QA

How To Repack Boat Trailer Bearings

How often should I repack boat trailer bearings?

How often should you repack your trailer bearings? The axle manufacturers recommend that you repack your trailer bearings once annually or every 12,000 km. If you are over-do for trailer wheel bearing maintenance, we would be happy to help you.

How much does it cost to have trailer bearings repack?

Trailers tend to be cheaper to repack professionally (think $100-$200), but don’t underestimate the power of the upsells a mechanic might try to give you. If you’re serious about cash, you can likely save a few bucks by repacking your bearings yourself.

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.

Can you over grease trailer bearings?

There’s no such thing as too much grease for bearings! You would not pack grease in the hub otherwise and not in the drum since the brakes would not be able to grab with grease in the hub. Grease caps, dust caps, and bearing protectors have to be installed right to avoid losing them.

How hard is it to repack trailer bearings?

Repacking the wheel bearings on your utility or boat trailer is quick and easy, and you’ll avoid the breakdown that’ll leave you stranded along the road. If you haven’t checked your wheel bearings lately, read this article. You can complete this simple task in about an hour and save yourself a big repair bill.

How much does it cost to replace bearings on a boat trailer?

Some Class A RV owners have stated that it cost anything from $300 to $500 to replace the bearings. Depending on how much you use your trailer and how many miles you get on it, you can wait till about 20,000 miles before your wheel bearing has to be repacked.

Should you grease wheel bearings?

Not only should grease be packed into the bearing, but some grease should be applied to the housing and on the wheel end’s inside surfaces where the bearing sits. This will help prevent corrosion. The housing should also have some grease in the cavity surrounding the bearing, but it should not be filled.

What happens when trailer bearings fail?

Improper maintenance of your wheel bearings isn’t just a risk to yourself; not properly servicing your wheel bearings can compromise the safety of the passengers in the tow vehicle and those that share the road with you. Failure to maintain axle bearings can cause your wheels to fall off while the trailer is in motion.

How many miles do trailer bearings last?

It is hard to say a specific number when talking about boat trailer bearings. Some experts give them a life span of 85,000 to 100,000 miles. But the real answer is that it depends on many factors. Trailer bearings that are properly maintained can out-last the trailer itself.

Why do boat trailer bearings fail?

A potential cause for bearing failure is the castle nuts being over tightened. Castle nuts should be just slightly more than hand tight. If too tight this will put excessive pressure on the bearings and could lead to premature failure. I suggest an inspection of the tires on the affected wheels.

How do you know when to replace trailer bearings?

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.

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 often should I grease my trailer bearings?

Proper lubrication helps maintain functionality and reliability of your trailer’s axle(s). Bearings should be lubricated approximately every 12 months or 12,000 miles unless otherwise specified by the axle manufacturer.

Do you grease boat trailer rollers?

When the pin and split pin are in place, put grease all over them to ward off rust. Going through this procedure with all the rollers should take you around 20 minutes in total. Getting the boat on and off the trailer should now be a lot easier. Check your winch cable regularly for signs of wear.

How do you keep water out of boat trailer bearings?

Grease-Filled Protection Grease is kept around your boat trailer bearings by a seal on one side of the hub (preferably a double-lipped seal) and pressure from froma rubber plug or grommet positioned on the outside of the hub.

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.

Which grease is best for bearings?

Table of contents 1: Editor’s Pick: Royal Purple Ultra Performance Grease. Best for Performance: Allstar Timken High-Temp Synthetic Wheel Bearing Grease. 3: Best on a Budget: Sta-Lube New Generation Wheel Bearing Grease. Lucas Oil Red ‘N’ Tacky Grease. Mag 1 High-Temp Disc Brake Wheel Bearing Grease.

How much are bearing buddies?

Bearing Buddy Stainless Steel Bearing Protectors (1.980″ Diameter) with Auto Check With Bras – Pair List Price: $36.99 Details You Save: $5.50 (15%).

Does Les Schwab repack trailer bearings?

Les Schwab Knows Trailers Stop by Les Schwab and we’ll inspect your trailer bearings and brakes. Our pros know how to repack or even replace the bearings, and can get your brakes working like new.

How do you clean and repack boat trailer wheel bearings?