Check you trailer's wheel bearings. How to easily check & adjust them. Avoid huge problems

[@Mechanical_Mind]

To be able to remove tough bolts and lug nuts with ease take a look at these DeWalt impacts I use amzn.to/49NwEfk

[@SEM5388]

Castle nuts do not allow for precise lateral adjustment. Seat the hub on the axle by firmly tightening down the nut, then back off the nut completely. Finger-tighten the nut. Make sure that the hub spins freely. If the nut is not lining up with the cotter pin hole, you want to back off from finger-tight to expose the hole for the cotter pin. There are plenty of sources stating that a very small amount of play at the outside edge (tread) of the tire (perhaps 1/16 inch) is acceptable. Snugging the castle nut tighter with a wrench to expose the cotter pin hole may lead to cooked bearings. If you are really looking for a perfect tolerance you may need to use a thin washer under the castle nut to get it to line up perfectly with the cotter pin hole when it is just finger-tight.

[@Bsetzd]

Another lil trick. If the hole dose not line up. Its sum what time consuming but it works. Get sum sand paper . Take the nut off the spindle an hand sand it down on the back side a lil at a time. An re try getting the hole to line up were its just finger tight. I had to do this on a brand new trailer. One side was running hotter then the outher side. Problem fixed. It was to tight from the factory.

[@thangknowa3288]

A few years ago, I bought a used boat and trailer from an older man. He had it serviced regularly by a dealer. All seemed well, no problems. One day I jacked up the trailer and spun the wheels. One wheel had a small rumble while spinning, I broke it down and found one roller in a bearing had broke in half, and was just tumbling around in there. I installed new hub kits, all is great now, and I have a reference base line. No substitute for a good in depth inspection.

[@donaldp9259]

We pull a 22" dual-axle, 4000 lb. camper back and forth between Florida and Michigan and Iowa twice a year. I carry an infrared temperature sensor gun. At every stop for fuel, I go around and check the tire and hub temperatures. If I have a problem with a tire or bearing, I'll spot it. It takes me less than 1 minute to check all of the trailer tires, hubs, and car tires. I also change the trailer bearing grease, via the EZ lube fittings, once a year with high quality, high temp grease....whether it needs it or not. I just figure the cost of the grease is a really inexpensive way to avoid an expensive problem on the road.

[@slipperyjohnson7016]

Always use a new cotter pin and if the nut is covering the hole always tighten a little to reveal the hole, never loosen.

[@snort455]

great info. I dont want to break down. I always prefer routine maintenance.

[@darwindropmazda]

Perfect timing for this video!

[@Marksmith2-qu6tl]

My trailer tyre wobbled bring home lost 2 nuts and broke one bolt .lucky to get home .put a new bolt in .regreasesd old grease .not much left of old grease left .regressed bearing . All good as new now

[@D2O2]

The only way to achieve consistent results is to measure axial play via a dial indicator. Timken suggests 1 to 5 thou end play. The difference between castellations on a 1" -14 axle nut is 0.0119" which makes achieving the 1-5 thou very difficult. You are either too tight or too loose. I did an experiment with several techs that go by feel and nearly everyone of them ended up well over 5 thou. I have used axle nuts with 12 notches to provide better resolution. Other methods I have used is arbor shims to dial in endplay to within range. Either way, if you are not measuring, you are guessing.

[@kennethlevan9370]

Please tell us about those needle nose pliers.

[@Mechanical_Mind]

shop.snapon.com/product/Combination-(Pliers)/7%22-Talon-Grip%26trade%3B-Long-Nose-Slip-Joint-Pliers-(Red)/LN46ACF

[@7Westwood]

They Are Snap-On. LN46ACF pliers

[@VANC3R]

About to do mine! Thanks for sharing! Is it good idea to put grease in before putting cap back on? Cheers

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Thanks! It will not hurt to add some grease before putting the cap back on. I like using "Bearing Buddy" end caps so grease can be added easily in the future

[@VANC3R]

Thanks for the response. 🤟🏽👍

[@challeis1]

Curious my caravan wheels never spins that easy, is that normal?

[@beauholstein8918]

As a mechanic, you want them tight enough that they don't do a full revolution spinning by hand when fitting new!

[@fortnitetrolling1015]

Why would a rubber cap fall off while driving? This just happened to me on a peterbuilt. Never seen it happen in my 4 yrs driving semi

[@Markomyt1]

I have often wondered that... I think road debris flips up once in a while knocking off those caps.

[@fortnitetrolling1015]

@@Markomyt1 strange...

[@jimfeagins9424]

That bearing looked like it could have used a little more grease as well as the tightening you gave it.

[@Mechanical_Mind]

You're probably right. The customer claimed he had just had the bearings repacked. While removing the tire to do the welding work I figured I'd check the bearings for being loose. All four were too loose

[@jimjam002also]

Good video

[@Pete.Ty1]

👍👍👍. Thank you

[@austingipsysite]

Don't reuse cotter pins.

[@joeburton3623]

If i found the nut that loose,i would definitely change the bearing

[@Mechanical_Mind]

That's exactly why I tighten them up for him and made this video. I had jacked the trailer up to do some welding and happen to notice the bearings loose. The customer told me that he had just had them replaced at another shop.