Hi all. My boat dealer quoted me $150 to repack bearings on my trailer. Seems
like an awful lot for some grease and a little time. How could I learn to do
this myself, not personally knowing anyone who does this?
I’m reasonable mechanically inclined. Though I’d need to know about common
mistakes to avoid.
My trailer is a newer Lund (Shorelander) with brakes. The brakes must make
things more complicated, as the dealer charges extra for those.
John
hey John, glad to see someone is wanting to start doing thing themselves. Thought our breed was dieing off. My only reccomendation would be that if possible you have someone actually show you the first time. The process can be “odd” to explain. If I were local I would be happy but Chipp is a bit of a hike from Blaine.
Maybe put out a request for assistance on IDO and buy some beers. Maybe a trip swap? Lesson for fishing trip?
On the plus side $150 aint too bad if it is actually a clean out and repack.
-Best luck, Mark
I don’t know of a how to guide but it’s easy. Disassemble, wash bearing with solvent and then warm water, dry, put new grease in palm, pack grease from wide side of taper up to skinny side with little dabs until grease pushes through top, rotate slightly and repeat all the way around the bearing. Put in new seals and when putting back together you can torque it to ? foot pounds or with a wrench till snug, rotate hub, loosen, rotate, tighten and rotate. In the end you want the hub to spin freely with no side to side play on the axle. Hope this helps and good luck. Buy good grease and don’t try to reuse the seals.
Little to far for me, but you may want to think about adding Bearing Buddies also, keeping the inside of the bearing housing full of grease helps keep water out.
Al
Here’s another option. Nothern Tool has prepacked hubs that are a cinch to replace, and about half that $150 price.
Couple of pretty good videos on youtube. just search repack trailer bearings.
I’m guess-en that $150 INCLUDES all new bearings,Cost might be less if you don’t need them. That job should only take an hour or so for 2 wheels. I don’t know of anybody charging $150 per hour. On a side note,if you have bearing buddy’s,they keep your bearings packed. the most you need to do is adjust them. and grease them with a grease gun as needed!
This part being of utmost importance….. or you’ll be buying spindles too….making the $150 a steal…. 
QUOTE>>>>>”when putting back together you can torque it to ? foot pounds or with a wrench till snug, rotate hub, loosen, rotate, tighten and rotate. In the end you want the hub to spin freely with no side to side play on the axle.”
big G 
Packing bearings is no big deal, The main thing to do is replace the wheel seals ,not a big problem,The wheel seal is in the inside of the hub,when you have cleaned and checked your bearings over,and packed,get new wheel seals,this protects from letting water in the hub.Bearing buddies are great but dont over fill with grease,because you will ruin the wheel seals.and they will leak. If you are in dought about the size of wheel seal,it has a number on it,take it to your local parts store and get some,cost is about $3.00 each. It is easy just take your time. When I run my filling station I charged $30.00 to do both sides with the seals,tool me about 1/2 hr.And buy the way,the best time to do this is in the fall when the water will not set in there all winter. Jerry
The other thing with bearing buddys is that when you refill after disassembly you have to take a pick and insert it between the axle and the seal to allow the trapped air to escape otherwise you don’t get grease to the rear bearing and about 3 miles down the road the bearing buddy will fly off. 
Quote:
And they will fly off, I’d hate to get one in my windshield. On the adjustment, 1/8″ slack at the tire tread. Always loose, tight will smoke a bearing no matter how you pack it.
Gents-
The secret to this game is having a “bearing puller” and then understanding how to get them to “seat” again once you get them repacked.
I have done this on the side of the road in Canada and always have a few extra in my truck – in the Spring. It is a life saver for a trip and have helped a few guys save their trips.
Dog
From my farming days I have a neat tool for packing bearings. It looks like 2 funnels sort of and has a threaded rod in the middle with a grease zerk on the end. Just unscrew one of the funnels, put your bearing in, center it and put the funnel back on. Use a grease gun and pump the bearing full. Take apart the funnel again and your bearing is all packed with little to no grease on your hands and the bearing is fully packed. You can get them at most auto part stores.
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Disassemble, wash bearing with solvent and then warm water, dry, ……
I would never in a million years use water to clean bearings! After the solvent, use brake-clean to get any residual solvent out of the bearing assembly.
-J.
Easiest and cleanest way i,ve ever seen to pack bearings is with a vacuum packer put plenty of grease on the top side of the bearings put in vaccuum bag and seal. It will force the grease into the bearing and if you do this with a spare set leave them sealed for a no mess air tight ready to install package.
Ajs
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