Right here’s the factor about caravan and trailer wheel bearings: not solely do nearly none of us ever give them a lot thought, most of us additionally don’t actually know what they’re even there for. Yeah, they permit the trailer’s wheel to show, however they’re additionally an important suspension element. As in, in the event that they fail or one comes aside, say goodbye to your wheel, and presumably your journey. Worst case is your whole caravan.
Fortunately, this doesn’t occur that always, and with just a little care, it received’t ever occur to you. However it’s good to know the best way to examine, keep and swap them out in the event that they do occur to want changing. They’re a wearable half, in spite of everything. With that in thoughts, we thought we’d take a little bit of a deep dive into your caravan and trailer wheel bearings and present you the best way to preserve them in high situation.
Maintain up, what does a wheel bearing even do?
Because the title suggests, a wheel bearing holds up the whole weight of your trailer whereas permitting the wheel and tyre to rotate round it. They’re fitted round an interior race on the ends of the axle (on stable axle suspension) or on the spindle of the stub-axles (on unbiased suspension), whereas the outer race is pressed into the hub of the wheel. They mostly have balls or rollers between the interior and outer races, which permit the wheel to show whereas offering help for the mass above the axle (aka the remainder of your van or camper). Often, there are two bearings per wheel – an interior and outer – which sit at both finish of the spindle.
Why do they fail?
Put merely, caravan and trailer wheel bearings crash and burn after they’re uncared for. Form of like something mechanical… or a teen. Off-road trailers that repeatedly see huge kays in dusty or muddy circumstances or trailers that get dragged by water crossings (or are used to launch boats) are significantly inclined to overseas matter stepping into the wheel bearings and flogging them out. Overloaded trailers can even place much more put on and tear on the bearings resulting in untimely failure. In a number of circumstances, bearings merely let go from a scarcity of upkeep over time. Particularly if the trailer doesn’t see common use. The grease loses its lubricity and cooling capability, friction will increase, the metallic elements turn out to be worn and pitted, and issues mainly simply disintegrate, leaving you excessive and dry.
The right way to examine the wheel bearings in your caravan or trailer
The bigger the journey, the deeper your inspection must be. However the fast and simple means is to jack up every wheel, seize the tyre at 12 and 6 and provides it a shake forwards and backwards. Somewhat little bit of play is okay, but when the highest or backside of the wheel strikes greater than a centimetre or so, then it’s time to take a better have a look at issues.
Pry the mud cap away to disclose the outer bearing. There must be loads of grease overlaying all surfaces contained in the hub and there’s no apparent dust or water harm. Give the wheel one other shake and see the place the motion is coming from. Hopefully, the retaining nut simply must be nipped up, particularly if the trailer wheel bearings are pretty new. If not, it’s time to order your self a substitute bearing package (we like those from Terrain Tamer) and get away the instruments. Alternatively, you would e-book your trailer in at your native specialist and get them to knock it over for you.
Zen and the artwork of bearing upkeep
Sustaining caravan or trailer wheel bearings is pretty fast and simple and must be performed every year or so. Perhaps twice a yr when you do a number of heavy towing or off-road driving. To do that, you’ll want a method of eradicating the wheel, a pry bar or screwdriver for the mud cap, pliers for the cotter pin and a socket for the retaining nut. Though to be trustworthy, it shouldn’t be too tight, so the pliers could properly get the job performed. You’ll additionally want a grease gun and, when you hate gunk beneath your nails, a bearing packing device. Though that is hardly a should.
The method includes whipping the wheel off, transferring brake drums or calipers out of the best way (if fitted), getting the mud cap off, eradicating the cotter pin, undoing the retaining nut (which shouldn’t be tight), eradicating the washer and outer bearing (once more, they need to be free), pulling the hub off (may want some mild persuasion with a rubber mallet, however nothing greater than that) and inspecting the spindle, hub seal and interior bearing for harm. Simply FYI, you’ll must take away the rear hub seal to achieve entry to the interior bearing.
Wipe all of the previous grease out with a rag and clear the trailer wheel bearings with brake cleaner. Now, when you’re reusing the previous bearings, pack them up with recent grease and throw it again collectively. In the event you’re altering the bearings out (which many people contemplate low cost insurance coverage), now’s the time to reassemble every little thing with the brand new stuff. As talked about, we just like the Terrain Tamer kits as they use real Koyo bearings, that are high quality and correct Japanese-made seals.
First step: packing the bearings with grease
There are two methods to do that, with a packing device or by hand. Neither is actually higher or worse than the opposite, however the bearing device makes it a barely much less messy affair. If doing it by hand, dump a couple of tablespoon of grease (we like marine grease, however any high-temp waterproof bearing grease will do) into your palm and use the bearing to scrape the grease beneath the entrance and rear edges in order that it fills the cavity the rollers/balls are in. When there’s grease popping out from behind the rollers, you’re good to go. Be aware that some spindles are greasable, the place you merely set up your bearings and fix the grease gun onto the zerk becoming on the top of the spindle. So, when you have one fitted, pleased days.
Second step: reassembly
Place the interior bearing within the hub and faucet the brand new seal into place with a hammer. Match the hub again onto your spindle and set up the outer bearing, washer and retaining nut. There are a bunch of various opinions on how tight to do the nut up, however the best way I used to be proven (by Terrain Tamer legend, Allan Grey) is to do the nut up tight sufficient that the hub simply begins to supply resistance to turning, then exchange the tyre and wheel. Give the trailer tyre a good kick or hit with a sledgehammer to seat the bearings, then again the nut off by 1 / 4 of a flip so the wheel can spin freely. Lastly, exchange any brake parts, the cotter pin and dirt cap. Congratulations, your trailer bearings are performed and dusted for the subsequent 12 months or so!
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