Texas Transplant
Well-Known Member
Well, I finished up my trailer maintenance this weekend. Took quite a bit more than I had anticipated. I started out with the goal of simply replacing the lost bearing buddy, and wound up with:
Two new hubs and bearings
Two new wheels with tires
Two new bearing buddies (complete with bra's)
New jackstands and jack
Sense of nice accomplishment
To sum it up, I measured for new bearing buddy's and purchased them during the week. I also decided that I should probably re-pack the wheel(s), to make sure they were in good serviceable order.
When I took off the problem wheel, I found a far greater problem. The inner seal, bearing and bearing race were virtually gone. Disintigrated. Nothing but a few pieces left.
After looking for bearing replacements and such, I finally decided that I needed to find someplace that had a good selection of bearings and trailer parts. That place is Northern Tool and Equipment. If you have one in your area, go by and take a look. You will be amazed at what they have there.
I decided that the new bearings, compared to the new hub with bearings (I was worried that damage that I couldn't readily see may have happened inside the hub), was an easy call. A new hub complete with bearings - and already packed/greased, was about $25.00. You can order a pair on-line for $49.00.
Picked up two, and also decided to get the spare tire/wheel that I had been missing. However, the spare came from an existing wheel/tire, as I purchased two new wheels and tires (complete and ready to go from Northern), as the tires on the trailer were not in all that good of shape.
Long weekend going back and forth and doing the work, but after it was over, I'm very pleased and I KNOW the safety level of my trailer now.
By the way, first time I've ever put on Bearing Buddies. You really have to knock the crap out of them with a hammer (using a board of course), to get them into place.
Tex
Two new hubs and bearings
Two new wheels with tires
Two new bearing buddies (complete with bra's)
New jackstands and jack
Sense of nice accomplishment
To sum it up, I measured for new bearing buddy's and purchased them during the week. I also decided that I should probably re-pack the wheel(s), to make sure they were in good serviceable order.
When I took off the problem wheel, I found a far greater problem. The inner seal, bearing and bearing race were virtually gone. Disintigrated. Nothing but a few pieces left.
After looking for bearing replacements and such, I finally decided that I needed to find someplace that had a good selection of bearings and trailer parts. That place is Northern Tool and Equipment. If you have one in your area, go by and take a look. You will be amazed at what they have there.
I decided that the new bearings, compared to the new hub with bearings (I was worried that damage that I couldn't readily see may have happened inside the hub), was an easy call. A new hub complete with bearings - and already packed/greased, was about $25.00. You can order a pair on-line for $49.00.
Picked up two, and also decided to get the spare tire/wheel that I had been missing. However, the spare came from an existing wheel/tire, as I purchased two new wheels and tires (complete and ready to go from Northern), as the tires on the trailer were not in all that good of shape.
Long weekend going back and forth and doing the work, but after it was over, I'm very pleased and I KNOW the safety level of my trailer now.
By the way, first time I've ever put on Bearing Buddies. You really have to knock the crap out of them with a hammer (using a board of course), to get them into place.
Tex
