Servicing my trailer bearings

[Lou C]

Ok, so I'm re thinking what little I know about these bearing systems. I just watched a you tube from Rockwell showing how their system works. I do have a zert on my spindles so I assume I have a posi lube system. According to the video, to repack the bearings on the hub you slowly squeeze grease into the system until you have clean grease exiting around the castle nut and everything should be good! ?? I could do that right where the boat sits with a pile of rags and a grease gun? I would check those rear seals to make sure they have not been leaking. This company, in the display they had, there was only a rear seal and then the cap with the rubber piece you can pop out to get to the zert. I'm sure the old school will be to tare it down...

Jack up the wheel on that side and spin the wheel while pumping in grease….

 

[rickasbury]

For the most part yes, than take your finger and dig out all the grease around the castle nut and put the seal back on. Your digging most of the grease out because heat will build pressure and if no grease is removed it will push the seal out, it needs a little air space

I know there is a seal in the rear but I don't think there is one in the front?

 

[Jeff J]

The dust cap or bearing buddy provides the seal on the front. That’s why those rubber pieces need replaced on the caps used with axles having zerk fittings when they deteriorate or tear. I just install standard caps since I don’t use the zerk fittings

 

[rickasbury]

Sorry for the spell checker mistake....I meant NYLOK nuts, A metal nut with a nylon insert to keep it from vibrating loose.

Lol....

 

[rickasbury]

Thanks for all the input, I know enough to be real dangerous! I'll bring it home, inspect those inner seals first. If they look good I'll go to pumping. If a seal is bad then obviously that wheel comes apart but otherwise I'm going to use the posi lube system and see how that works out....
Thanks Again, I appreciate all the input!
Rick

 

[jlh3rd]

use the same base grease.

 

[airshot]

use the same base grease.

Yes....if the prior grease is unkown, better to clean out everything and use a known grease to rebuild. Some types of grease do not mix well with others. Experienced it myself many years back. The different types turned into a liquid and ran out and destroyed the bearings and races.

 

[rickasbury]

Yes....if the prior grease is unkown, better to clean out everything and use a known grease to rebuild. Some types of grease do not mix well with others. Experienced it myself many years back. The different types turned into a liquid and ran out and destroyed the bearings and races.

I hear what you are saying but I feel like if I do this right and no seals are leaking, everything in the hub and bearings will be flushed out. Not 100% but certainly most of it. I will pull the wheel that has been running hotter and if i see some wear other than for out of adjustment I will pull the next one too. The hotter wheel the hottest point on the hub was 120? The others were all around 20 cooler. I understand sometimes the difference is more important than the number. Its feels like 110 degrees in Florida. The hottest wheel is 10 degrees hotter than the air! What should be a normal temp for the hub away from the rotor?

 

[jlh3rd]

well,
I have a karavan trailer with the sure-lube system. I can't be sure that if I change a grease base that using that system only will remove enough of the residual grease.
So it could still cause a problem.