removal of inner bearings

gailwins · 10-06-2020, 02:04 PM

can i repack wheel bearings without removing the inner seal and inner bearings?

mainah · 10-06-2020, 05:22 PM

You can but you will not know the status of the bearings. Here is a hint wipe the bearings with a clean rag if there is even one flake of shiny metal the bearing is no good. Remove the outer bearing replace the nut pull the drum off the bearing and seal will be behind the nut.

gailwins · 10-07-2020, 07:41 AM

Thanks, Mainah! Sounds like a plan, will try it today. I was going to try and save the seals, but already damaged one, so I'll get new ones. Thanks for your help!

roger66ogden · 10-07-2020, 09:07 AM

If they are in good shape, clean them up well by removing all of the old grease and repack them. I know this can be a messy job but in the long run it will save you lots of money. Just don't allow the bearing to spin if you use compressed air to blow them dry. This can damage a bearing very quickly.

Roger

**JohnB** · 10-07-2020, 06:38 PM

Suggest you do not reuse the old seals. Yes, they cost a little money, but a leaking grease seal will let dirt in the bearing = bad news, and grease coming out of the bearing onto the brakes = bad news. Dealing with the damage to other parts makes buying new seals very cheap.

This Sunline brake picture post may help. I never made it to redoing here on our forum, yet. https://forums.trailerlife.com/index...d/17173784.cfm

Good luck and let us know if you need more

John

mainah · 10-08-2020, 07:27 AM

If you have never done this before they are some things you need to do. Clean the bearings like I said look for shiny bits of metal. If they come out clean there really is no need to wash them out the grease does not wear out but it works it's way out over time. One end of the bearing is larger than the other put a good wad of new grease in the heel of your hand and with the other hand force the grease into the larger end of the bearing until it will take no more. New seals put it back together tighten the nut snug but not both hands tight back the nut off until you can get the cotter pin back in. No one said this was a "clean" job. In my youth working on cars I'll bet I have done 10's of thousands every thing had tapered bearings from huge truck to VW's. I don't know what you have for a camper but the smaller the tire the faster the wheel/bearing turns so it's a good ideal to keep after your wheel bearings.