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Last Updated on August 23, 2024 by Paul Clayton
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How Much Does It Cost To Pack Wheel Bearings On A Trailer?
Understanding the cost of maintaining your trailer is an essential aspect of ownership. One of the critical maintenance tasks is packing the wheel bearings. But how much does it cost to fill wheel bearings on a trailer? This cost can vary depending on several factors.
- The average ranges from $150 to $300 per wheel.
- Labor costs dominate, ranging from $100 to $200.
- Labor includes wheel removal, cleaning, repacking, and reinstallation.
- Parts cost varies; cleaning may be $10 to $20.
- Worn bearings replacement can add substantial cost.
- New bearings cost $40 to $100 or more.
- Dual-axle trailer repacking may cost $400 to $800.
Before being able to find the cost to pack wheel bearings on a trailer, it is essential to know what precisely a wheel bearing is.
A wheel bearing can be described as a group of steel balls held together using a metal ring known as a race. These steel balls help the wheels spin faster while reducing friction. They re-utilized on various vehicles, from aircraft and bicycles to cars and RVs.
Unfortunately, the ball bearings become damaged and have to be replaced. A bright side is that wheel bearings do not immediately fail.
They usually provide you with a bit of time before they have to be replaced. A catastrophic failure, however, would cause a wheel to lock up, and that could stop the RV from moving.
Thankfully, just because one set of bearings fails on one side does not mean you have to replace the two sides of your RV. Wheel bearings are usually designed to last an extremely long time.
Replacing Wheel Bearings
Replacing even just one wheel bearing set is expensive due to the intensive labor required. There are quite a lot of parts that have to be removed before the wheel bearing can be accessed.
This is particularly true for front-wheel RVs. Some Class A RV owners have stated that replacing the bearings costs anything from $300 to $500. Depending on how much you use your trailer and how many miles you get on it, you can wait till about 20,000 miles before your wheel bearing has to be repacked.
That being said, packing your trailer’s wheel bearings can be arduous if you do not have a press.
This is because moving the bearings out and into the hub can be tight. Replacing the entire bearing and hub as a whole would be less labor-intensive. However, it would cost more to get parts.
Doing It Yourself
Choosing to repack your trailer’s wheel bearings by yourself can be a quick and seamless task. Doing it ahead of time can help avoid any chance of a breakdown, which could cause you to be stranded on the side of the road.
Most RV users have encountered scenes where trailers are stuck on the road’s edge with a wheel up. If you would like to avoid this, you should check your wheel bearings. Doing this can save you from paying a fortune on repairs
What you will need:
- Hammer
- Large adjustable wrench
- 2 Jack stands
- Jack
- Lug nut wrench
- needle nose pliers
- bearing grease
- Clean rags
- Flathead screwdriver
- brake cleaner
- penetrating fluid
- Kerosene
- small pan
Most trailer manufacturers recommend wheel bearing maintenance yearly or every 25,000 miles if the trailer gets average use.
You will need to loosen the selected wheel’s lug nuts and then raise the intended side using a jack.
The trailer should be supported using jack stands, and the wheel should be spun. If it turns quietly and freely, you can continue packing your wheel bearings.
You have a terrible spindle or bearing if you hear a growling-like sound or friction.
In this eventuality, you must take your trailer to a repair center where the bearings can be replaced.
- The first step to repacking your wheel bearings would be to remove the wheel via the lug nuts. It would be best if you used jack stands to support the trailer. You should also ensure that the wheel on the other side is blocked.
- The second step would be to remove the dust cap. This can be done by prying it loose using a large screwdriver.
- The next step is to remove the cotter pin. Both ends must be straightened and pulled out using the needle-nose pliers.
- The hub can then be removed. To do this, one has to remove the washer and retain the nut. Once this is done, the hub can be pulled from the spindle.
- One thing to note is that the wheel bearings will come alongside the hub. The bearings should be set on a clean newspaper.
- Remove the seal from the rear bearing. To remove the seal, you tap on the rim using a hammer and a piece of wood. If the seal appears rusted to the hub’s back cover, you can use a bit of WD40 to help remove the rusted seal.
- Should the seal be damaged, you will have to replace it. The bearings should be cleaned and all grease removed from them. The same should be done to the seal and races. Cleaning the grease is done by using a brush dipped in kerosene.
- Once the bearings are clean, they should be inspected for wear and tear. The parts and the bearings would have to be dried. Once dry, they should be sprayed with brake cleaner.
- The spindle, as well as the hub’s inside, should be wiped using a clean rag. Doing this helps to get rid of every bit of grease. The inside of the hub and the spindle should also be cleaned using brake cleaner.
- I am putting grease onto the bearings. The grease should be pushed into the bearings, moving from the large side. Ensure that the grease goes into the roller, filling the rollers and the cage.
- Once this is done, you should use grease to coat the hub’s inside. The seal should be tapped back onto the hub using the same hammer and woodblock. After this, you can use the bearings and the hub on the spindle.
- This is the final step, and it involves reassembling the hub. The nut should be threaded back to the spindle and spun clockwise. The hub should be turned a couple of times as it is tightened. This helps to ensure that the bearings are correctly seated. The nut should now be tightened firmly.
- Once the nut is tight, you should turn it counterclockwise until the hole in the spindle perfectly aligns with the space in the nut.
- Your new cotter pin should now be used, and the pin’s end should be bent away to ensure it does not come out. The dust cap should now be put in place.
- The lug threads should be coated using an anti-seize compound. Once done, the wheel should be reinstalled, and the lug nuts tightened. This process should be done for your other wheels.
How Tight Should Trailer Bearings Be?
The bearings should not be too tight as it can lead to premature wear and tear. On the other hand, if they are too loose, the wheels may wobble, leading to unsafe driving conditions.
The ideal tightness for trailer bearings is achieved when there is no play or movement in the wheel when you try to wiggle it back and forth.
However, the wheel should spin freely without much resistance. It is recommended to consult your trailer’s manufacturer guide or a professional mechanic for precise guidelines.
What Happens if You Don’t Repack Trailer Bearings?
Neglecting to repack trailer bearings can lead to severe consequences. If you’re wondering, “What happens if you don’t repack trailer bearings?” the answer is simple yet alarming.
Trailer bearings require regular lubrication to function efficiently. Without it, they may succumb to increased friction, potentially locking your wheels up.
This heightened friction wears down the bearings and dramatically elevates the risk of vehicular accidents.
Therefore, it’s imperative to regularly repack your trailer bearings with fresh grease, ensuring smooth, frictionless rotation and enhanced safety on the road.
Final Words
When considering the financial implications of maintaining a trailer, one crucial aspect is understanding “How Much It Cost To Pack Wheel Bearings On A Trailer.” This task is critical for the smooth operation and longevity of your trailer.
The average cost ranges from $150 to $300 per wheel. The central part of this expense is labor cost, which runs from $100 to $200. This labor cost includes the removal of the wheel, cleaning, repacking, and reinstalling the wheel.
The parts vary; cleaning can cost between $10 to $20. If the bearings are worn out and need replacement, this can significantly add to your bill. New bearings can cost anywhere between $40 to $100 or more.
If you own a dual-axle trailer, be prepared for a repacking cost ranging from $400 to $800. Therefore, regular maintenance and timely repacking of wheel bearings can help save money in the long run by avoiding costly replacements.
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