Wheel Bearings

[Povo]

I am curious about how often I need to have my 5ver wheel bearings repacked. I have heard every year, every two years and 10,000 miles. I understand the grease can breakdown even when not being used (I have to winterize and store it for about 6 months every year). My Artic Fox will be two years old when I take it out this year. I asked my dealer and couldn't get an answer I was confident with. I emailed Northwood they replied and said 10,000 miles. I told him I only have about 2600 miles on it and he said not to worry about it. I'd rather be on the conservative side. Sounds like it will run about $350-$400. Thoughts?

[mobilemike]

Wheel bearing grease does not bread down from sitting. Heat and rotation break down grease. Mileage and brake heat are the deciding factor. You really can not put an exact mileage on them because they are so effected by towing factors. A trailer towed exclusively on flat open highway will have less need for bearing repack than one that is constantly in mountains with heavy braking and side load.

You should jack your wheels off the ground and check the bearing and brakes every year. Spin and listen for sound. Grab the tire and shake it for looseness.

[ralphie]

I'm with the every other year crowd, but it certainly doesn't hurt to jack each wheel and give the tires a spin. If you hear anything strange, investigate. Even if not a bearing, brakes can fail unexpectedly.

[Cumminsfan]

I do every other year as well. I do about 4000 miles a year. Every year is ridiculous unless you are on the road all the time. If I only towed a couple thousand a year I'd go 3-4 years. To the OP your main concern would be how well the factory did with the 1st grease fill. There was a period where axle MFG's were sending out lousy grease packed axles. Owners were doing their usual repack and when disassembled the hubs found some to be lacking grease or seals blown out.
I would do it now with your 5er, then with your low miles every 3 years. MFG say every year to cover their a$$, dealers say every year to make money off you. The dealer that says every couple years is the dealer to trust.

[DiplomatDon]

A little tip for wheel bearings, not just trailers but on tow or motor homes as well. Whenever you stop, walk around and feel the hubs. Should be barely warm and I mean barely. If so all is good, if not check brake drums for heat which could slightly warm bearings but not all that much. Over 3 million miles and 43 years of driving truck and worked well for me. Good luck, Don

[Povo]

This is all great advice. I plan on having the 5ver for a long time an have always been good about servicing my vehicles.

[Povo]

...and no onto the next thread I am about to start about leveling systems.

[mobilemike]

Originally Posted by DiplomatDon

A little tip for wheel bearings, not just trailers but on tow or motor homes as well. Whenever you stop, walk around and feel the hubs. Should be barely warm and I mean barely. If so all is good, if not check brake drums for heat which could slightly warm bearings but not all that much. Over 3 million miles and 43 years of driving truck and worked well for me. Good luck, Don

An infrared temperature gun is accurate, quick and not expensive.

[jlb27537]

As to cost, about $180 for all 4. Includes new seals, grease and labor. My shop charges $35 a wheel plus parts. As to how often, my shop says about every 50k miles. They have some hotshot customers running way more miles than that between packs.

I used to do it every other year, about 10k miles. Just not needed.

[CecilD]

I had mine done on a previous trailer at Les Schwab. The price was in the $200 range. $350-$400 seems awfully high.

[rarebear.nm]

I do it myself for about $20.00.

[AKFlyboy]

Originally Posted by mobilemike

Wheel bearing grease does not bread down from sitting. Heat and rotation break down grease.

Not entirely true. Grease has a shelf life, typically 4 years in the tube. Exposed to the environment, it degrades quicker, mostly due to absorption of moisture from the atmosphere.

Once you have the bearings out, they're ridiculously easy to pack with a bearing packer or even by hand. Just remember to force grease through the narrow side if using a packer, and the wider side if by hand.

That all said, Every other year shouldn't be terrible if you don't put a lot of mileage on it. Bend, I seem to recall, is on the dry side of Oregon so I doubt your grease will be sucking up moisture that quickly.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by AKFlyboy

Not entirely true. Grease has a shelf life, typically 4 years in the tube. Exposed to the environment, it degrades quicker, mostly due to absorption of moisture from the atmosphere.

.

Grease's shelf life has no relation to its life in use.

There are millions of applications where grease is well over 4 years old with out failure.

The grease in most cars, trucks and RVs bearings is over 4 years old. How old is your tow vehicle ?

[AKFlyboy]

Originally Posted by twinboat

Grease's shelf life has no relation to its life in use.

There are millions of applications where grease is well over 4 years old with out failure.

The grease in most cars, trucks and RVs bearings is over 4 years old. How old is your tow vehicle ?

My tow vehicle is 20 years old and the only grease that old in it is in sealed bearings that limit the amount of contamination it can collect. The rest of the grease is about 5 months old from the last time I serviced it.

Old grease will run fine as a lubricant for years. However, in the places where it's exposed to the elements, it will lose its secondary usefulness as an anti-corrosive.