About 30 years ago, I grew tired of the annual boat trailer wheel bearing maintenance chore and decided to try something new. It has worked so well, I thought I would share the information with you guys in return for all the FREE help you have given me.
I removed the hubs, old bearings and races and thoroughly cleaned & dried the hubs. Next, I drilled a hole in each hub to receive a zerk grease fitting. The hole was drilled so it would exit BEHIND the inside bearing race, but in FRONT of the seal. A close look will indicate the hole must be drilled EXACTLY in the correct location and angled so it will exit behind the bearing race but in front of the seal.
I tapped the new holes, installed the zerk fittings and re-assembled the hubs onto the spindles using new bearings, races and seals. I used 90 degree (elbow) zerk fittings so they pointed forward or backward, depending on the position of the wheel. This allowed easy access to the fitting with a hand operated grease gun. You could use the straight zerk fittings, but the elbow type makes the fitting easier to reach and use.
Finally, I pumped wheel bearing grease into the hub until I saw grease COME ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE OUTSIDE WHEEL BEARING. Snap the dust cover back on and you're finished and ready for a full year's worth of worry free trailering.
One year later, after a full year of service, remove the dust cover, place a piece of cardboard under the hub opening for the old grease to slide on (keeps it off the rim and tire), and use paper, cardboard or a shoe box to catch the spent grease. With fresh grease loaded in the grease gun, pump in the new stuff until you see it come completely through the outside wheel bearing. It is easy to see the new grease because of the color differences. It always amazes me that the new grease shows up all the way around the hub at exactly the same moment. I originally feared the new grease might come through the wheel bearing at just one spot, but to my great pleasure, that never happens. It ALWAYS pushes all the old grease out all the way around the hub. I have never figured out the physics of how this happens, but it does!
Now, let's talk about grease. In 30 years of doing this, I have used all of it. Regular wheel bearing grease, high temp wheel bearing grease, water resistant wheel bearing grease, marine wheel bearing grease, etc. But, I can assure you there is no substitute for the very expensive, green water proof wheel bearing grease. I buy it at most any auto parts store for about $7.99 per cartridge. The others have caused bearings to show premature wear or failure long before 7 years have passed. When using the water proof grease, I have learned the bearings need to be removed and inspected every 7 years.
One final note. You might say "you must not be putting many miles on that trailer nor launching it very often. Over the years, I have trailered to Florida and eastern North Carolina multiple times in one year with no complaints. Some years, I launched three times a week, on average, during the fishing season, so the method is tried and true.
Try it. You'll like it. Not only because it works well, but because the annual wheel bearing service time is reduced to about 20 minutes.
If you have any questions, send me a PM.
I removed the hubs, old bearings and races and thoroughly cleaned & dried the hubs. Next, I drilled a hole in each hub to receive a zerk grease fitting. The hole was drilled so it would exit BEHIND the inside bearing race, but in FRONT of the seal. A close look will indicate the hole must be drilled EXACTLY in the correct location and angled so it will exit behind the bearing race but in front of the seal.
I tapped the new holes, installed the zerk fittings and re-assembled the hubs onto the spindles using new bearings, races and seals. I used 90 degree (elbow) zerk fittings so they pointed forward or backward, depending on the position of the wheel. This allowed easy access to the fitting with a hand operated grease gun. You could use the straight zerk fittings, but the elbow type makes the fitting easier to reach and use.
Finally, I pumped wheel bearing grease into the hub until I saw grease COME ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE OUTSIDE WHEEL BEARING. Snap the dust cover back on and you're finished and ready for a full year's worth of worry free trailering.
One year later, after a full year of service, remove the dust cover, place a piece of cardboard under the hub opening for the old grease to slide on (keeps it off the rim and tire), and use paper, cardboard or a shoe box to catch the spent grease. With fresh grease loaded in the grease gun, pump in the new stuff until you see it come completely through the outside wheel bearing. It is easy to see the new grease because of the color differences. It always amazes me that the new grease shows up all the way around the hub at exactly the same moment. I originally feared the new grease might come through the wheel bearing at just one spot, but to my great pleasure, that never happens. It ALWAYS pushes all the old grease out all the way around the hub. I have never figured out the physics of how this happens, but it does!
Now, let's talk about grease. In 30 years of doing this, I have used all of it. Regular wheel bearing grease, high temp wheel bearing grease, water resistant wheel bearing grease, marine wheel bearing grease, etc. But, I can assure you there is no substitute for the very expensive, green water proof wheel bearing grease. I buy it at most any auto parts store for about $7.99 per cartridge. The others have caused bearings to show premature wear or failure long before 7 years have passed. When using the water proof grease, I have learned the bearings need to be removed and inspected every 7 years.
One final note. You might say "you must not be putting many miles on that trailer nor launching it very often. Over the years, I have trailered to Florida and eastern North Carolina multiple times in one year with no complaints. Some years, I launched three times a week, on average, during the fishing season, so the method is tried and true.
Try it. You'll like it. Not only because it works well, but because the annual wheel bearing service time is reduced to about 20 minutes.
If you have any questions, send me a PM.