Wheel bearings
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,899
Likes: 12
From: Upstate NY
Per Dexter and their maintenance manual, 12K miles or 12 months. It's CYA conservative but it works for me since we do tow quite a lot of miles/year. If you have a fairly heavy trailer and 5200 pound axles, I have to say it is good advice from Dexter based on what I found this spring when I converted to 6K capacity Timken bearings in new disc brake hubs (and springs) on ours.
About 9K miles and 1 year. Luckily no damage beyond overheated grease as these cleaned up easily:
About 9K miles and 1 year. Luckily no damage beyond overheated grease as these cleaned up easily:
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 241
Likes: 1
Check mine, disassemble and check outside bearings and grease, every year.
Pull seals and all bearings every 2 years.
Mine had a bearing with 4 rollers that were scored after the first year.....
Never had an issue on the 7k open trailer.
Pull seals and all bearings every 2 years.
Mine had a bearing with 4 rollers that were scored after the first year.....
Never had an issue on the 7k open trailer.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Standard solvent parts washer works fine. Get all the old grease out so they can be inspected. If they are installed correctly, lubed properly, conical or tapered wheel bearings last a really long time. If not... not.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,676
Likes: 379
I use parts cleaner in a clean (dirt free) bucket. I wear solvent resistant gloves. Aerosol can of brake cleaner with a straw helps get the stubborn corners clean. Then set them up to dry for 30 minutes before re packing.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
I put about 10,000 miles on my RV in the past two years and the brakes of the rear axle were metal to metal on one side and very close to it on the other side. The front brakes were about 30%. The bearings themselves were fine, aside from being Chinese, but the grease was broken down pretty good so I bought new Timken bearings and repacked them along with new assemblies.
One issue that I've had is that my Tekonsha P3 controller doesn't "see" my trailer so it uses a default braking program. It works well although it is is a bit on the tight side. The brakes will lock on pretty easy on anything but dry pavement. I didn't think it would hurt anything, but it sure went through a set of brakes fast.
One issue that I've had is that my Tekonsha P3 controller doesn't "see" my trailer so it uses a default braking program. It works well although it is is a bit on the tight side. The brakes will lock on pretty easy on anything but dry pavement. I didn't think it would hurt anything, but it sure went through a set of brakes fast.
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