Bearings Failed

RWJSIM2003 · 07-08-2019, 06:30 AM

We had a bearing failure last week while traveling. Scary to look back and see smoke rolling out of the tires. Luckly stopped just in time before tire came off. Turns out shop that did repack last week over tightened all the wheels and we were very close to losing all the bearings. Took a breaker bar to get retaining nut loose on all axles. Had to replace all bearins and seals, two hubs, and two backer plates. Had to chain up axle and go twenty miles to nearest repair shop.

mhs4771 · 07-08-2019, 02:52 PM

In 20 years of TTs and 5ers, the only bearing failure I had was shortly after have bearing service done.

RWJSIM2003 · 07-08-2019, 06:35 PM

this was the first time for us also and it was right after service and repack. I took it to a new place and apparently they do not know how to repack and tighten correctly. It took a breaker bar to free the retaining nut on the rest of the axels. We could barely turn the wheels by hand. Lucky I did not lose more than the two or have an accident with wheels coming off. I have appointment with Manger today to go over this with them and hopefully get reimbursed for the repairs.

Ford truck guy · 07-08-2019, 07:55 PM

Good timing on this topic..

Is the rule still to tighten the nut to about 50# then backoff.. Once finger lose then tighten by fingers and place retaining clip back on..

Or am I missing a change or something..

mhs4771 · 07-08-2019, 09:50 PM

Joe, think that's correct. There has been a thread on the Montana Forum covering this same issue and your method seems to be the correct way.

XCMARK · 07-08-2019, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford truck guy

Good timing on this topic..

Is the rule still to tighten the nut to about 50# then backoff.. Once finger lose then tighten by fingers and place retaining clip back on..

Or am I missing a change or something..

loose will live for EVER , tight will not survive 1 hour of constant high way speeds. Sad , back 20 +years ago cars had repackable front bearing in the disk brakes . Today these part swapping kids only know how to put something new in...… gone is the days of a mechanic that can rebuild and repair .

I don't take it to 50Ft lb but maybe 25 then spin it and then back it off to finger tight .

RWJSIM2003 · 07-08-2019, 11:36 PM

That is the correct tightening method, Apparently that was not followed in this case. They are not correct. I guess the old adage if you want it right do it your self.

gearhead · 07-10-2019, 12:57 AM

I would add that when finished you should be able to move the nut and retainer a little bit.

atom ant · 07-11-2019, 04:35 PM

Think about if you really even need to do that repack. Tapered roller bearings on your car typically ran 40-50K miles before repack at the next brake job.

travelin' texans · 07-12-2019, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atom ant

Think about if you really even need to do that repack. Tapered roller bearings on your car typically ran 40-50K miles before repack at the next brake job.

You haven't been able to repack bearings on most vehicles in the last 20+ years, just replace the hub with sealed bearings already installed. Possibly some of the 4x4s it's still.

atom ant · 07-12-2019, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelin' texans

You haven't been able to repack bearings on most vehicles in the last 20+ years, just replace the hub with sealed bearings already installed. Possibly some of the 4x4s it's still.

I just have old cars

Given the trailer bearing technology is in line with what cars used to be 20+ years ago, my point is still valid. I think you would agree that when disk brakes became standard on cars where you could drop in pads without pulling the hub, many of the bearings never got pulled and repacked for the life of the car, before they were sealed packs.

Jim & Mary · 07-12-2019, 07:02 PM

Right on Brad. I've failed to understand the need to pack and repack the sealed wheel bearings on something that doesn't have the usage frequency of a car. When I had the IS installed on our Redwood, I had them replace the Chinese bearings with Timkens, so I don't see the reason to repack them every year.

Ford truck guy · 07-12-2019, 10:40 PM

Back in the day I used to repack the bearings in my 4X4's all the time... I was also surf fishing a ton while driving up and down the sand looking for " the spot"..

I started doing that after having a bearing seize up due to sand infiltration....

**piper guy** · 07-13-2019, 06:02 PM

The only bearing failure I've had was last year after having them all "serviced". The mobile truck and trailer tech that did the repair first comment was "idiots, the newer guys don't know how to preload and adjust. let's check the other three"

His comment was pretty much the same as Brad's. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

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