How many of you grease your own trailer axles?

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RockinRobin

RockinRobin

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I realized the other day that I haven't greased the axles on my race trailer in 2 years, so I went and bought 5 tubes and got it done today.
I put maybe 5000 miles a year on this trailer. 3 of the 4 were a little loose (you could move the nut by hand) so I tightened them until the brake drum wouldn't spin then backed off 1 flat.
Old grease was light black but didn't look or smell burnt. Took a full tube for each wheel.
I was wondering what guidelines you use for tightening the lock nut on the spindle. Is it different than a car?
Thanks!
 
RockinRobin said:
I realized the other day that I haven't greased the axles on my race trailer in 2 years, so I went and bought 5 tubes and got it done today.
I put maybe 5000 miles a year on this trailer. 3 of the 4 were a little loose (you could move the nut by hand) so I tightened them until the brake drum wouldn't spin then backed off 1 flat.
Old grease was light black but didn't look or smell burnt. Took a full tube for each wheel.
I was wondering what guidelines you use for tightening the lock nut on the spindle. Is it different than a car?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
that's a lot of grease ---
 
I use Lucas or Amsoil Red Grease, so they don't require checking but twice a year and rarely require more than one or two pumps if that.

Tom
 
i grease the trailer 4 times a year. if you keep on top of it, it's only 1 or 2 pumps and done.
 
I adjust mine like this. After greasing I rotate the wheel just until I can no longer feel any play in bearing.Then go one flat tighter.I get nervous about preload especially on a used bearing.Ive pulled many “loose” trailer bearing’s only to find no damage.But a little to tight and you risk carnage!
 
Tighten the nuts till snug by hand and back off 1/8 turn.
And “yes” I grease my own nuts. LMAO!
Take it how you like.
 
I've got EZ lube hubs on my enclosed car hauler trailer and just greased them for the 1st time at about 6800 miles. It took quite a bit of grease this 1st time as you're filling up the hub cavity when you do it. And these are 6000# axles so they have the bigger bearings and hubs. Roughly 1 tube of grease for 2 wheels.

As for bearings, I've always just made them hand tight and called it good. I've done this on my flat car hauler trailer that I've owned since 1986. As others have said above, too tight = death!

20240307_105455.jpg
 
I’m probably overly cautious now. I picked up a camper trailer that had been sitting at a family member’s house for a year or so.

45 minutes into the 9 hour trip I noticed the smoke billowing from the wheels. I let things cool down, removed the problem-wheel and drove it right back. Glad I caught it when I did.
 
A big problem with trailers today are the CHINESE made bearings which will certainly require more maintenance than older quality USA timken bearings over thier lifetime
easier to perform needed maintenance on your property versus a Walmart parking lot.
 
SS Lancer said:
A big problem with trailers today are the CHINESE made bearings which will certainly require more maintenance than older quality USA timken bearings over thier lifetime
easier to perform needed maintenance on your property versus a Walmart parking lot.
Click to expand...
Can you still get Timken bearings?
 
link about ez grease bearings

i don't think you should put 1 tube of grease in each wheel, i don't think the grease seal can stay in place and not leak grease onto the brakes, 9 times out of 10 its the outer bearing that fails from lack of grease ,my trailers have the EZ grease set up and i still pull the wheels to inspect brakes and bearings,
i bought a enclosed trailer 2 years ago ,the guy said he greased bearings 2 times with the EZ set up ...
well i pulled the wheels last weekend and grease on 1 axle ,both sides had grease on the brake shoes, no grease to outer bearings, but the inner bearing had a ton of grease to it.
i would recommend packing the bearings by hand verses the LAZY EZ way of packing bearings.
just my personal opinion
 
70duste said:
link about ez grease bearings

i don't think you should put 1 tube of grease in each wheel, i don't think the grease seal can stay in place and not leak grease onto the brakes, 9 times out of 10 its the outer bearing that fails from lack of grease ,my trailers have the EZ grease set up and i still pull the wheels to inspect brakes and bearings,
i bought a enclosed trailer 2 years ago ,the guy said he greased bearings 2 times with the EZ set up ...
well i pulled the wheels last weekend and grease on 1 axle ,both sides had grease on the brake shoes, no grease to outer bearings, but the inner bearing had a ton of grease to it.
i would recommend packing the bearings by hand verses the LAZY EZ way of packing bearings.
just my personal opinion
Click to expand...


the E Z lube hubs work well , but if u got ur head on straight , u can feel the pressure when the bearings/hub is full , continuing to add more grease will blow the seal on the out side of the inside bearing ....
 
You can still get US made Timkens. I’ve bought several sets of various wheel bearings for cars and trucks from Summit.
 
70duste said:
link about ez grease bearings

i don't think you should put 1 tube of grease in each wheel, i don't think the grease seal can stay in place and not leak grease onto the brakes, 9 times out of 10 its the outer bearing that fails from lack of grease ,my trailers have the EZ grease set up and i still pull the wheels to inspect brakes and bearings,
i bought a enclosed trailer 2 years ago ,the guy said he greased bearings 2 times with the EZ set up ...
well i pulled the wheels last weekend and grease on 1 axle ,both sides had grease on the brake shoes, no grease to outer bearings, but the inner bearing had a ton of grease to it.
i would recommend packing the bearings by hand verses the LAZY EZ way of packing bearings.
just my personal opinion
Click to expand...

I'm with you. I've hand-packed the bearings on my flat trailer since I bought it used in 1986. Never had an issue with it. Now with my enclosed hauler, I've used the EZ-Lube method for the first greasing and will likely hand pack them when they're ready for the 2nd greasing. I figure I'll want to have a peek at the brakes anyway by then so might as well pack'em the old-fashioned way while I'm at it. I sure don't want to be on the side of the road working on my trailer!!
 
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