Be honest , do you maintain your bearings every year

[Leon]

Before you pull the hubs apart with it jacked up you should be able to spin the wheel as well check for 0 tolerance(no play side to side) If there is pitting or flaking of metal in the bearing you can tell by spinning the wheel hub no roughness or hum and if the wheel is smooth and 0 tolerance then there is no need to dismantle

[ARoamer]

Actually you should feel a very slight wiggle when weight is off wheels, tapered roller bearings need a slight bit of looseness, running them too tight may shorten their life. Also, with electric brakes the shoes slightly drag making it hard to tell if everything is fine just by spinning the wheel.

[Leon]

0 tolerance

[JFlightRisk]

When installed and adjusted according to spec, there will be between .00075 and .0010 in. clearance roller to cone. The short version to a very complicated set of formulas pertaining to the bearing type and usage, and at what ambient and working temperatures.

The Dexter bearing replacement and adjustment manual is available online.

[Jetsjoe]

How much does your Mechanic charge for that service?

[Route 66 Traveler]

Before I took off the hubs I checked for free-play and there was none in three of them, and the 4th had just a very little. I installed the axle nut according to the Dexter Manual on their website.

"Using a torque wrench the nut is torqued to 50 foot pounds. Back off the nut 1 full turn and re-torque to 10 foot pounds, all while rotating the hub. Then back the nut off 1/4 turn and install the cotter pin or retaining clip."

I followed that procedure exactly and I can not feel any free play. The wheel spins freely with just a slight dragging from the new brake shoes. Good to go for another 20,000 miles or so....

[Edutron]

All I do is drain the gear oil and refill with new (wet bearings w/disk brakes)

[jtw]

Originally Posted by Edutron

All I do is drain the gear oil and refill with new (wet bearings w/disk brakes)

Is the gear oil standard with the disc brakes? What brand are you running

To answer original post question I hand pack my bearings and replace seals every other year. Every time I stop for fuel I put the back of my hand on my wheels checking for excessive heat

[RogerR]

I used to check with my hand but got a little temp gun with laser site. Also check my tire temps even though I have an pressure/temp sensor on the wheels. More accurate and keeps my hands cleaner.

[jtw]

Originally Posted by RogerR

I used to check with my hand but got a little temp gun with laser site. Also check my tire temps even though I have an pressure/temp sensor on the wheels. More accurate and keeps my hands cleaner.

Its a habit, I also look at tire temp/pressure when traveling, that is the big indicator if I have bearing/brake problems

[Edutron]

Valvoline SynPower SAE 75W-90 Full Synthetic Gear Oil (oil has nothing to do with the disc brakes). You can have drum brakes with wet bearings, but if you are going to convert might as well go disc as well.

[N Saban]

Originally Posted by spoon059

Not every single year, no. But I do bring my infrared temp gun on trips and will check hub temps several times a year. That gives me confidence that my bearings are greased and performing correctly.

What's a good hub temp? thanks

[jtw]

Originally Posted by N Saban

What's a good hub temp? thanks

Warm to the back of the hand, all 4 or 6 wheels should be consistent

[Jerry713]

Originally Posted by N Saban

What's a good hub temp? thanks

I believe mine run 115ish fahrenheit

[Leon]

I have 8000 pound axles which have a grease fitting behind a rubber cap .jack up axles feel rotation roughness .check for excessive play looseness give a shot of grease and done .Hubs do heat up some especially the brakes disc will get pretty hot which is normal a specific wheel has excessive heat or burning smell when driving then that would indicate it’s bad .I had an Airstream with 3 axles for 13 years never had to do the bearings just tires