What is an average $$ to pay for a bearing repack?

[Mark N.]

First, does anyone do it themselves (I'm sure some of you do) and is it tough at all or pretty easy to accomplish?
The Monty is nearly a year old now, with about 3K miles on it. I know that is low mileage for a bearing job, but I kinda hate to let it sit through another winter. I suppose the wet bolts should be done too? Thoughts?

[twindman]

I think my dealer charges $150 or so, but I may be way off.

[Art-n-Marge]

In southern California, I've been quoted between $40 and $50 per wheel depending on if other things are being done. I have learned to do the work myself and was fortunate enough to help someone who explained what to watch out for. Make sure you have plenty of grease on hand and good tools. I am getting read close in age to pay some young whippersnapper to do it, but I also use the grease job to inspect and adjust the brakes, too. Warning - take heed on NOT breathing in brake dust (I wear a dust mask and goggles) and have plenty of towels for cleanup; it can be quite messy.

[1retired06]

I do it myself. $8.00 for the grease, $25.00 for the wheel seals. Wife pays for the beer when I am done.

[grayghost03]

quote:Originally posted by 1retired06

I do it myself. $8.00 for the grease, $25.00 for the wheel seals. Wife pays for the beer when I am done.

X2, but we may drink different beer, then again, maybe not.

[boat391]

It is a very easy thing to do. And much cheaper to do your self you tube has videos on how to do this but once you have done it you will be doing it every year I like looking things over myself and have caught a few things before they got to be a big deal. If you decide to go for it just PM me and I'll walk you through it step by step over the phone. Good luck and don't be afraid to try we are here to help you.

[rohrmann]

I've been able to get the correct seals for $4/seal, but even more for seals is still way cheaper than failed bearings. There must be someone you know that is old enough to have handpacked wheel bearings that could get you started. Also, even though we are supposedly not to lift the trailer with the hydraulics, that is what I do, just stay out from underneath.

[nosticks]

Harbor Freight has a really slick bearing packer. I bought one. Even the mobile RV repair guys use them.
http://www.harborfreight.com/bearing...ker-69027.html

[JandC]

MOC member recumbent described to me how he does his in a couple of PM's. Maybe he will be along and post it here. I haven't done mine yet but plan on it before the end of October. I assume you have the 6-point level up system on your unit which will make the job easy the way recumbent does it.

[dieselguy]

Even if you don't have the level up option, it's no big deal to put a jack under the axle between the UBolts to lift the tire off the ground. As I revealed in a previous post, on my 3150RL, using a load cell on top of the jack, I'm only lifting about 2360# to get the tire off the ground about an inch. That dispells the myth that you are lifting tens of thousands of pounds by jacking under an axle. Just use a jack stand or some blocking for a safety backup. The rest of the procedure is straight forward and easy though a bit messy. You can view many videos on YouTube posted by bunches of people on the specifics. $20 in seals ... $5 in grease ... pride in doing your own thing ... spare money you don't have to give to some service center.

[brooksider]

I do it myself when time permits, but there is one dealer near here that for 115.00 they repack and do a inspection which is required every 2nd year. Just the inspection is 25.00. When I do repack I change the seals and use a bearing packer. Messy but does a good job at pushing out the old grease.
Joe

[1retired06]

quote:Originally posted by dieselguy

Even if you don't have the level up option, it's no big deal to put a jack under the axle between the UBolts to lift the tire off the ground. As I revealed in a previous post, on my 3150RL, using a load cell on top of the jack, I'm only lifting about 2360# to get the tire off the ground about an inch. That dispells the myth that you are lifting tens of thousands of pounds by jacking under an axle. Just use a jack stand or some blocking for a safety backup. The rest of the procedure is straight forward and easy though a bit messy. You can view many videos on YouTube posted by bunches of people on the specifics. $20 in seals ... $5 in grease ... pride in doing your own thing ... spare money you don't have to give to some service center.

Plus you know it was done correctly

[fljl]

Does no body have the Dexter EZ lube bearings? That sounds like a very easy no mess way to get new grease into both bearings. We have dozens of bearings on the farm and the hub greases between the bearings till the grease comes out. Never had a bearing fail. If it's full of grease and proper play in bearing, what is accomplished by a repack? Do you do vehicle bearings also?
We have a 1998 5th wheel, did outer bearings once, repacked then. Had a single bearing failure but NOT due to grease. Brakes work fine never adjusted yet.

[dieselguy]

2 or 3 here on the MOC have admitted great success with the so defined EZ Lube ... I as well as others just can't get the cadence of standing on one leg, whistling Dixie, beating a tambourine, and correctly pumping a grease gun all at the same time to make the design work right. I grew up on a farm and knew all about keeping things greased ... you can't fairly compare maintenance on a fiver bearing at 65 mph and a tractor bearing at 18 mph. Yes ... some of us do clean and repack our vehicle bearings although many newer vehicles are going the way of sealed bearing assys. The whole deal of cleaning and repacking is overall inspection of things whether it be bearings, brakes components, or wheel seals. You can't see pitted or blued rollers, brake parts in need of replacing, or grease that passed by the rear seal by just pumping on a grease gun handle.

[dfb]

Had all 4 done at les Schwann for 50.00.

[1retired06]

Originally Posted by dfb

Had all 4 done at les Schwann for 50.00.

Commercial company cannot do a bearing repack, brake inspection, seals, and cleanup of each hub on two axles for $50 and stay in business.

[dfb]

Did in Carson city..

[1retired06]

Originally Posted by dfb

Did in Carson city..

Didn't say you didn't. Just said they lost money at that price. Good deal for you.

[WeBeFulltime]

Originally Posted by 1retired06

Didn't say you didn't. Just said they lost money at that price. Good deal for you.

IF they REALLY did it!

[jlb27537]

My trailer repair place is $35 a wheel plus grease and seal. About $200 for 4 wheels and they grease all the wet bolts.

Those of you/us that remember when we had RWD vehicles we packed the front wheel bearings when we did a front brake job. Usually around 30-40K miles.

On today's Dexter axles, I had mine re-packed at 2 years old and figure they are good for 30-40K miles. The trailer shop that did mine does a lot of commercial trailers and said most go 50-70K miles between re-packing.