Why do wheel bearings need grease?
Proper maintenance with grease is vital to minimize friction and prevent abrasive particles from etching the surface of the bearings. Risks from insufficient or improper wheel bearing lubrication are sobering. Friction from lack of proper maintenance can cause the bearings to seize up and lock the wheel.
What’s the best way to grease wheel bearings?
Always fill the bearings themselves with as much grease as they can hold, forced in between the races. With roller bearings , coat the outer race thickly with grease. Spin the rollers in their cage on the inner race while rubbing grease into every crevice. Fill the bearing with grease.
Why do wheel bearings need to be lubricated?
Wheel bearings, whether they’re on an RV or a trailer of some sort, are essential in helping the wheels spin easily and freely. They need to be lubricated regularly so that they operate at their best capacity. Greasing, or repacking, trailer bearings is an important part of trailer maintenance, and thankfully it doesn’t take long to do!
What happens when you put too much grease on a car bearing?
The increased friction and pressure from too much grease raises the temperature inside the bearing. Excess heat could decrease the effectiveness of the lubricant causing the oil to separate from the thickener. Not adding enough grease has the same life-shortening effect.
How long does it take to grease trailer bearings?
Settle the wheel back onto the rod and screw the lug nuts back on with a wrench or tire iron. Once it is secured, you can lower the car jacks and move on to the next tire. In all, this project may take you 1-3 hours, just depending on how easy it is to take apart all the pieces and how many tires you need to do.
When should trailer wheel bearings be replaced?
Expert Reply: We recommended to repack the wheel bearings on your trailer every 12 months or 12,000 miles. There is not a specific guideline as far as actually replacing the bearings. When repacking them with grease, you will also just want to check for any damage or wear and replace anything if needed.
How do you adjust wheel bearings on a trailer?
1. Place a jack under your trailer. Jack the trailer up so the wheels are not touching the ground. 2. Remove the wheel, dust cap, split pin, axle nut, washer & hub. 3. Remove the outer bearing from the hub. Clean with a cloth. 4. Knock out seal, inner and outer bearing cups with a suitable hammer and punch.
How often to grease trailer?
Another recommendation is one greasing after every 10,000 miles covered. However, the smaller trailers that have smaller wheels will need repacking after 2,000 miles. When the tires are small, it means that the wheels tend to spin faster and this stresses the bearings.
What is a trailer wheel bearing?
Trailer wheel bearings are specific to the spindle that is installed on the axle that is on your trailer.