Bearing Repack and Brakes Adjusted

[Sherwolfe]

Well got the spring bearing repack and brake adjustment all completed today. TT has about 6,000 miles on it and is a 2015, so it was time. Was pretty impressed with the factory bearings as all bearings and races were in great shape. In fact, it was the dang grease seals that actually had failed, or possibly just put in bad at the factory. Some grease from these had actually gotten into the brake drums and really messed up where the electric magnet attaches to the drum.

However, pulled everything apart, looked it all over good and decided to just repack and get ready for the upcoming camping season. Yes, I had given a lot of thought to just putting new Timken bearings in and be done with it. Once I looked these bearings over, and very carefully at that, I just felt that since these are looking so good there is no real reason to change.

As stated, the biggest issue to me was the failed grease seals. No, i have not used the installed zerq fitting to grease the bearings and in looking at these grease seals it appears as if when the factory put this together, they just slapped and bunch of grease in there. I could see evidence of grease that was apparently not cleaned up when the seals were installed. This of course then simply spread to the inner drum and messed up the brake magnets.

Cleaned all this up really good, checked brake operations, shoes looked good after I lightly sanded them to remove the traces of grease. Then of course did the brake adjustment after reinstalling the wheels and everything looks good and clean, ready to roll.

First wheel of course took the longest, you know trying to figure out the best method for this process. The other three went fairly well. All together took me about six hours but this is mostly due to my wanting to make sure everything was clean, well greased and put back together without any extra parts.

The best news was I discovered I have 5200 pound axles instead of the 4400 pound axles that was posted on the left front corner of the trailer. This makes the main inner bearing the same as the bearing that goes in the 8000 pound axles.

[Alpine]

Good for you...gotta love a DIY, you just know the job was done right!

[Dave W]

Food for thought!! With a 5200 pound axle, you can most likely use the bigger 6000 pound OUTER bearing cup and cone (parts 15245/15123). It, of course wont turn it into a 5.2 or 6K suspension without different springs, but those are only another $130 at Etrailer (part no. UNA111 for the25-1/4" long 6K)

[Hodgy]

Nice to get that done and off of your mind. Wonder what a dealer would have charged you for that service ? And it would not have been done with as much care as you put into it.

When you have skin in the game you do it right.

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by Hodgy

Nice to get that done and off of your mind. Wonder what a dealer would have charged you for that service ? And it would not have been done with as much care as you put into it.

When you have skin in the game you do it right.

We are about $250.00 for tandem axle.

[Tinner12002]

Originally Posted by Hodgy

Nice to get that done and off of your mind. Wonder what a dealer would have charged you for that service ? And it would not have been done with as much care as you put into it.

When you have skin in the game you do it right.

I've had the local RV shop/storage place do mine in the past and he charges $80 per axle to pack and inspect/adjust brakes. Does great work in a timely manor and I feel his price is very reasonable. He has a constant flow of RVs through his door so I'm guessing other people are happy with his work also. I don't have a place to work on mine so his service is a great advantage for me.

[Hodgy]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

We are about $250.00 for tandem axle.

That's not to bad.

[Sherwolfe]

Originally Posted by Dave W

Food for thought!! With a 5200 pound axle, you can most likely use the bigger 6000 pound OUTER bearing cup and cone (parts 15245/15123). It, of course wont turn it into a 5.2 or 6K suspension without different springs, but those are only another $130 at Etrailer (part no. UNA111 for the25-1/4" long 6K)

Had not considered switching to the heavier outer bearing. I realize this doesn't change the actual rating of the axle but at least a heavier bearing not carrying the load at near max rating is certainly better. Next time I have to do this I very well might consider trading out the outer bearing because I likely will then change out all the bearings.

[Sherwolfe]

Originally Posted by Alpine

Good for you...gotta love a DIY, you just know the job was done right!

Exactly why I did this myself. It is just so difficult to find a shops who puts the same care and concern into the job as we would. While there are some shops out there, finding them, well I am assured there are none near my hometown.

Been a lot of years since I've repacked bearings, forgot just how much fun that really it. Ah, well actually the truth is I was reminded why it's been a lot of years since I've done bearing repacks.

