Trailer Wheel Bearing Issue

Mike Pearson · 07-13-2017, 09:03 PM

The axle is out of alignment and putting pressure on that bearing or the tire has a weird wear pattern putting pressure on the bearing.

voltdr · 07-13-2017, 11:07 PM

I would think if the axle was out of alignment it would happen on both sides of the axle not just one side.

Bobby DiDomenico · 07-16-2017, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voltdr

I would think if the axle was out of alignment it would happen on both sides of the axle not just one side.

Could the axle be bent slightly? Someone mentioned load distribution. With a few minutes at a truck scale could you get left/right and axle load numbers?

Rick Bailey · 07-16-2017, 09:19 PM

Being a retired UPS mechanic and seeing my fair share of trl bearings ....going to Timken is a great move.
Then get you a temp gun... and after an hour or so of towing pull over , in a safe area of course .... shoot the temp of all tire tread surface and side wall and then shoot the hubs ... record all info and then analyze .... This can tell you a lot about your load placement and maybe where to move the load around to equalize temps and weight on each tire.
you can also test with an empty trailer to see the big picture !

Hope this helps !

Rick

63corvette · 07-16-2017, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Bailey

Being a retired UPS mechanic and seeing my fair share of trl bearings ....going to Timken is a great move.
Then get you a temp gun... and after an hour or so of towing pull over , in a safe area of course .... shoot the temp of all tire tread surface and side wall and then shoot the hubs ... record all info and then analyze .... This can tell you a lot about your load placement and maybe where to move the load around to equalize temps and weight on each tire.
you can also test with an empty trailer to see the big picture !

Hope this helps !

Rick

I have a temp gun just never did shoot the bearings.
We stop every few hours of travel and I always just feel the tires and bearings caps with my hands. In the summer the tires are pretty hot to the touch but that was what I expected in the hot summer days running on the hot pavement.
When we go out next time I will have the temp gun in the cab with me and do just as you suggested.
It may be interesting when I look at the results as the high temps on our next trip should be close to 100 degrees in the afternoon.
This has to be one of the best places to ask questions as you get some very good suggestions and answers to issues with all the experience on the site.
Thanks to all.
Rick Cates

Rick Bailey · 07-17-2017, 10:32 AM

Rick, Hope this helps !

Party On !!!

63corvette · 07-20-2017, 04:32 PM

First update on the issue.
I have the front axle completely rebuilt. New hubs, new brakes, new Timken USA made bearings.
I relocated the storage in the attic so the weight would be in the center of the trailer.
One thing I noticed after rebuilding the axle I had the trailer up in the front about 2 inches to get some weight off the front axle when working on it. When putting up tools and all I noticed that the trailer was more stable when walking into and out of it with the front up just that 2 inches.
I visited the trailer sales place today and asked about that or if I was just reaching. The owner told me there if the front is up it should balance the load a little more to the back end of the trailer with a spring type triple axle.
I have always pulled the trailer with it very level on my driveway which is also very level.
The trailer sales owner suggested I try pulling it this next time with the 2 inches up in the front and see what happens. My next step on the hitch is 2 1/4 inches so that is what I am going to try.
I am also going to check the tire and bearing temps ever couple of hours while traveling next week on a 550 mile trip. I am hoping that the temps tell me something about the balance on the trailer.
I will be posting more updates as we take our trip.
Thanks again for everyone that posted suggestions.
All were thoughtful and I appreciate them.
Rick Cates

63corvette · 07-14-2017, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Pearson

The axle is out of alignment and putting pressure on that bearing or the tire has a weird wear pattern putting pressure on the bearing.

I have looked at the axle pretty close and can find nothing.
The tire has no unusual wear pattern and looks no different than the other tires.
I may try to move the tire to another axle or move it to the spare.
The tires are almost 3 years old and will be changed out over the winter.
I always balance the tires so that should not be an issue either.
I have checked and looked and I am still at a loss to figure it out.
Same bearing twice now, it just makes no sense to me.
The loading on the road side with the tool cabinet and a generator has been the only thing I had not considered.
The trailer does have about 1500 lbs in tongue weight so the front axle is probably loaded heavier than the other two.
I hope the China bearing change to the USA made makes the difference.
Thanks for every ones suggestions.
I appreciate the help.
Rick Cates

Rich Biebel · 07-14-2017, 03:36 PM

The tire would show some sort of abnormal wear if the axle was out of alignment. If the tire is wearing the tread fairly even and not featheredged across the tread it's good. Trailer loading definitely might be a factor. More weight on one wheel is possible....

