Greasing Wheel Bearings?

[jaybird]

If I don't worry about greasing my pickup with 130k mile, why do I worry about greasing my 2014 Montana with roughly 15k miles before a big fall trip???

[Ram Montana High Country]

From my understanding - limited use might be more detrimental to wheel bearing grease life than constant use. For my piece of mind, spending $150 is well worth the expense. It's also a chance to get other eyes underneath to look for any issues. As mentioned in another post, with IS being installed one year ago should not be necessary. but that wasn't my guy doing it. True MorRyde does good work but ... my piece of mind. Just like other items we use - piece of mind. More than likely, you have a history with your 5er that has worked. Keep on Keeping on, Safe Travels.

[rohrmann]

Greasing the bearings is really a secondary function. The actual annual reason for pulling the drums is to inspect the brakes, and once the drum has been removed, the bearing repack and installation of a new seal is needed just because it’s accessible and prudent. Everyone makes a big deal about having to pack the bearings, but the brakes are the very important focus.

[ChuckS]

Hope you have at least been greasing the suspension on that truck. Most trucks since 2000 or so have nothing to grease on front wheel bearings. Different stresses

RV brakes need attention and cleaning and packing wheel bearings takes me an hour or so and doesn’t cost me $150.. more like $12 for seals and grease… don’t once a year as Dexter axle service manual states

[rohrmann]

I figure, $20 for the seals, whatever a can of the best grease costs, some red mechanic rags and maybe a can of brake cleaner spray, and easily a couple hours and the job is done, assuming the brakes are good.

[AZ Traveler]

Jay,

Your truck likely has sealed bearings that never need service.

[RMcNeal]

Like AZ Traveler said, most trucks, newer than the early 70's at least, have sealed bearings and do not need servicing.

[432bartman]

Definitely worth doing. Mine was a fairly new rig with only about 6000 miles on it. Pulling the hubs off revealed one blown seal with grease all over the brake drum. I wouldn't have caught it had I not. As for repacking the bearings, I replaced all the bearings, races and seals and did it my self. Yeah it's messy, but in the end it's peace of mind.

[RMcNeal]

Mine was 6 months old when I did the first bearing repack. Found that the right rear brake wire was twisted off inside the hub and the magnet was destroyed. Ended up replacing the whole assembly under warranty.

[Mikelff]

I have my breaks and bearings checked annually by my trailer service company. They did not feel I needed a bearing repack this year as the RV was not used much last year. They found the seals tight with no leaks and pretty clean grease in the bearings. As others have stated, brakes and bearings need to be checked at least annually. If you put a lot of miles on your rig, perhaps twice a year inspection may be needed. Previous inspection found breaks and bearings and seals in good condition. Just repacked them with fresh grease and back on the road.

[Bob and Jeannette]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

Hope you have at least been greasing the suspension on that truck. Most trucks since 2000 or so have nothing to grease on front wheel bearings. Different stresses

RV brakes need attention and cleaning and packing wheel bearings takes me an hour or so and doesn’t cost me $150.. more like $12 for seals and grease… don’t once a year as Dexter axle service manual states

My 2017 Ram has a single grease point on the axle coupling that uses a needle, times sure have changed.

[beeje]

There have been so many discussions on this topic you could read forever.
The way I see it the folks that regras there wheel bearings every year are just wasting time and money unless of course you're pulling your camper 20,000 miles a year.
If you're old enough to remember back in the day when you had to pull the Hub / rotor off to turn them you would repack the bearings at that time along with installing new brake pads. But my recollection tells me that was every 30 to 40,000 miles

[laverdur]

Many years ago we repacked the front wheel bearings on our cars every 12,000 miles or so. Trailer wheel bearings are similar but, for me, the biggest reason to take each wheel apart is to inspect the brakes. More times than I care to count, the brake shoes have been saturated with grease due to a failed grease seal. Grease saturated brake shoes don't work very well. Another reason to get under the rig every year is to inspect everything you can see. In spite of annual/12,000 mile maintenance, last year I found a broken brake wire on one wheel on each axle. My philosophy - an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[4MONKEYS]

Thank you

[Jritz]

A lot of good advise from above. I didn’t repack my bearing until 25,000, I only use the grace fittings on the outside of the wheel. I took the drums off and what a mess I had. The cheap $12 seal they used from the factor leaked and I had grease all over the inside of the drums and brakes. Essentially I had no braking from the trailer. That was on the leafy side. The right side didn’t have grease on them but when I took the drum off one of them the brakes just fell out onto the ground!! Thank the Lord nothing happened!! I bought $45 wheel seals and will definitely be pulling my brakes every 10,000 miles or 6months whichever comes first.

[beeje]

Another vote for disc brakes like I have on my unit. I don't have to remove anything to check pad wear or if Greece is getting by the seals. Plus the stopping power is night and day difference from drum to disc.

[Bob and Jeannette]

Originally Posted by beeje

Another vote for disc brakes like I have on my unit. I don't have to remove anything to check pad wear or if Greece is getting by the seals. Plus the stopping power is night and day difference from drum to disc.

I’m with you!

[Jritz]

What did that cost you to change it over to disc brakes? I have to buy all new backing plate and brakes that cost $104 a unit. I was in a hurry to get it back on the road so that was my best option at the time, but when I do it again I would like to change it over. I have a2020 3855br. Got it 9/19.

[beeje]

If you do it yourself around 1500 if you have them installed by someone upwards of 3,000.
Previous owner of my unit had them installed so it didn't cost me anything

[captl27]

Greasing wheel bearing is one thing and checking brakes is very important but greasing the spring bushings is also something that should be a priority while under the trailer. I have heard more stories of spring bushing bolt breaking after wearing thin.