Repacking your travel trailer’s wheel bearings involves carefully removing the old grease, cleaning the bearings, inspecting them for wear, and applying fresh grease to ensure smooth and safe operation. This crucial maintenance task prevents premature bearing failure, saving you from costly repairs and potentially dangerous roadside emergencies.
Why Repacking Wheel Bearings Matters
Your travel trailer’s wheel bearings are essential for allowing the wheels to rotate smoothly around the axle. These small, but critical components, are located within the wheel hub and are responsible for carrying the weight of the trailer while reducing friction. Over time, the grease that lubricates these bearings breaks down, becomes contaminated with dirt and debris, and loses its ability to protect the bearings from wear. Neglecting to repack your wheel bearings can lead to:
- Increased friction and heat: Worn or poorly lubricated bearings generate excessive heat, which can damage the bearings, seals, and even the axle.
- Bearing failure: If left unattended, the bearings can seize up, causing the wheel to lock and potentially leading to a dangerous accident.
- Costly repairs: Replacing damaged bearings, seals, and axles can be expensive. Regular repacking is a cost-effective way to prevent these issues.
This guide provides a step-by-step approach to repacking your travel trailer’s wheel bearings, ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey.
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
Before you begin, gather the following tools and materials:
- Jack and jack stands: To safely lift and support the trailer.
- Wheel chocks: To prevent the trailer from rolling.
- Gloves: To protect your hands from grease and grime.
- Safety glasses: To protect your eyes.
- Socket set and wrenches: To remove the wheels and hub.
- Hammer: To tap components into place, if needed.
- Screwdriver: To pry off the dust cap.
- Bearing packer: A specialized tool for efficiently greasing bearings. A cone-shaped hand packer is sufficient.
- Grease gun: To apply grease to the zerk fitting (if applicable).
- Brake cleaner: To clean the bearings and hub.
- Shop rags: To wipe away grease and grime.
- New grease seals: Always replace these when repacking. Ensure you have the correct size.
- High-temperature wheel bearing grease: Specifically formulated for trailer wheel bearings. Lithium complex grease is a good choice.
- Torque wrench: To tighten the wheel lug nuts and spindle nut to the proper specifications.
- Catch pan: To collect used grease and cleaner.
Step-by-Step Guide to Repacking Wheel Bearings
Follow these steps carefully to ensure a successful bearing repack:
1. Prepare the Trailer
- Park the trailer on a level surface.
- Engage the parking brake and chock the wheels opposite the side you will be working on.
- Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel you will be removing, but don’t remove them completely yet.
2. Lift and Support the Trailer
- Position the jack under the trailer’s frame near the wheel you’re working on, following the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Raise the trailer until the tire is off the ground.
- Place jack stands under the frame for support. Never work under a trailer supported only by a jack.
- Completely remove the lug nuts and take off the wheel and tire assembly.
3. Remove the Hub
- Carefully pry off the dust cap using a screwdriver or similar tool.
- Remove the cotter pin that secures the spindle nut.
- Unscrew the spindle nut.
- Remove the washer behind the spindle nut.
- Gently pull the hub straight off the spindle. Be prepared to catch the outer bearing as it may fall out.
4. Remove the Bearings and Grease Seal
- Remove the outer bearing.
- Flip the hub over and use a brass punch and hammer to gently tap out the inner bearing and grease seal from the inside of the hub. Discard the old grease seal.
5. Clean and Inspect the Bearings and Hub
- Thoroughly clean all bearings and the inside of the hub with brake cleaner. Use a brush to remove any remaining grease and grime.
- Inspect the bearings for signs of wear, such as pitting, discoloration, or roughness. If any damage is present, replace the bearings immediately.
- Inspect the bearing races (cups) inside the hub for similar damage. If damaged, the races must be replaced along with the bearings. Replacing races often requires specialized tools.
- Inspect the spindle for any signs of damage, such as wear or scoring.
6. Pack the Bearings with Grease
- Use a bearing packer to force grease into the bearings until it completely fills the space between the rollers. If you don’t have a bearing packer, you can carefully pack the bearings by hand, pressing grease into the bearing from the wide end until it emerges from the other side. Ensure the bearing is completely filled with grease.
7. Install the Inner Bearing and Grease Seal
- Apply a thin layer of grease to the inside of the hub.
