seating.
10-12-2015, 08:00 PM
RMGeorge

Quote:

Originally Posted by "G"

Its possible that maybe you did not get the new races for the new bearings seated all the way down and through use they seated their selves and therefore gave your bearings slack....this would give you slack and also ruin the rear seal. Best to replace all of it again because no matter the cause everything ( bearings, races, and seals) is damaged now.

I suspect you're right, G. Yep, gonna' do it all over again.
10-12-2015, 08:03 PM
RMGeorge

[QUOTE=SeaRay;3061687]I have to service mine before I pull it to Florida next year. Been a long time since I did it (4 trailers ago) . Seem like I remember being told to run it about 5 or 10 miles and jack the wheels up and see if it needs snugging up a bit more from the bearings seating.[/QUOTE

Sure wish I had done that. At least I won't have to go back to buy more parts, I bought spares.