Community Forums

wwenstad1 · 10-11-2016, 12:17 PM

How often should I change my wheel bearings on my fifth wheel?
Thanks for any help you can give.

dbf4n · 10-11-2016, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwenstad1

How often should I change my wheel bearings on my fifth wheel?
Thanks for any help you can give.

I have a Keystone Cougar with Dexter axles. The Dexter manual says every 10K miles. I do it once a year or 10K which ever comes first.

Skip426 · 10-11-2016, 12:37 PM

I would re-pack my 5ers, wheel bearings annually , and adjust the brakes , average towing 4,000 miles per year.
If you tow over 10,000 miles per year , I'd say, adjust brakes at 5,000 miles and re-pack the bearings at 10,000.

plain ol Bil · 10-11-2016, 02:10 PM

Are you asking about replacing the bearings or repacking them with grease? I repack yearly. Have never had to replace a bearing.

rarebear.nm · 10-18-2016, 07:16 PM

I upgraded from 6K Lippert to 7K Dexter axles and hubs. The Dexter manual that came with my package says to repack the wheel bearings once a year or every 20,000 miles which ever comes first. I repack the wheel bearings every spring as I'm not doing 20,000 miles/year-- yet. Other setups may very well have different requirements. But, whatever don't ignore them.

After you remount the wheels make sure you go through the recommended procedure to re-torque the wheel nuts. Anytime I remove the wheels I re-torque at 5, 25, 50 and 100 miles. Then everyday before I hit the road. I find a little nut take up at each of those first four checks. There after very little take up.

wingnut60 · 10-18-2016, 08:40 PM

As plain ol Bill said--did you mean 'change' the bearings, or 'repack' the bearings?

monkey · 10-23-2016, 02:57 PM

If the OP ment "change" the bearings,, only when they show signs of wear... Our Dexter axles (4400lb) say inspect/repack every 12 months or 12000 miles... I will be doing that next spring.
Monkey

jelag · 10-23-2016, 08:32 PM

remember that wheel bearings in cars, before front hub assemblies (bolt in cartridge) used to run from brake job to brake job between wheel bearings needing to be cleaned and greased... and it was the same on rear axles with front wheel drive again before the hub assembly they now have....

I personally let my bearings go 3 years between service... if there is no damage to the seal so water can enter to damage the grease/bearing... a 3 year inter vile for me is maybe 35K miles... something any good set of bearings that are cared for, should run...

PhoneDude 8289 · 10-24-2016, 04:48 PM

My RV came with the EZ lube axels. I do not use the ez lube function. I pull each hub every year to clean, inspect and repack the bearings. I also install a new grease seal on each drum and clean and inspect the brake system. Total time spent is an hour or so on each wheel, time well spent IMHO.

IC2 · 10-25-2016, 07:45 AM

Look at the bearings before you go on your first trip. In my case, I had one inner and two outer bearings that needed to be replaced after being towed the ~1000 miles from Indiana to Mass. then home to NY. I replaced all 8 at my cost of about 100 dollars. There just was not enough grease. Since we tow quite a few miles a year, i.e. about 9000, I inspect and repack yearly. If we only towed a thousand or so mile/year, I would inspect and repack every other year. I will NOT use the E-Z Lube as there is too much chance of breaching those Chinese seals and slobbering grease on your brake system. Regardless, Dexter still says 12K miles or 12 months even with that E-Z Lube system. The 12K miles is fine, but every 12 months is way to conservative and the manufacturer's CYA for many low miles usage owners.

Disclaimer: My opinion plus Dexter's CYA info in their on-line bearing information