How do I know if my trailer bearings need grease?

If noise is heard, check for a bad bearing or if lubrication is needed. Check for Heat – Tow the trailer for a short distance, 5-10 miles at highways speeds, then park the trailer. Place your hand on each of the wheel hubs of the trailer. If it is too warm to hold your hand in place, you may have a bad bearing.

How do you know if your wheel bearing needs grease?

If it feels sticky or you can hear grinding noise (really bad) it is very likely that the bearings are in need of grease (minimally) and maybe damaged and in need of replacement. If it passes the free-roll test, check for excess play (in and out and side to side movement) by grabbing the tire at the 9 and 3 position.

Can you over grease trailer bearings?

They keep grease packed into the hub. munchy wrote: More grease is never the right answer. Overgreasing can actually cause the rollers/balls to slide over the bearing surface rather than roll over them.

How often do you need to grease 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.

How often should I grease my bearings on my boat trailer?

Standard tapered trailer wheel bearings are recommended to be re-packed with fresh bearing grease about every year or every 12,000 miles under normal use. In certain conditions this interval could be shorter, such as if you routinely tow the trailer under conditions of extreme heat or near its maximum load capacity.

How to grease wheel bearings on a boat trailer

Can you over grease a bearing?

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.

How often should I repack my travel trailer wheel bearings?

RV wheel bearings should be repacked with grease once a year or every 10,000 to 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you travel frequently, this is a useful metric to go by, even if it means having your RV wheel bearings repacked a couple of times each year.

How much does it cost to repack trailer bearings?

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 long do trailer wheel bearings last?

Thanks for any advice. Expert Reply: We recommended to repack the wheel bearings on your trailer every 12 months or 12,000 miles. There is not a specific guideline as far as actually replacing the bearings.

Should you fill 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.

Can you put too much grease in a Bearing Buddy?

Can Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors Be Over-Filled with Too Much Grease It is possible to over-fill a hub that has a Bearing Buddy bearing protector such as #BB1781.

What happens if you don't grease bearings?

If your bearings are not kept well-greased the increased friction will eventually cause your wheel to seize. If this happens while you are hauling, it will not only leave you stranded roadside, but it will also cost you a lot of money in trailer repairs.

How long does bearing grease last?

Lubricant deteriorates over time as a result of ageing, condensation, and separation of the oil and thickener. Therefore, sealed bearings should not be stored for more than three years.

Why are my trailer wheels smoking?

Either your tire is making contact with your trailer frame which is causing it to smoke, or you don't have enough grease on the inside of your hub so your bearings are causing all of that smoke.

How much does it cost to replace a wheel bearing on a 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.

How long does it take to repack trailer bearings?

How many trailers have you seen on the side of the road this year with one wheel propped up? Don't let it happen to you. 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 grease is enough?

Rule of Thumb #2: One Stroke per Inch of Shaft

This rule of thumb depends entirely on the grease gun. Different grease guns deliver different volumes of grease per stroke. It would probably be better to say 2 or 3 grams per inch of shaft diameter. Most grease guns deliver a volume close to this figure.

How much grease do you put in a bearing buddy?