Blown rear seals

[mountainboy]

Is it necessary to replace blown seals right away or can I get away with holding off as long as I keep checking the grease level in the bearing buddies? Is the only concern with a blown seal is that water can get into the backside of the hub? Thanks!

 

[rwidman]

Re: Blown rear seals

I woulg get it repaired as soon as possible. You're going to have to do it eventually anyway.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Blown rear seals

legal disclaimer: don't pull it another mile without getting it fixed. That being said...<br /><br />One of mine has been slinging grease all year, gotta be 3 or 4000 miles. I just add a little before each trip. The seal is there, but inertia and centrifugal force just overpower it a little bit at highway speed. As long as there's grease in there you won't get any water intrusion.<br /><br />That's just my own personal experience.

 

[NYMINUTE]

Re: Blown rear seals

Trust me, change them. Beats spending an afternoon on the highway doing it while traffic is at a breakneck speed. Did you overgrease them?

 

[mountainboy]

Re: Blown rear seals

Thanks guys!! Yes, I overgreased one of them last summer. By doing that I've learned a lot about bearing buddies. Even after I blew the seal I took the boat out a couple more times. It's been on my mind lately and just wanted others' feedback. Have a good weekend.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Blown rear seals

It would take less than half an hour to jack up the wheel, pull the hub, pop out the old seal and drive in a new one at a cost of a couple of bucks. Is that worth seizing a bearing at highway speed, snapping a spindle and having to have your rig flat bed towed to heaven knows where. If its slinging grease, it will suck water and dirt. And should you lose a wheel, it may just ventilate the hull of your boat.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Blown rear seals

dangit, upinsmoke, now you got me seriously reconsidering my point of view. you and NYM. Don't think my hull needs ventilating. Really, a half-hour? for your average do-it-yourselfer?

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: Blown rear seals

Yup. They are REALLY easy. Even a knob like me can do one in about that amount of time. If it's only the seal, it will pry out with a screwdriver. Be careful not to damage the mating surface though. Then gently tap in the new one with a block of wood or a rubber mallet. It'll probably take you longer to gather and put away tools than to do the actual work.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Blown rear seals

Just trying to brighten your day "jtexas". It really is a simple task and you don't need any special tools. Just a needle nose pliers, large screwdriver, a short piece of 2x4 and a hammer.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Blown rear seals

I say half hour average. If you're like me, one side will take an hour, the other side will take 15 minutes since all necessary tools are assembled and you have experience from the first one.

 

[jeff_nicholas]

Re: Blown rear seals

Here's how I get the old seal out:<br /><br />Take hub off in the normal manner. Remove the outer bearing from the hub. Put the hub back on the spindle. Place the washer on the spindle, then give the nut a few turns on the threads. Now jerk the hub off the spindle. The inner bearing and seal will remain on the spindle behind the nut/washer. I don't even take the wheel off the hub.<br /><br />jn

 

[artherm]

Re: Blown rear seals

I ALWAYS replace the cotter pin with a new STAINLESS STEEL one. These puppys are inexpensive and are just good insurance to loosing a wheel out in nowhere land...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Blown rear seals

Couldn't resist this. Although this is an interesting technique Nick, aren't you afraid of "Nicking" (no pun intended) the inner and outer bearing races?

 

[jeff_nicholas]

Re: Blown rear seals

I've never had any bearings go Upinsmoke as a result of this procedure. <br /><br />This was standard practice when I was working as a mechanic and front wheel bearings were repacked regularly - I guess that tells you how old I am...that was back in the days of rear wheel drive cars.<br /><br />If you don't jerk until after the washer/nut are inside the hub, there's little opportunity to hit any races. I have seen cases though, where the washer was too big to fit through the outer race - then use the nut only.

 

[BillP]

Re: Blown rear seals

It's best to replace the seal but I wouldn't freak out over it. One year I trailered several 1000+ mile trips and launchings with one worn real seal (badly pitted spindle) and never had a problem. All I did was make sure the bearing buddy was pumped up before I took off for the road trip and checked same before splashing. I resealed later and found no bearing issues.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Blown rear seals

Putting off maintenance is rarely a good idea. Usually things get worse as a result.

 

[Prestige Trailers]

Re: Blown rear seals

The one critical point to keep in mind when reassembling the hub is not to over tighten the spindle nut. Unlike automobile wheel bearings, trailer bearings are pre-loaded and do not need reloaded when reassembling. <br /><br />Put the spindle nut on and hand tighten, then using the appropriate wrench, tighten the spindle nut just enough to get the cotter pin to drop through the opening. With this done, grab the hub and shake to see how much play is evident. <br /><br />It should be about the same as that found prior to disassembly....provided that you are just doing preventive maintenance and not corrective maintenance. <br /><br />Byron

 

[mountainboy]

Re: Blown rear seals

Well, I attempted to change the seal, but could not pop it off. It is seated really tight. I could use some suggestions on how to pop off the seal. Any information is always greatly appreciated. Thanks!! By the way, the grease and bearings looked very good. No water or dirt intrusion.

 

[mountainboy]

Re: Blown rear seals

^

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Blown rear seals

Insert a round wood dowel or brass drift pin through the hub from the front. Hit the dowel with a hammer and the rear bearing will push the seal out.