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10-27-2018, 02:31 PM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,283
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat
Auto wheel bearings are sealed. RV trailers bearings are not. HUGE difference.
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For over 100 years auto wheel bearings have not been sealed. It depends on car/truck mfr and model.
In recent years trailer axles have been introduced with sealed bearings.
Blanket statements-------
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10-27-2018, 02:43 PM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,519
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TitanMike
For over 100 years auto wheel bearings have not been sealed. It depends on car/truck mfr and model.
In recent years trailer axles have been introduced with sealed bearings.
Blanket statements-------
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Then I guess we disagree on what sealed bearings are. Auto manufacturers have only used sealed non-serviceable wheel bearings for the last 25 years, most rear wheel drive vehicles since the 90s.
I have yet to see any RV trailers with sealed non-serviceable wheel bearings. So if they are out there, it's pretty rare.
__________________
Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
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10-27-2018, 05:34 PM
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#23
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Who Dares, Wins
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Chester County, PA
Posts: 7,063
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I have never heard of them stock, but I've heard if them for aftermarket.
__________________
Pat, Jen, Heather & Sapphire, the head mouser.
2015 Chevy HD D-Max
2022 Impression 315MB
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10-27-2018, 05:51 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,283
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doc73
I have never heard of them stock, but I've heard if them for aftermarket.
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Eventually you will. Dexter now has Never Lube Hub's available for retrofit.
FWIW, who ever heard of EZ-Lube as OE equipment in years past.
Dexter actually publishes that there is no service interval for their sealed Never Lube axle bearings. Just like auto bearings, no noise, slop, or roughness, when checked (usually with tire/brake service) and they're good to go.
Last car I traded in had sealed bearings on the front (FWD) and 146k on the spedo. Never had to do a thing to the front bearings. For that matter the rear bearings were standard cone/roller/cup bearings and they got serviced about every 40-50K. Still original when I traded it.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change )
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10-27-2018, 08:11 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 266
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The huge difference is MODERN autos use bearing ASSEMBLIES that are sealed. Prior to the switch to front wheel drive, cars typjcally had cup and cone front wheel bearings that are exactly like our trailer bearings.
And no, drum brakes are not known for overheating grease. When cars were switching to disc brakes in the early 70s the grease manufacturers had to develop higher temp grease appropriate for disc brakes.
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10-27-2018, 08:32 PM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,011
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Back in th 70s Sears had a special that they ran time to time. They would repack the front wheel bearings in your car fr $.88. It was to get you in the door to sell brake jobs! Jay
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10-27-2018, 11:13 PM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat
Auto wheel bearings are sealed. RV trailers bearings are not. HUGE difference.
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Yes.... totally agree. There hasn't been a vehicle that you have to pack bearing s in over a decade or two.
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10-27-2018, 11:13 PM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat
Then I guess we disagree on what sealed bearings are. Auto manufacturers have only used sealed non-serviceable wheel bearings for the last 25 years, most rear wheel drive vehicles since the 90s.
I have yet to see any RV trailers with sealed non-serviceable wheel bearings. So if they are out there, it's pretty rare.
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Just the Dexter Vault bearings.
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10-28-2018, 12:25 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: 8300 Feet - Rocky Mountains
Posts: 2,442
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat
Auto wheel bearings are sealed. RV trailers bearings are not. HUGE difference.
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Perhaps so. Meanwhile, I had to repack wheel bearings on all older cars equipped with drum brakes often. Heat is the enemy of grease in bearings. As with RVs, I had to regularly repack the wheel bearings on everything I owned, beginning with a 55 Pontiac and a 49 Ford pickup...until I finally could afford a car with front disc brakes.
If you are saying that seals on auto wheel bearings prevent grease from leaving (and grit from penetrating) the bearings when they heat up, so be it. But a primary issue with drum brakes is heat, and heat transfer to the bearings and hubs from easily-overheated drums is a much bigger problem than with disc brakes. Failure to seal the bearings just exacerbates the problem.
One might question why the bearings aren't sealed.
__________________
Jim & Renee
2020 Jayco Jay Feather X-213
previously 2014 Forest River/Rockwood HW 277
2006 Ram 1500 4WD Crew with Firestone Airbags
Every weekend boondocking in the National Forests or at Lake Vallecito.
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10-28-2018, 12:38 PM
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#30
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
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These threads often get riddled with misinformation and this one is no different.
I wish the best of luck to those trying to learn with such absurd notions being thrown rampantly.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=86
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10-28-2018, 12:43 PM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: 8300 Feet - Rocky Mountains
Posts: 2,442
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__________________
Jim & Renee
2020 Jayco Jay Feather X-213
previously 2014 Forest River/Rockwood HW 277
2006 Ram 1500 4WD Crew with Firestone Airbags
Every weekend boondocking in the National Forests or at Lake Vallecito.
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10-28-2018, 12:44 PM
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#32
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 4,041
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 5picker
These threads often get riddled with misinformation and this one is no different.
I wish the best of luck to those trying to learn with such absurd notions being thrown rampantly.
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X2
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10-28-2018, 03:40 PM
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#33
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,518
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Agree.... how a thread on RV trailer brakes and bearings winds up about old cars is beyond me.
