Wheel Bearings

[Bob1340]

I sort of inherited a 2008 Keystone Springdale from my son last year. It's our first RV and we pretty much like it. After reading horror stories on wheel bearings I decided to pull a hub and see what I got. The wheel bearings have never been serviced on this 2008 trailer. I seriously doubt it has 5,000 miles on it though. The brakes looked good on the wheel I pulled off. The seal has signs of leakage though, but it does not appear to have gotten into the brakes. The bearings seemed to have plenty of grease and they did not look terrible. But they are the cheap Lippert Chinese bearings so I figured I'd just cough up the $150 and get all Timken units. Am I being too cautious?

[1bigmess]

Maybe. Some will tell you to replace them immediately. If you believe they are fine at this time, I say pack them with a grease that is approved by Lippert, clean out the hub, and remount them. Check them again next year.

[dustyone]

If the seals are sleeping though. You would be wise to replace the seals. And double check the play in the bearings to make sure they're not what's causing the seals to go weak.

[Bob1340]

I got the seals coming from etrailer and the Timken bearings and shells coming from Amazon. I was just wondering if I was being too cautious getting new bearings.
The bearings themselves looked okay, but the shells were questionable. No burn marks, but they both had what looked like dullness to them like they'd been sanded.

[timetogo]

I don't think its possible to be too cautious with any equipment. Now have some fun with it.

[Keen Family]

Nah. No downside to replacing the bearings. Cheap insurance.

[Bob1340]

Well, everything gets here Thursday. I have to keep my trailer in storage as i have no room at home. But it is close by. I'll just pull one at a time and do the bearings then pull the trailer home for phase 2 which is rebuilding the suspension. MorRyde equalizer, wet bolts and heavy shackles. I live on a cul-de-sac so it'll be interesting. I can only work on it Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays as it'll be in the way of trash trucks and street cleaners. But I think I can wup that job out in pretty short time compared to replacing all the bearing cones and shells. Lot of nasty clean up work there.