Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: wheel bearings

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Charlestown NSW
    Age
    65
    Posts
    1,669

    Default wheel bearings

    Couldn't decide if I should put this in the trailer section or not but thought here might be ok as its to do with both trailers and cars.
    So, as we have a small aliner camper, (which I'm hoping ti use one of these years I'm on a couple of caravan/camper forums. This is question that comes up regularly.
    The question is "How often should I re grease the caravan/camper bearings" or a variation of this. (Not boat trailer bearings)
    The general answer is anywhere between every 6 to 12 months or every 5000 klm etc etc.
    My question is this. (I've asked this one at least one of the forums but have never got a definitive answer.)

    Here in Australia most trailers and caravans (except for those running parallel bearings) use either Holden or Ford bearings.
    So if the average old Holden or Ford could run the front bearings for years and tens of thousands of klms without being repacked why can't a trailer?
    Potentially the loading's (weight) on a trailer hub might be higher than a car but I would think that the side loading's would be similar.

    Is there something about a trailer (apart from maybe not being used as often as a car) that make it necessary to re grease so often or is another of those things that "everyone knows to be true because its always been done that way".

    Thoughts?
    peter

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    N.W.Tasmania
    Posts
    1,407

    Default

    If I had to guess Peter, I would say that it is as you said in your post, that the trailer is not used as frequently, and perhaps there may be condensation issues on the balls or rollers, especially on the actual contact points, and not having regular use, perhaps the grease is squeezed out where the rollers or balls contact the inner and outer races. Regular use would re-distribute the grease before it was all squeezed out, and the heat generated during operation would dry out any condensation. That is my hypothesis anyway, I look forward to hearing what the real experts have to say
    Rob

  3. #3
    Boringgeoff is offline Try not to be late, but never be early.
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Bakers Hill WA
    Age
    75
    Posts
    43

    Default

    Hello Peter,
    Over a period of 26 years I owned 2 delivery trucks and spent seven years in the trucking game prior to that. My trucks did between 40,000 and 75,000 Km /year. All had grease filled front wheel hubs and I never repacked them any more frequently than once a year. In all that time I had no catastrophic bearing failures.
    At the annual checkup I would remove the bearings, check for wear or damage and replace them if necessary and use a good quality wheel bearing grease to repack them. Whenever I thought of it I would feel the hubs to see if they were excessively hot.

    We've got a single axle off road caravan which we took to South Aus' for six weeks October-November last year. I replaced the wheel bearings prior to the trip which was 9,320 km. Since then we've done another couple of thousand Km locally and I have no intention of touching the bearings anytime soon. Every time we stop I check them for heat, obviously it's a waste of time if you've been using the brakes frequently and generated a lot of heat but on a good long flat run with minimal brake usage this is a good move. It can warn you in plenty of time that a problem is brewing. I carry a spare bearing set and a tin of grease with us for a roadside repair if necessary. I'll repack them before our next big trip but the caravan may have travelled 12,000 - 15,000 km by then.

    Another important aspect, which Rob mentioned, is that of condensation or moisture ingress, when not on the road our caravan is parked in a shed but if you leave it outside in the weather it could lead to deterioration over time. Your analogy of a Ford or Holden going for years without attention is spot on in my opinion.
    I have difficulty with some of the advice given in caravan magazines.
    Cheers and happy travels,
    Geoff.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Charlestown NSW
    Age
    65
    Posts
    1,669

    Default

    Geoff.
    What you have said is pretty much what I reckon as well. When I was working full time on the tools as a fitter I saw various types and size of bearings that were performing remarkably well considering the conditions they were running under.
    I personally had a Datsun (now I'm showing my age. lol) 720 ute from new. Sold it at 275000 klm and still had the original front wheel bearings which I think I had only re greased once.

    We really don't give the humble ball/roller bearing much thought, but when you consider how well and accurately they are made (good quality ones of course), plus the conditions that they operate in, they really are cheap to buy for what you get.
    Peter

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,651

    Default

    Pretty much everything in the caravan world is excessive these days IMO.
    We've had a few different vans over the years either wind up style or pop tops.
    If the bearings have an unknown history when we get a new (used) van I'll pull them apart and inspect/lube, but apart from that I've never bothered to do a specific periodic re-grease.
    I pull the caps off prior to the first trip after it's been sitting for a while and check for any sign of rust, and rock/spin the wheels for signs of roughness/play. If the grease looks like it's been working hard I'll change it.
    If you adopt the same approach be aware that the inner bearing is typically in worse condition.
    Basically if the outer bearing looks perfect then I consider they're ok. If not they come apart for a proper clean/inspection.
    Also, Re-greasing just for the sake of it increases the opportunity of introducing foreign matter unless you're going to do it properly with complete clean and new seal etc.

    The above is based on a mainly sealed-road-going van.
    If you're heading off road, a lot of dirt road or doing water crossings above axle height then you'll need more maintenance.

    Steve

Similar Threads

  1. Bearings
    By neddyo in forum THE HERCUS AREA
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 19th Feb 2014, 10:02 PM
  2. Where to buy Bearings
    By welder in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 5th May 2013, 11:43 AM
  3. Bearings
    By Anorak Bob in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 16th Feb 2011, 08:05 AM
  4. What Bearings?
    By zuffen in forum TRAILERS & OTHER FABRICATED STUFF
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 11th Apr 2010, 09:22 AM
  5. Worn bearings
    By ausdag in forum THE HERCUS AREA
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 29th Jan 2010, 10:28 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •