Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

A cross-wrench looks like two steel rods crossed and welded in the middle. The end of each of three of these bars has a socket which fits a specific size lug nut. The forth end is flattened like a big screwdriver to pry off hub cabs. This is not what the manufacturers put in their cars but it's what you need if you tow a trailer as the lub nuts on the trailer are rarely the same size as your car or truck. <br /><br />As for how many jack stands you need -- technically you need only one if you work on one wheel at a time. Two if you want to support one axle or four if you want to support all four wheels of a tandem trailer.

 

[KCSteve]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

How about this ,saw a friend do this on fifth wheel tandem axle. Take two 2x6 and stack them forming a ramp. Pull trailer onto ramp so one tire is on. It raised trailer high enough that he could remove the other tire without a jack After seeing this I always carry a couple of 2x6, crosswrench and a couple of choks for the otherside

 

[summerwind1991]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

Thanks folks. picked up cross wrench, bottle jack and jack stands. Got the tire off.<br /><br />Now, I looking at a "hub"(I'm a complete newbie), is there some way to take apart to check bearing, grease etc general heatlth. Tire looks find , now I want check out the "hub" if thats the correct term.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

go and look at:<br />www.championtrailers.com<br />they have a lot of good tech articles<br />you have either a frozen brake (seized wheel cylinder) or seized wheel bearing.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

Originally posted by jtexas:<br /> <br />You suggesting four jack stands placed one each side (left & right) each axle, right?

I'm talking storage. I've seen recommendations to put a jack stand onder the axle or the frame at the rear and use the trailer jack for supporting the front. That's pretty unstable, ths jacks aren't that strong. Also, a high wind could tip the boat. I would put two on the frame near the axle(s) and two more near the front of the trailer. Each situation will be differend, judgement should be used.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

I use a single jack stand under the fram as close a possible to axle on each side. For the front I get a handful of 8" x 16" cement blocks at the front to rest the toungue on. <br /><br />Between the jack stands and the blocks I use somee wood to keep from scratching the frame and distribute the weight on the blocks.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

Summerwind -- did you just remove the wheel and tire, or did you take the entire wheel and hub off the spindle. If you have the hub off, wipe the grease off the spindle and check it for grooves or worn spots at the back. If there are grooves, you definitely have a seized bearing. If not, you may still have a bad bearing(s) (inner and outer per wheel) but at least you didn't screw up the spindle. Use a wood dowel or brass drift punch to drive the rear bearing and seal out of the hub. The outer bearing will simply pull out. The races (outer shell of the bearings is press fit into the hub but can be driven out with the drift punch. They must be replaced if you replace the bearings. They come as a set. Get the numbers off the bearings for replacement purposes. There are lots of on-line articles that explain how to "pack bearings".

 

[summerwind1991]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

Where I at know ....trying to wheel off, having a heck of a time in getting Bearing Buddy off. Have tried tapping with block of wood & hammer, hasn't worked. I spray alittle liquid wrench and am waiting.<br /><br />How far into the hub does this "Bearing buddy" go? Is just 1/4" or less?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

Bearing buddies can stand a pretty good rap near the end to slightly tilt it. When you see a slight gap between the bearing buddy and hub, a large flat blade screwdriver can be inserted in that space and twisted or tapped with a hammer to knock it loose as you work around the hub. Otherwise, keep tapping the bearing buddy with a hammer as you rotate the wheel -- sort of rocking it. It will fall off. It's a taper/interference fit about 1/4 inch into the hub.

 

[summerwind1991]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

Thanks just picked up a rubber mallet, and will go to work on it. <br /><br />After bearing buddy is off, I assume at that point I will be able to do some maintenence. Its an old used trailer and I don't know how much they took care of the trailer.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

Once the bearing buddy is off, remove the cotter pin, nut, and washer. If the bearing isn't seized you should be able to pull the hub off. Front bearing will fall out. Rear one will too after the rear seal is removed. Wood dowel from the front works to drive both out.

 

[summerwind1991]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

With the dual axel trailer, and I take off the tire/hub with the problem, can the boat rest on the one tire of the dual axel? will that cause problem.<br /><br />I am just alittle concerned with putting jack stand under that part of trailer as the lawn is not perfectly level, although I don't think it will tip...but just put alot of pressure on the one good tire on the port side of the trailer.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

The side from which you are removing the wheel will have a jack or jack stand under the axle or frame. That's the same as having a wheel there! There will be no more weight on the opposite side. No problem.

 

[summerwind1991]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

Thanks to all!. I've got bearing buddy hub, bearing, seals off 17' trailer all looked will, I understand this type of maintenence should be done manually. The guy at :bumper to bumper very helpful as well.<br /><br />Now I'm going to take tire off of dual trailer, put jack stand where removed tire is. This is the one with the smoking problem, looks like there some rust around cap. Although I lifted tire slightly and it'll rotate but will have to take off and look at hub and bearings. Thanks Again!!

 

[summerwind1991]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

I am working on the inner bearing, do I punch(with wood dowel and Hammer)out or is it designed to be punched back in hub and pulled out manually. thnks.

 

[saumon]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

Ideally, you punch it out with a brass punch.<br /><br /> Full procedure <br /><br /> Illustrated

 

[summerwind1991]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

Is it a common practice to remove the Race? I can not remove my inner bearing without getting the race removed.<br /><br />In marina shops I have seen the bearings sold but not not the race.<br /><br />Thanks for any advice!!!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

complete sets are avialable thru NAPA.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

Are you saying the bearing is seized to the race? If so, you can simple "get serious: with anything to drive out the bearing. If the race comes with it, great. If not, you will need to feel around the inside surface of hub for two notches at the back side of the race. These two notches (180 degrees apart) allow placement of a drift punch (which doesn't need to be brass as the race won't be reused). After positioning the punch, hammer the race out -- altnerating from one notch to the other. The new race is installed using a bearing driver. A block of hardwood can be used to get the race started squarely into the hub. DO NOT USE A PUNCH to drive the new race in. One slip and the race is ruined. I found a galvanized pipe coupling, six in length of pipe and a threaded cap works just fine as a bearing driver. The coupling needs to be just slightly smaller in diameter than the race (so it doesn't stick in the hub).

 

[summerwind1991]

Re: Trailer Tire smoked and froze up

Bearing is not seized to the race, the opening on either side of the race have a slightly smaller diameter than the bearing can fit through without damaging.<br /><br />So... I should drift punch out the race piece, can get bearing out?<br /><br />Also, is gasoline OK to soak bearings, and nuts from the tires in?<br /><br />Thank you.<br /><br />Thanks guys.