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Old Jun 11, 2017 | 09:32 PM
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Wheel bearings

Hello everybody I was just wondering how often you repack your wheel bearings on your campers? Sorry if this has been covered before. Thanks.
 
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Old Jun 11, 2017 | 11:11 PM
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Unless the are the Dexter Nev-R-Lube bearings which are sealed you should repack bearings every year while inspecting the brakes.
 
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 05:40 AM
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Always put in new seals as well. Pay attention to the type of grease you use as well.


even the EZ lube bearing need to be cleaned and repacked every couple of years.
 
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 07:09 AM
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Wow that often hey? Guess I better have a looksie at mine then. It's a 2011 and never been done. I do spin them every year and have a listen. Thanks for the feed back.
 
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 09:52 AM
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Originally Posted by senix
even the EZ lube bearing need to be cleaned and repacked every couple of years.
"need" is a strong word. I'm well overdue . . . .
 
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 09:57 AM
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Some folks never inspect or repack wheel bearings. Well, maybe they do after they fail, I dunno. On RWD vehicles the steering axle interval is 20k miles or somesuch. When I was in the .mil on aircraft interval was by time, every six months.

Have to use a little common sense. If it's not getting the miles put on it, you're probably OK for a long time. If fording deep streams or river crossings, that's different too.
 
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 10:44 AM
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I guess it depends. I bought an open car hauler that has tandem 5,000 lbs Dexter axles. The trailer dealer recommended every 5 years or 12,000 miles which ever comes first.
 
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 10:49 AM
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Originally Posted by senix
Always put in new seals as well. Pay attention to the type of grease you use as well.


even the EZ lube bearing need to be cleaned and repacked every couple of years.
What type of grease do you use?

Finally did the horse trailer after about 10 years. Maybe 20,000 miles ish. Just cleaned them and repacked them with what I had on hand. Penzoil high temp in the front axle, and valvoline synpower in the rear axle. Didn't have enough of either one to do the whole trailer
 
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 11:53 AM
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I do my boat trailer every couple years. Keep the hub full and no water can get in there. Boat trailers are a little different with water immersion. My little flat bed is 5 years old and haven't touched it yet. It was full too. I don't see any grease coning out of the rear seal yet so not too worried about it but it's probably time to change the seal and repack for maintenance sake. The Ez-lube is a pretty nice system as you can swap out the old grease with fresh with a grease gun and not have to take anything apart.
 
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 12:09 PM
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The oil bath bearings on my boat trailer are a nice setup. Basically do nothing until oil starts leaking out of the seals.
 
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 12:54 PM
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Originally Posted by xr7gt390
The oil bath bearings on my boat trailer are a nice setup. Basically do nothing until oil starts leaking out of the seals.
Thats a good idea. Never heard of that before
 
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 05:04 PM
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Originally Posted by meborder
What type of grease do you use?

Finally did the horse trailer after about 10 years. Maybe 20,000 miles ish. Just cleaned them and repacked them with what I had on hand. Penzoil high temp in the front axle, and valvoline synpower in the rear axle. Didn't have enough of either one to do the whole trailer

I use Valvoline high temp multi-purpose grease. I get it in a bucket.
 
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 05:06 PM
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I guess something to consider is how many miles or distance and temps.


We go cross country and so I put a lot of miles in freezing temps and over 100F temps.
 
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Old Jun 12, 2017 | 05:26 PM
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I'd be very supprised if I've put 3000kms on it and the first owner had a lot at the lake he would take it to and leave it for the year so he put maybe another 3000kms ish on it. Not very many I'd say but I'm going to do them just for piece of mind.
 
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Old Jun 13, 2017 | 02:48 PM
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Do mine every 2-3 years. It's a pain but I completely clean and inspect all parts for wear, damage, etc. New seals of course... (can't see how you'd do the job and reuse the old seals). I honestly thing that's excessive since I only do 2-3 thousand miles per year. On mine you gotta pull drums to inspect brakes anyway so might as well clean/repack bearings.
 
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