Wheel bearings when to repack or change

[bonitoman]

I give my buddy bearings a shot of grease every trip. Should you replace the bearings every year repack or keep greasing? How long do bearings last 5000, 10000 miles? I know that it depends on how you take care but is there a general rule? Thanks

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: Wheel bearings when to repack or change

After you have launched the boat and the trailer is parked. Grab the top of the tire and pull and push on it. It will give you an indication of the play in the bearings. After a while you will KNOW when something is amiss. As this play will increase.<br /><br />Occasionally monthly or so, take your rollaround hydraulic floor jack and lift one wheel at a time off the ground and spin it while listening for any growl or grind sounds. Anything more than a nice new bearing whoosh sound would be suspect. Do the push pull and check for loose bearings at this time also.<br /><br />As time passes you may become more comforatable (or complacent) and allow more time between routine checks.<br /><br />Note how well the rear seal holds the grease. Does the pump or so of grease seem to quickly expell from the seal or only a very slow ooze. The quicker the seal lets the grease out the more often you will need to keep an eye on things as those will be the ones that might let water in.<br /><br />Mostly what you are going to want is to just familiarize yourself with your own equipment and determine what's best for you. <br /><br />The grease itself if not infiltrated with water should last quite a while. Think about it, we've all seen the rear wheel bearings on late model frontwheel drive cars last for 50K miles or more without attention.<br /><br />It's mostly going to be determined by keeping the water out and knowing your particular unit well.<br /><br />Me, I'm the one who would want some play in the bearings when installed (rather than snug) although snug enough as to not allow grease past the seal.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Wheel bearings when to repack or change

Bonitoman<br />Where does all that grease go?? Does it leak out somewhere?<br /><br />I grease mine about twice a year and check once a year. Back axel has been on trailer for 23 years since 1980 and still look fine. Front axel have been on there about 5 years. I actually changed them when I changed bad drum brakes to disc brakes. New disc brakes came with new hubs and bearings but when done took old bearing out of old hubs. I figured they would be rusted and worn out but to my supprise no rust piting and very little end wear after 18 years. I have always carried one spare bearing in my tool kit just in case but now carry three as could find nothing wrong with old bearings.<br /><br />I only grease my buddy bearings about twice a year but make sure spring not bottomed out several times a year. If you grease every trip you must have a leak where the grease get out. If the grease can get out water can get in so maybe you need to replace rear seals. Get best seals you can, double lipped. Make sure do not over tighten bearings. Jack up wheel and wobble top to bottom. If need to adjust then when take off buddy bearings check at least the outer bearing. When put back on tighten nut till sung with pliers rotate wheel to seat bearings then loosed nut retighten finger tight and put in cotter key if need to turn loosen to first place can get key in.<br /><br />If you keep water out of it should go as long as your car's rear wheel bearing. Mine has 218,000 miles and still ok.