Why do my trailer bearings keep going bad?
A potential cause for bearing failure is the castle nuts being over tightened. Castle nuts should be just slightly more than hand tight. If too tight this will put excessive pressure on the bearings and could lead to premature failure. I suggest an inspection of the tires on the affected wheels.
Why does my bearings keep failing?
The main reasons that a wheel bearing fails are: Driving conditions – driving through deep water or mud can cause your wheel bearings to fail. Water, mud or other contaminants such as dust or road salt could get past the seals and enter the bearing, polluting the grease and wearing away the bearings.
How often should trailer bearings be replaced?
Many trailer manufacturers recommend this maintenance every year if your trailer gets normal use, or at least every 20,000 miles.
How long do wheel bearings last on a trailer?
With proper and frequent maintenance, your wheel bearings should last for 100,000 miles before they wear out. How Much Grease to Put In A Trailer Wheel Bearing?
What causes false Brinelling?
The basic cause of false brinelling is that the design of the bearing does not have a method for redistribution of lubricant without large rotational movement of all bearing surfaces in the raceway. Without lubricant, wear is increased when the small oscillatory movements occur again.
How do I know if my trailer bearings need replacing?
Jack up the trailer and secure it on adequate capacity jack stands. Check wheels for side-to-side looseness – There should be a very slight amount of play in the wheel, typically 1/8-inch or less. If the wheels are loose or spin with a wobble, the bearings must be serviced or replaced.
What happens when a trailer bearing fails?
A damaged wheel bearing does not only cause a vehicle to be shaky and noisy; it can also cost you more money by damaging other nearby parts, and even force your entire wheel to fly off when driving at high speed.
How can I tell if my trailer wheel bearings are bad?
If you hear any noises, the wheel bearing is defective or needs lubrication. Place a floor jack underneath a support member of your trailer, and raise one trailer wheel 2 inches off the ground.
What can cause a wheel bearing to fail?
One of the top causes of wheel bearing failure is the tire and wheel bearing bond. The pressure on a tire will always pass via wheel bearing; this means that an impact from a pothole can lead to wheel bearing failure.
Where are the bearings located on a trailer?
Trailer bearings are located at each wheel of a trailer, and allow the wheel to spin freely around the axle with minimum friction. All bearings require a constant supply of lubrication, and must be periodically “repacked” with fresh grease to prevent damage.
What to do if your boat trailer bearing fails?
This bearing requires immediate replacement and is in imminent danger of complete failure. Carbon black cannot be inspected using Bearing Buddy or standard dust caps. These products must be removed to check grease.