Trailer Bearing Problems
#1
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Thread Starter
Trailer Bearing Problems
I have pretty standard 3500# axle on my boat trailer. I replaced bearings, races and seals about a month ago. I hand packed the bearings and then pumped the Ultralube spindles full of Lucas Red'N'Tacky. Every other time I launch I pump the zerks. It seems like that most of the grease just blows by the seal. In any case I pulled one wheel today and there is water in the hub and the inner bearing is burnished. Am I missing something? These bearings have to be really good because the boat is going 550 miles to Lake Powell in 2 weeks. Thanks for any advice.
PS. Can I get away with replacing just the inner bearing and not its race?
PS. Can I get away with replacing just the inner bearing and not its race?
#2
If you overgrease you blow the seal, which allows water to get in, which causes the grease to lose its effectiveness. For the record, I always used Quicksilver (Mercury) 2-4-C Marine Lubricant on my Bearing Buddies. Never had to repack or replace the bearings and I owned that boat & trailer for more than 20 years.
The bearing and race have to be replaced in pairs. Usually the seal is replaced at the same time.
The bearing and race have to be replaced in pairs. Usually the seal is replaced at the same time.
#3
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Thanks Rick
I am wondering if the problem is the Ultralube spindles. On those the grease travels down the center bore of the spindle and exits between the seal and inner bearing and theoretically comes back thru both bearings. I think in reality, there is less resistance to blow the seal rather than the grease traveling thru the bearings. Maybe the old Bearing Buddies that just force it thru the outer and inner bearings are better. Any thoughts?
#4
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Texas
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I just put a new axle equipped w/ ultra lube spindles on my small boat tlr and they sent the wrong seals which would not contact the seal race on the spindle. Luckily I spotted this before pumping grease thru them.You should check to see if this is the case w/ yours. An ultra lube spindle shouldn't push grease past the seal since there is an open path, so to speak, thru the brgs.
Mike
Mike
#5
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Thread Starter
I have the correct seals. I also went thru some wrong ones and the NAPA guy actually calipered these to double check. I also know that I blew grease past the seal before any came back thru the outer bearing. That is why I was guessing that there is more resistance to forcing grease thru the bearings than blowing the seal. My pals with Bearing Buddies are not having these problems and I was thinking of putting them on my Ultralube spindles. I like that spring load feature of the BB's.