How to Replace the Bearings of Trailer Wheels? An Expert's Guide

Oh what a prized thing that boat trailer is! To all adventurers who like spending time in seas, lakes and rivers, the boat trailer is an ideal thing to own. However, these vehicles need care much like what your car or motorbike demands. In order to ensure that the trailer is perfect and safe to operate you need having a look at its wheel bearings, from time to time. If you find the bearings turning noisy or the hub not being able to function properly, its time you get them replaced. Replacing the wheel bearings isn’t as complicated as it may initially appear. Here take a look at some of these easy steps

Removing the Wheel

This is the first essential step for removing the old bearings and getting them replaced. Loosen up the wheel nuts to a certain extent till the tension is put off. Now jack up the trailer a bit off ground to take off the wheel. It’s time to remove the wheel nuts along with the wheel.

Take Off the Hub Assembly

Take off the following for removing the assembly of the hub:

• Dust cap
• Cotter pin
• Adjusting nut
• Spindle washer

Now, pull the hub slightly towards you.

Remove All Older Bearings

For this you will need to take off inner bearings and the seal with the help of a hammer and a punch. Clean up the hub assembly while removing all the grease as well as gunk.

Take a Look at the Spindle

Now, inspect the spindle and look for damaged thread, scoring or any signs of wear. Apply a thin coating of grease onto the spindle for the installation process to work better.

Take a Look at the Hub or Bearing Races

Have a look at the trailer’s hub bore as well as the cup so that you can find out scratches or cuts with the boat trailer wheels in Sydney. Remove them if you come across any. Now, check out the bearing races to find out if there is any damage or wear caused to the bearings. Get the bearing races replaced immediately. Again, inspect the wheel hub for any kind of damage and then clean it up and get it inserted with fresh new bearings.

Preparing the Fresh Set of Bearings

Take off the bearings from package and coat them up with grease. Remember to use grease which is specific for wheel bearing. Coat the bearings generously with grease and find out that the substance reaches in between rollers. After you have greased up the bearings make sure you have greased the hub as well.

Installing Bearings

The next most vital process is to install the inner bearings inside the hub while ensuring that the seal is directed at the right point. Now install outer bearings.

Reinstalling the Hub

Take the hub in your hands and slide it gently onto a spindle by not damaging the seal of the latter. Install spindle washer by adjusting the nut.

Adjust Bearing

Apply some preload to the trailer wheel bearings in Sydney, right before you adjust them by tightening them up. Use the wrench for a final adjustment. As the hub gets slightly bounded it means the parts have been properly set. Now you can back off a nut and then lock it in place by means of cotter pin.

Installing the Bearing Buddy

Put the dust cap on the hub and continue to tap around its outer edge through a criss-cross mechanism until it fits around the hub shoulder. For final adjustments use a wrench.

Reinstalling the Wheels

After you reinstall the wheels, rock them up a bit to understand if they will be able to move perfectly. Adjust the nut if it’s too loose or tight.

Now, your boat trailer is ready for towing.