Bearing help

[Randy Walls]

I have read the other posts on bearings and have printed off some great stuff. My 06 trailer has the flo-through hubs. I have one that blows grease out the rubber cap on long runs but never feels hotter than normal (cool actually). My partner says to jsut change everything out, at least on the one side, cause it is cheap insurance. Any of the guys here with much more technical smarts than me with other suggestions before I get grease from head to toe?



Randy!

 

[Dan J.]

Is your rubber plug complete or possibly torn or nicked? If the cover plug is not completely intact it'll sling a bit and not a big concern. Cheap easy fix for a couple bucks at the dealer. Good Luck!

 

[Randy Walls]

Thanks Dan, but no. It is solid with no cuts or tears etc... first thing I checked.



Randy!

 

[Jim B]

I have noticed if the cap is full of grease when it expands it will sling some from under the rubber. The grease expands a good bit then its up to temp so it needs someplace to go, a little room under the cap normally is good. Take a popsicle stick and yank some(a tablespoons worth or so) of the grease out from inside the cap and it will most likely stop happening.



The other thing is the type of grease you are using. If you are using a grease with a low melt point(IE not made for high speed bearings) it will turn liquid and it will do the same thing.



Another thing is if you have water in there it will thin out the grease a good bit. If its milky colored you have water in there and you will need a new rear seal and a repack. Check the rear and see if its slinging on that side too if it is you have a bad seal.



Nothing against your friend but changing the bearings as "cheap insurance" is bad advice especially when it has nothing to do with the issue you are having. If you have hardware that is in good working order changing it could introduce a problem. You could get a defective part which have seen happen or if you botch the install in any way you could end up on the side of the road with a busted trailer.



All you should need to do is a quick test. Jack the trailer and check the end play by wiggling the wheel(if it wobbles you may need to adjust the bearing)and also turn the wheel and see how smooth it turns. If the end play is good and the wheel turns smoothly with no noises(brakes will make some)and the rear seal is good and no water is getting in then you should be in good shape. You also mentioned they run cool so it sounds to me like all is good inside you just need to yank some grease ot take a look at what you are pumping in them.

 

[Randy Walls]

Thanks Jim. I will do just that before I dig deeper.



Randy!