Pumping grease into the hub to service bearings is like brushing your teeth with your mouth closed. If you scrub away at your lips long enough, a little toothpaste is bound to squeeze in, but it does nothing to rid your teeth of the stuff you need to get rid of. The only proper way is to pull the bearings, clean out the…
Replacing the bearings is a bit more involved than squeezing grease into the bearings. The process includes removal of the hub, the same process you would use if you hand pack the bearings. This is the time when you should also service the brakes since you will have them entirely exposed when you do this service. Have lots…
= 1 = I'd do a bearing service if it was my 'new to me' trailer. Then you know the status. = 2 = No on using an' auto shop'. Find a general trailer repair shop, one that does fishing boat trailer service for example. That said; it is an easy DIY project. Just a little messy wiping up the old grease.
@N7SHG_Ham has it right...if you are replacing one do both. The parts cost is minimal and the relative effort is also. If the bearings are running smoothly, if the grease looks good, if there are no signs of failure, sure, clean and repack. But don't try to make a bearing last forever. They will fail. If you have never…
@qhumberd...welcome to the forum. Congratulations on the new rig! There are a few ways you can play this. Are you a risk taker? If yes, pump some grease into the Alemite fittings and haul it home. Stop a few times and check the hubs and wheels to see if they are heating up. A hot bearing will announce it's presence…
It is more than the grease as to why an annual or 12k interval for an actual pull about and look see. Seals, brakes and so on can be inspected, the brakes adjusted and the bearing pre load adjusted. IMO, careful and regular hub assembly maintenance as recommend by Dexter will go a long ways toward not leaving you with a…