Table of Contents
Can you grease bearings on a trailer?
If your trailer’s axle(s) are equipped with a grease zerk on the ends, the bearings must be greased every six months or 6,000 miles to ensure functionality. To apply the grease, remove the rubber plug from the axle end and place the grease gun on the zerk. Pump grease until new grease begins to appear.
How do I know if my trailer bearings need grease?
Keep your hand on the wheel and spin it. If you feel any motion that is not smooth, hear any noises, or if the wheel does not spin freely, the wheel bearing is defective or needs lubrication.
How often should you grease travel trailer wheel bearings?
With a larger travel trailer, you should grease your trailer wheel bearings every 10,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first. If you have a smaller travel trailer, however, you’ll need to grease your wheel bearings every 2,000 miles.
What kind of grease do you use for trailer bearings?
LMX Red Grease A heavy-duty, premium grease rated for just about every application, including marine trailer-wheel bearings. It resists water well and sticks in place, so it’s excellent in outdoor applications, but it isn’t specially formulated for wheel bearings.
Do you grease trailer hitch ball?
You do not need to grease your trailer hitch ball. That is entirely up to you. However, greasing it is recommended. Greasing will help ensure that the trailer hitch ball keeps its structural integrity, and it will help prevent it from squeaking.
Can you over grease wheel bearings?
When it comes to regreasing bearings, more is not always the better option and actually can be a costly mistake. Too much grease volume (overgreasing) in a bearing cavity will cause the rotating bearing elements to begin churning the grease, pushing it out of the way, resulting in energy loss and rising temperatures.
Should I fill my trailer hub with grease?
1 and 2), pump a ring of grease into the entire circumference of the wheel hub and coat the hub cap inner wall. The housing should only be half full of grease. Too much grease causes churning and higher temperatures. Semi-fluid grease must be used with a vented hub cap.
How much play should be in a trailer wheel bearing?
Jack up the trailer and secure it on adequate capacity jack stands. Check wheels for side-to-side looseness – There should be a very slight amount of play in the wheel, typically 1/8-inch or less. If the wheels are loose or spin with a wobble, the bearings must be serviced or replaced.
Do you need to grease RV bearings?
Trailer wheel bearings carry the entire weight of the trailer so repacking your trailer bearings is a critical part of your regular trailer maintenance. Bearings require grease to prevent friction and ensure the wheel turns freely but overtime the grease starts to break down.
Is red and tacky grease good for wheel bearings?
Lucas Red N Tacky Wheel bearing grease is certified by the National Lubricating Grease Institute and is ranked in the highest performance category there is. Featuring rust and oxidation preventative inhibitors that make this grease more water resistant.
Is lithium grease OK for wheel bearings?
Did you know a spray of WD-40 Specialist White Lithium Grease is a great lithium lubricant for bearings? It reduces friction on bearings and helps keep them protected from rust as well. Because it’s a superior water and heat-resistant, high pressure grease, White Lithium Grease is great for cars and tools as well.
Why does my trailer hitch make so much noise?
Most of the time, sound is coming from the contact your trailer coupler is making with your hitch ball. If after you grease your hitch ball well, you still hear sound, rest assured. Some sound can come from the two friction points in the hitch head where the rotating sockets are sliding against the hitch head itself.
What happens if you don’t grease wheel bearings?
The inside of the bearing race of the wheel hub was likewise HOT, dry and had metal stuck to it. THAT’S what happens if you don’t grease the wheel bearings. They run dry, get hot, literally weld their parts to the hub and spindle, and the wheel falls off.
How often should a bearing be greased?
To prevent corrosion, all bearings should receive grease and be rotated the first of every month. Turn the wheel by hand while greasing bearings. A clean 1/16″ bead of grease must appear on each side of each bearing.
How long do bearing buddies last?
Some experts give them a life span of 85,000 to 100,000 miles.
How much grease should you put in a bearing?
Open angular contact thrust ball bearings for screw drives should be lubricated with a grease quantity that fills ~ 25 to 35% of the free space in the bearing. Freshly greased bearings should be operated at low speeds during the running-in period.
How do you preload trailer wheel bearings?
To pre-load the bearings, install the spindle washer and spindle nut onto the spindle with the hub and bearings in place. Tighten the spindle nut finger tight (until snug) and then with channel-lock pliers or a crescent wrench, tighten the spindle nut another 1/4 turn or about 15 to 20 ft pounds of torque.