Big peace of mind now as we head out.

[travelin texans]

This reminds me of my know-it-all BIL, "packing them bearings is a waste of money & time, when's the last time you packed them on your car?". I informed him they are sealed on cars for the last 15-20 years & can't be packed. His 5er is 12-15 years old & never been packed or greased in any way, but he knows best & apparently VERY lucky & I don't/won't travel with them.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by travelin texans

This reminds me of my know-it-all BIL, "packing them bearings is a waste of money & time, when's the last time you packed them on your car?". I informed him they are sealed on cars for the last 15-20 years & can't be packed. His 5er is 12-15 years old & never been packed or greased in any way, but he knows best & apparently VERY lucky & I don't/won't travel with them.

I have a BIL like that..... Every time we travel with them, my spare tire gets used.... He refuses to buy tires for his trailer anywhere except the local "used tire pile" behind the local tire dealer.... He picks the best looking ones, pays to have them installed on his wheels and I wind up providing the spare to get him home after he "explodes" all of his......

[Sherwolfe]

Originally Posted by travelin texans

This reminds me of my know-it-all BIL, "packing them bearings is a waste of money & time, when's the last time you packed them on your car?". I informed him they are sealed on cars for the last 15-20 years & can't be packed. His 5er is 12-15 years old & never been packed or greased in any way, but he knows best & apparently VERY lucky & I don't/won't travel with them.

Yup, I've also known a Uncle who never changed oil in his motor. Just kept adding oil and STP, ran his cars for many years and NEVER lost a motor. He was the Uncle who could rebuild a motor in a sandbox and have it work for him without any issues. While doing my bearings the shop looked like a surgical room, hopefully no issues.

[chuckster57]

My truck front wheels aren’t sealed bearings. But then again it’s a ‘94

[travelin texans]

The same BIL bought P rated tires (a real bargain as he said) for a 30' 5er & couldn't figure out that they didn't last but about 50 miles before he lost 3 of them. And said he couldn't run his ac at his house using a 100' indoor/outdoor extension cord (he said "it said for rv use") 16 gauge without tripping breakers, I agreed "no you can't", but I didn't bother to explain.
Also would burn up my Allison transmission towing my 38' 5er, "a trailer that big & heavy you can't tow it with an automatic, you need a manual transmission" he says.

[nellie1289]

so my grease seals blew very early in my trailers life, and i got new brakes out of it too under warranty as they fried. right before i put my trailer away for the winter the brakes seemed to not be working very well again no matter how much i tweaked the gain. there is zero evidence of grease seals blown again. Is this a simple adjustment to the brakes. I have another warranty item to take it in for this spring so just curious what i should expect. i dont have more than 1000 miles on the new grease seals, they were fixed 1 year ago. time wise.

[nellie1289]

Originally Posted by Sherwolfe

Exactly why I did this myself. It is just so difficult to find a shops who puts the same care and concern into the job as we would. While there are some shops out there, finding them, well I am assured there are none near my hometown.

Been a lot of years since I've repacked bearings, forgot just how much fun that really it. Ah, well actually the truth is I was reminded why it's been a lot of years since I've done bearing repacks.

Big peace of mind now as we head out.

Sherwolfe, can i bring mine to you

[mfifield01]

I just finished my bearings. I ended up changing all the bearings/races to Timken (USA). The grease seals were fine on mine. This was the first service at roughly 11,000 miles (2.5 years).

I did find a brake wire that had about a half inch section of wire exposed. It looked like it rubbed on the hub. I put some electrical tape on it and adjusted the wire holding clip.

[chuckster57]

I personally wouldn’t put a grease seal back on, did you change them?

[mfifield01]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

I personally wouldn’t put a grease seal back on, did you change them?

Yes, I put new seals in. Mine are usually torn up when I get them pulled. The comment was in reference to other posts about seals blowing or failing. I should have stated that mine did not fail over this period.

[Sherwolfe]

Originally Posted by nellie1289

Sherwolfe, can i bring mine to you

Well as much as I would like to, I think one a year is just about my limit