When to pack wheels on 5th wheel

[jamesrxx951]

Originally Posted by Franka548

TeJay,
I guess that you have never heard of false brinelling. This happens when a stationary bearing is subject to load and vibration. This will leave small deformities in the races. And why would you ever tell someone to hit a bering or race with a hammer? This is against ALL safety rules, just like never hit 2 hammers together. Hitting a bearing or race with a hammer could shatter the race or hammer and send shrapnel flying and injure those around. I have not only been to many bearing seminars, but actually taught some of them.
There are 2 very good reasons for yearly maintenance on the bearings, 1st is the lack of use for long periods of time, allowing for possible moisture intrusion and also the chance of false brinelling, 2nd is so the brakes get inspected, serviced and adjusted. If you wish to take the chance and go 30 or 40,000 miles or 3 or 4 years between sevices, have at it, it is your money, but plese do not tell someone that doesn't know false information. Even on the old RWD autos, it was recommended by the manufacturers to service the bearings yearly or 12,000 miles.
Frank

With the front axle assembly on the F53 chassis (up to 26k GCVR) the bearings are to be cleaned and repacked every 60K. And these things can sit for months at a time.

Per the owners guide:

Every 60,000 miles

(96,000 km)

Change automatic transmission fluid and filter on

5–speed TorqShift

transmission; consult dealer

for requirements

Replace front wheel bearing grease/grease seal if

non-sealed bearings are used (2WD vehicles)

I had to look up that term because I have never heard of it. The definition I found is this: The basic cause of false brinelling is that the design of the bearing does not have a method for redistribution of lubricant without large rotational movement of all bearing surfaces in the raceway. Lubricant is pushed out of a loaded region during small oscillatory movements and vibration where the bearings surfaces repeatedly do not move very far. Without lubricant, wear is increased when the small oscillatory movements occur again. It is possible for the resulting wear debris to oxidize and form an abrasive compound which further accelerates wear.

So I would agree if you store your travel trailer, any trailer, or vehicle with packed wheel bearings on one of those quarter operated beds, more frequent maintainance will be needed.

[Franka548]

the vibration could be from the interstate running next door to where the trailer is parked. One of the biggest problems is being transported on a trailer. I have had new machinery delivered and had to change bearings due to false brinelling before the machine was ever turned over.
Are your front bearings oil bath or grease? I would guess at 60,000 mile intervals they would be oil bath.
Frank

[jamesrxx951]

Originally Posted by Franka548

the vibration could be from the interstate running next door to where the trailer is parked. One of the biggest problems is being transported on a trailer. I have had new machinery delivered and had to change bearings due to false brinelling before the machine was ever turned over.
Are your front bearings oil bath or grease? I would guess at 60,000 mile intervals they would be oil bath.
Frank

packed in grease. Premium Long-Life Grease
XG-1-C or XG-1-K (US); CXG-1-C (Canada) ESA-M1C75-B

[Franka548]

James,
Do what you feel necessary, but I wouldn't trust 60,000 miles on a repack, you would be ok for 20 or 25,000 miles (maybe), but I wouldn't let them go any longer than that. A hundred or hundred fifty bucks is cheaper than a front spindle with the related tow charge when a bearing fails. But that is just me.
Frank

[Abneynormal]

if its the first time for service I would do it . when ii took mine apart I had 3 blown seals. the ez lube requires turning the wheel as you grease it. I took mine down fixed the greasy brakes and added new federal seals. they are expensive but 4 times the seal of the oem. I usually raise my wheels up and check the brakes and squirt some grease in the ez lube. they recommend 12000 miles or yearly removal and repacking. I figure 35000 should be time to replace the brakes I will do the repacking then.

[sk734]

Originally Posted by TeJay

I really hate to keep belaboring a point but I guess it's in my nature. What is there about having 40+ years of experience with this stuff. Attending dozens of training seminars over these years, and arriving at what is the best approach to servicing a vehicle that people just don't want to accept.

Lets also include performing hundreds of service procedures and having excellent results.

Synthetic bearing greases as well as synthetic oils are without a doubt the best lubricants on the planet. Find me a reliable article that says they are not better that regular lubricants and I'll keep my mouth shut.

Even with standard grease we serviced wheel bearings on the older RWD vehicles when we serviced the front brakes, which was about ever 30,000 to 40,000 miles. We never serviced them sooner. It was not necessary. The standard lubricants lasted those 30,000 plus miles.

