Greasing Axles

[kbrian]

I have a Palomino Mustang pop-up and am unfamiliar with how to "repack" the wheel bearings. What is the process I should be using?

[kbrian]

I have a Palomino Mustang pop-up and am unfamiliar with how to "repack" the wheel bearings. What is the process I should be using?

[GM Tech]

Repacking the wheel bearings is really pretty simple. To start out with the safety side, jack up and support the trailer with safety stands. After you remove the dust cap and the cotterpin take note of the whell bearing nut on how tight it is - it should only be finger tight otherwise you could cause problems when you put it back together. Remove the nut and outer bearing, then pull the hub or brake drum off. remove the wheel seal and inner bearing. Now there are a couple of ways to pack the bearings. You can buy a bearing packer tool that you set the bearings in and it will force grease through the bearings or do it by hand. if you do it by hand take a handfull of grease on one palm and the bearing in the other hand. push the bearing in a downward stroke at the edge of the grease in you palm to force new grease in the area between the inner race and the cage and bearings. This will force the old grease out. Keep doing this until new grease comes out then turn the bearing to a new area and continue around the bearing until the whole bearing is packed with new grease. I always replace the grease seal just use a hammer and lightly tap into place. Reassemble the bearings and hub. When you put the nut on I use a pair of pliers and seat the bearings then back off the nut a half turn, then turn it finger tight so the bearings aren't overly tight. Line up the castles on the nut with the hole in the spindle - go a little looser not tighter to line up the hole - and insert the new cotter pin. Install the dustcap and wheel and away you go. Good luck
Jon

[Ray,IN]

Here are two websites that explain exactly what GM Tech said: repacking wheel bearings and wheel bearingss

[Jimmy Jam]

Another little trick on actually gresing the bearings themsleves is to place the bearings straiht out of the box into a sandwich type plastic bag already with a copious amount of grease in it and simply roll the bearing around in the grease making sure that it gets into the bearing thoroughly..

remove it and immediately place it on the spindle, as described above..

The trick to doing them this way is that it helps prevent any grit getting into the bearing itself between removing it from the box and actually placing onto to the spindle and it keeps a glob of grease from innudating your hands and fingernails, ect. This all may sound wimpish, but rest assured that just after you finish repacking your wheels that the DW will inevitably let you know that friends are suddenly coming over for dinner or vice versa or the pastor will walk up unannounced or just about social situation that greasy hands a re a no-no will pop up..