I urge all new RVers to have their trailer bearings and brakes checked early when new. Within the 1st year or few thousand miles.
After you know they are properly greased and the brakes look good and wires are out of trouble- you can go a couple years or more, maybe much more depending on how far you go in a year.
Happy Trails!
__________________
Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
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10-28-2018, 04:20 PM
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#34
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Denver To Yuma In 90 Days
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 3,882
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KyDan
I urge all new RVers to have their trailer bearings and brakes checked early when new. Within the 1st year or few thousand miles.
After you know they are properly greased and the brakes look good and wires are out of trouble- you can go a couple years or more, maybe much more depending on how far you go in a year.
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However, one thing to keep in mind.
Many RV extended warranties REQUIRE a yearly wheel bearing repack, whether it needs it or not, in order to cover any kind of wheel bearing issues, even if you only drove it 10 miles to your side yard and parked if for two years, then towed it down the road one mile and have a wheel bearing burnout.
Read the fine print...
I found out the hard way.
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10-28-2018, 08:18 PM
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#35
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Ontario, California
Posts: 2,146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat
I repack mine myself every year. I replace the seals and use Lucas Red-N-Tacky.
Grease is cheap and my time is free. Annual repacking of bearings gives me peace of mind.
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Ditto RednTacky and for peace of mind, I DO MOST THINGS MYSELF.
And when I don't do it myself, like mounting, repairing and balancing Tires, I stand there and watch live a hawk. More than once, I've stopped tire guys from lifting with the jack on the axle tube a foot in board from the wheel. I prefer a block of wood under the spring and u bolts.
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10-28-2018, 08:30 PM
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#36
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Ontario, California
Posts: 2,146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Herk7769
FR does NOT pack them! The axles come to FR with the drums already mounted on the axles from the manufacturer.
FR just mounts them to the frame and hangs the wheels.
The axle manufacturers DO make mistakes too. Don't ask how I know.
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I got a good tour of Our FR factory in Rialto CA where our TH was built and it looks like frame and axles come in all prebuilt from Lippert with Lippert axles (although they look to be part by part interchangeable with Dexter). Looks like our Forrest River assembly plant is pretty much just assembling parts from the parent company
My point, God only knows how long those axles laid in the weather before your trailer was built on them and no one knows how well they were packed during assembly.
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10-29-2018, 06:57 AM
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#37
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith3679
So what is typical interval on bearings? 10-12k miles? What is typical life expectancy on brake pads?
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Bearings are on an as needed basis. That said it is a good idea to check them by removing the brakes and hubs, clean the old grease out, repack the bearings and replace the rear seal at the same time.
When I was doing this on my current camper I found the inner race of the outer wheel bearing spinning in the hub. Had I not found this it could have been a DISASTER with the entire hub, wheel and tire coming off the spindle while towing it.
This would have then resulted int he remaining tire being grossly overloaded and blowing out in short order; leaving me stranded who knows where with no tires on one side of my camper.
All that said, once properly greased and new seal should last around 25000 like they did on all the cars on the road when I was younger.
Clean and repack more often if you desire but it is not necessary. It certainly does no harm though.
__________________
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
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11-01-2018, 07:24 PM
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#38
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Member
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 55
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A few things come to mind reading up to this point.
It is 100% impossible to over grease a wheel bearing, though using too much can end up contaminating brake linings.
A tapered roller bearing really isn’t all that different in function than a “sealed bearing”. Use good seals and quality grease on/in your hubs and a tapered bearing will outlast the rest of your trailer.
Don’t trust that the factory did the job right. A few months ago I was adjusting the bearings on the side of the freeway on my toyhauler because the factory didn’t do it right. Only about 1200 miles of use on it at the time.
If you get the hubs hot enough for all the grease to ooze out, your brakes are gonna be toast anyway, so yeah, you’re gonna need to repack them when you change the drums and shoes.
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11-01-2018, 08:27 PM
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#39
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Sedona, AZ
Posts: 29
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Correct seals and bearing parts
I may be missing something but is there an easy way to determine what the correct bearings and seals are before disassembly? The Dexter manual lists four different bearing sizes apparently depending on I guess, the width of the brake and two sizes for the seals!
__________________
Rockwood 2018 Mini lite 2304KS
Avalanche 2500
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11-01-2018, 08:43 PM
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#40
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 954
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Wheel Bearings and Brakes Maintenance
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nathan 18
...is there an easy way to determine what the correct bearings and seals are before disassembly?...
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Dexter stamps the Serial number on the axle about the middle. If you contact them with a SN the will give you the build list. Seals, bearings, race, brakes. Absolutely amazing service.
After that it’s on to etrailer to get the parts.
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2016 RAM 3500 DRW 4x4 LB LoneStar, w/RDS 33Gal Aux tank, Timbrens, Andersen Ultimate2, SwiftHitch SH04
2018 Chaparral 360IBL w/TST507 TPMS, Lippert GC3 Autolevel, Furrion Backup Cam, Progressive HW50C
2006 RAM 3500 DRW LoneStar Edition
2011 Starcraft 392BHUw/Andersen No-Sway
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