first time - changed my own wheel bearings

So before I go up to the cottage this year I figured I should change my wheel bearings. I just bought my boat this year so I don't know *for sure* when anything was done to it. What I did know is that my seals were gone....so what the heck...lets change the bearings.

good tip - don't take the tires off the hub - leave them on!!

the first wheel I took the tire off, then took the hub off. It didn't want to come off...really had to bang it and wiggle it off. The spindle looked rusted and slightly pitted too....not so good. Anyway, I cleaned up the spindle and took some sand paper to it to get rid of the rust and smooth it our a bit....pretty pleased with the result. the outer bearing and race fell right out of the hub, but the rear bearing didn't want to come out at all. banged it a bit and out she came.....but the race for the inner bearing was a killer! this is where my handy tip about comes in handy.....hindsight is 20/20 though. I used a large flat head screw driver and a hammer to bang out the race, but it was hard because the hub kept moving and wanting to tip over when I hit the race. finally got it out.

cleaned everything up, banged in the new races....outer was easy...slid in nice. inner was a killer again. oh well, slow and easy wins the race, and after about half an hour of light banging with the driver / hammer the races were seated. Greased the bearings by hand and reinstalled.

I can't believe how quiet the wheel is now.

My other wheel was harder to come off the axle. I had to use my "attitude adjuster" 3 lb hammer to bang it off the axle...and the inner bearing stayed stuck on the axle. I had to smash it all apart before it moved....was worried about damaging the spindle since I had to hit it so many times. I scored it a bit, but smoothed it all out for the most part. Taking the races out was much easier with the tire on the hub still since it was a much more stable platform to work with.

Got it all finished and adjusted.......seems great. can't wait to drive with it and see if I get better mileage and a quieter ride. I was surprised the bearings were as bad as they were....I don't think they were ever maintained.

Next time I do this job I think I could do it about half an hour.

Re: first time - changed my own wheel bearings

check you bearings atleast once a year, twice, if a salt water trailer.

Re: first time - changed my own wheel bearings

A couple of tips for the next time you you need to change bearings.

1. Put the new races in the freezer while you're driving the old ones out. They will shrink some and be easier to drive in.

2. Save the old races. Use a grinder to reduce their outer diameter so they just slide in and out easily. Once the new race is flush with the hub, set the old race on top of the new one and use it to drive the new one the rest of the way. That way your not beating on the new race with a screw driver or punch.

Re: first time - changed my own wheel bearings

all that grief is the reason new bearings was the first thing I did when I bought my boat. Even though the P.O. said, "its got bearing Buddies, its all good!" I figured best to check. Sure enough I pulled one of the bearing buddies out and got grey milkshake where grease should be. $20 for bearings and seals saved me some real grief on the side of the road.

Re: first time - changed my own wheel bearings

Another good idea is to always keep an extra set of bearings and seals in your boat toolbox. I learned from experience it?s not fun being stuck on the side of the road while on a long trip when bearing?s go bad.

Re: first time - changed my own wheel bearings

Good tips, thanks fellas.

I just bought a spare tire and mounted it to my trailer with a big ole u bolt. I'm going to pick up a spare bearing set too....and I love the idea for grinding down the old races a bit and using them to help bang the new ones in place. smart.

Re: first time - changed my own wheel bearings

Spare bearings are a good idea and I carry them. However, a whole complete hub is a better idea. I was at Tractor Supply yesterday buying a new set of bearings for my boat trailer. They were 19 bucks. A complete hub ready to slide on was only 38 bucks. That should would save a lot of time and avoid a greasy mess on the side of the road.

Re: first time - changed my own wheel bearings

Here's another bearing tip:

When you buy your spare bearing set borrow the wife's kitchen vacum bagger and slip the bearings smeared with extra grease into the vacum bag and seal it up. PRESTO!! You have an air-tight, prepacked, mess-free, wheel bearing that you can throw in your toolbox ready for use.

I have gone the spare hub aproach myself, but I vacum bag everything just to prevent lost parts and contain mess. Make sure to throw any spare hardware you might need as well.

I keep spare u-joints and the bolts and straps for my old truck this way and have had nothing but good results.

I did have to buy the wife a new machine though. She got fussy about all the greasy fingerprints on the old one. Who would have thunk it?

Good Luck!

Re: first time - changed my own wheel bearings

also periodically check your lug bolts.