- Install the packed inner bearing into the hub.
- Carefully tap a new grease seal into the hub using a hammer and a seal driver tool (or a block of wood) until it is flush with the hub surface. Ensure the seal is installed straight and without damaging it.
8. Install the Hub and Outer Bearing
- Apply a thin layer of grease to the spindle.
- Carefully slide the hub onto the spindle.
- Install the packed outer bearing into the hub.
- Install the washer and spindle nut.
9. Adjust the Spindle Nut
- Tighten the spindle nut until snug (about 12-15 ft-lbs) while rotating the hub.
- Loosen the spindle nut completely.
- Finger-tighten the spindle nut until it is just snug.
- Install a new cotter pin through the spindle and castle nut (if equipped). If the cotter pin holes don’t align, tighten the nut slightly until they do. Never loosen the nut to align the holes.
- If your axle uses a bearing buddy system, follow the bearing buddy instructions for filling with grease.
10. Reinstall the Wheel and Tire
- Reinstall the wheel and tire assembly.
- Hand-tighten the lug nuts.
- Lower the trailer until the tire touches the ground, but the full weight is not yet on the tire.
- Torque the lug nuts to the manufacturer’s specifications using a torque wrench in a star pattern.
- Lower the trailer completely and remove the jack stands.
- Re-torque the lug nuts after about 50 miles of driving.
11. Repeat for Other Wheels
- Repeat these steps for the remaining wheels on your trailer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about repacking wheel bearings on a travel trailer:
FAQ 1: How often should I repack my travel trailer’s wheel bearings?
You should repack your wheel bearings every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you frequently tow in dusty or wet conditions, you may need to repack them more often.
FAQ 2: What type of grease should I use for my wheel bearings?
Use a high-temperature wheel bearing grease specifically formulated for trailer wheel bearings. Lithium complex grease is a popular and reliable choice. Ensure the grease is compatible with the types of seals you have.
FAQ 3: Can I reuse the old grease seals?
No, you should always replace the grease seals when repacking your wheel bearings. Old seals are likely worn and can allow grease to leak out and contaminants to enter.
FAQ 4: How do I know if my wheel bearings are bad?
Signs of bad wheel bearings include noise (grinding, rumbling, or clicking), excessive heat, play in the wheel, and grease leaking from the hub.
FAQ 5: What happens if I don’t repack my wheel bearings?
Neglecting to repack your wheel bearings can lead to bearing failure, which can cause the wheel to lock up and potentially lead to a dangerous accident. It can also result in costly repairs to the bearings, seals, and axle.
FAQ 6: Can I repack wheel bearings myself, or should I take it to a professional?
You can repack wheel bearings yourself if you have the necessary tools, skills, and patience. However, if you are not comfortable with the process, it is best to take it to a qualified mechanic or RV technician.
FAQ 7: What is a bearing packer, and do I need one?
A bearing packer is a tool used to force grease into the bearings efficiently. While you can pack bearings by hand, a bearing packer makes the job much easier and ensures that the bearings are completely filled with grease. They are inexpensive and a worthwhile investment.
FAQ 8: How tight should I tighten the spindle nut?
The spindle nut should be tightened initially to about 12-15 ft-lbs while rotating the hub, then loosened completely, and finally finger-tightened just until snug. The goal is to eliminate play in the bearings without overtightening, which can cause premature wear. Always follow the manufacturer’s specifications.
FAQ 9: What is the purpose of the cotter pin?
The cotter pin prevents the spindle nut from loosening. It is crucial to install a new cotter pin after adjusting the spindle nut.
FAQ 10: How do I know what size grease seals to buy?
You can find the correct size grease seals in your trailer’s owner’s manual or by measuring the old grease seal. When you remove the old seals, the size is often stamped on them as well. Always double-check before purchasing.
FAQ 11: Can I over-grease my wheel bearings?
Yes, over-greasing can put excessive pressure on the grease seals, causing them to fail. This is especially true with bearing buddy systems. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for greasing these systems.
FAQ 12: My trailer has “never lube” bearings. Do I still need to repack them?
“Never lube” bearings are designed to be maintenance-free for a certain period, usually several years or tens of thousands of miles. However, it’s still important to inspect them regularly for any signs of wear or damage. Eventually, even “never lube” bearings will require replacement. Consult your trailer’s manual for specific maintenance recommendations.