Now we have an industry telling us to service wheel bearings every 12-months or every 12,000 miles. I ask you WHY ???? What has changed??? Is there lube no good??? Are they worried about the grease zerk and the potential of blowing the inner seal because of over lubrication??? Please don't tell me that the wheel bearing on a TT have to deal with a greater weight that standard cars/trucks. If that is the case then why don't they put larger bearings on their axles. Why would they want to stop building on the edge of destruction. They just might have to adjust their bottom line some. No their solution is to tell the consumer to follow the manufacturers recommendations so any potential issues with their lousy bearings and brakes can be examined and fixed before they cause a real problem. That's so they can cover their BUTTS. And a bunch of you fall into the trap of servicing your units every 12 months or 12,000 miles. Spending needless $$$ because you are worried.
How do you solve the problem???? Change all bearings to good quality TOYO or Timken tapered roller bearings and use synthetic grease. Extend the service interval to every 2-4 years and be done with it.

Some may say that I'm overly zealous about this. Well I may be. It just seems silly for people to blindly do what others tell them to do without studying or thinking and ignoring the recommendations of those who are in the know and have done this for years.

But there are still some out there who will never put a car battery on a concrete floor because the concrete will suck the juice out of the battery over night.

TeJay

I agree with TeJay on this item. He has many years of experience to back up his post. I believe every year is overkill. I run several years without repack and I have never had a problem. I would also recommend hand pack over easy lube as grease can get past the double lip seal and get on your brakes shoes. If you buy a new trailer pull the hubs and check out the shoes as they may have grease on them from the factory-better yet have the dealer check them before you finish the deal. Make sure you are also there for that inspection!

[jamesrxx951]

Originally Posted by Franka548

James,
Do what you feel necessary, but I wouldn't trust 60,000 miles on a repack, you would be ok for 20 or 25,000 miles (maybe), but I wouldn't let them go any longer than that. A hundred or hundred fifty bucks is cheaper than a front spindle with the related tow charge when a bearing fails. But that is just me.
Frank

How is these wheel bearings different than sealed wheel bearings. Most sealed bearings are of the roller type but some are like large ball bearings. They are permanently lubed for life and sealed. Same concept as these wheel bearings. There is nothing wrong with checking them yearly but I would be replacing the seals because you may not know if you knick it when removing. But properly lubed there is no reason that they cannot go 60K or longer like sealed non serviceable wheel bearings.

BTW, boat trailers are obviously different because they are submerged in water which should require more maintenance due to their environment.

[Pawjam3]

Wow! Thanks for all the contributions! I didn't mean to open up a s---storm I have had the bearings packed since I asked the question, and probably will do it once a year. However, there's a good chance we'll upgrade to an A-class next Spring or Summer. We just started RVing in March of 2012, so in many ways we're still newbies and still learning.

Jim from St. Louis

[Franka548]

James,
The sealed units sometimes last 30,000 miles and the next one will last 120,000 miles, you have no way of knowing, The biggest difference is with a sealed unit, you just change the unit, $150 to about $400, if you loose a regular bearing, chances are you will loose the spindle, now you are talking $500 and up.
I change seals when they look bad, do not have any trouble with leakage. Biggest difference is the grease that I use. My Dad bought a bunch of military surplus wheel bearing grease many years ago at an auction. It is a very high fibourous grease and very thick, the thickening agent holds the oil very well and even after over 50 years it is still very useable. I could go 2 or 3 years without a problem with the grease, but I like to do a visual inspection yearly on the rollers. I also go over my brakes and rotors at this time (I have disks on this trailer).

Pawjam3,
Please don't apologize for asking a question that you don't know. That is what this site is for, you will get many different opinions and you can choose which one suits your needs. I just try to answer the questions to the best of my ability , both from experience and manufacturers recommendations. We all stretch these from time to time, and sometimes don't follow the recommendations like we should. I would be remis though if I told you to do something against the manufacturers recommendations and this would be one of the times that something happens. Sorry for the long winded post. Have a happy and safe holiday season .
Frank

[Rv3900]

Originally Posted by Pawjam3

Is there a way to tell when the wheels need packing on my 30 ft. Chapparal 5ver? Thanks.

I am a retired heavy equipment mechanic and have seen transport trucks have brake inspections, pull the wheels, check bearings install new seals. 600.000 miles on the bearings. The only thing that is going to hurt bearings is water, leaking seals letting dirt in or a bearing which has failed. It will happen within a 1000 miles. Rv3900