The type and quality of grease made a huge difference for me years ago on a trailer I had. It was eating bearings and only had 3500lb axles on a 22' box trailer. It would routinely trash a bearing and I was not towing long distances. It got to the point that every trip I made to the track I jacked the trailer up with car unloaded to feel the bearings. I carried complete new sets with seals.

I started using synthetic waterproof grease and never had a failure again.
That was a fairly new product at the time and was far better than the usual stuff.

My present trailer has Nev-r-lube sealed bearing cartridges......I've replaced them once for no other reason than I felt better with new. I kept the old ones for spares......

Blown tires and burned up bearings on the road makes for a rough trip.....been there....

63corvette · 07-14-2017, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Biebel

The tire would show some sort of abnormal wear if the axle was out of alignment. If the tire is wearing the tread fairly even and not featheredged across the tread it's good. Trailer loading definitely might be a factor. More weight on one wheel is possible....

The type and quality of grease made a huge difference for me years ago on a trailer I had. It was eating bearings and only had 3500lb axles on a 22' box trailer. It would routinely trash a bearing and I was not towing long distances. It got to the point that every trip I made to the track I jacked the trailer up with car unloaded to feel the bearings. I carried complete new sets with seals.

I started using synthetic waterproof grease and never had a failure again.
That was a fairly new product at the time and was far better than the usual stuff.

My present trailer has Nev-r-lube sealed bearing cartridges......I've replaced them once for no other reason than I felt better with new. I kept the old ones for spares......

Blown tires and burned up bearings on the road makes for a rough trip.....been there....

From looking on the internet at pictures of the bearing race I removed the last time it seems to look like one posted from a bearing cage failure.
I am not sure what would make a cage fail but the softer material the cage is made out of is imbedded and stuck to the outer race like was shown in the photo's.

I have been using Mobil 1 Synthetic wheel bearing grease.
Even after the failure the grease was still clean looking and still red except in the bearing are where it was hot and it was discolored there but did not smell burnt even though it was hot and smoking when I noticed the failure.

I am going to rebuild both hubs on the axle with new USA made Timken bearings, install new hubs on both sides, and new brake assemblies. I am also going to move the rear axle tires to the front axle and replace the one that has failed twice now with the spare tire.
I am at a loss on anything else to do.
Anyone else have other suggestions.
I will try most anything once.
Thanks
Rick Cates

07-13-2017, 09:03 PM	#1
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,446 Likes: 614 Liked 1,919 Times in 576 Posts	Re: Trailer Wheel Bearing Issue The axle is out of alignment and putting pressure on that bearing or the tire has a weird wear pattern putting pressure on the bearing. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

07-13-2017, 11:07 PM	#2
voltdr Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 706 Likes: 77 Liked 100 Times in 51 Posts	Re: Trailer Wheel Bearing Issue I would think if the axle was out of alignment it would happen on both sides of the axle not just one side.

07-16-2017, 09:19 PM	#4
Rick Bailey Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 502 Likes: 5 Liked 10 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Trailer Wheel Bearing Issue Being a retired UPS mechanic and seeing my fair share of trl bearings ....going to Timken is a great move. Then get you a temp gun... and after an hour or so of towing pull over , in a safe area of course .... shoot the temp of all tire tread surface and side wall and then shoot the hubs ... record all info and then analyze .... This can tell you a lot about your load placement and maybe where to move the load around to equalize temps and weight on each tire. you can also test with an empty trailer to see the big picture ! Hope this helps ! Rick __________________ Rick Bailey 3439 SC

07-17-2017, 10:32 AM	#6
Rick Bailey Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 502 Likes: 5 Liked 10 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Trailer Wheel Bearing Issue Rick, Hope this helps ! Party On !!! __________________ Rick Bailey 3439 SC

07-20-2017, 04:32 PM	#7
63corvette Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canyon, Tx Posts: 551 Likes: 127 Liked 353 Times in 102 Posts	Re: Trailer Wheel Bearing Issue First update on the issue. I have the front axle completely rebuilt. New hubs, new brakes, new Timken USA made bearings. I relocated the storage in the attic so the weight would be in the center of the trailer. One thing I noticed after rebuilding the axle I had the trailer up in the front about 2 inches to get some weight off the front axle when working on it. When putting up tools and all I noticed that the trailer was more stable when walking into and out of it with the front up just that 2 inches. I visited the trailer sales place today and asked about that or if I was just reaching. The owner told me there if the front is up it should balance the load a little more to the back end of the trailer with a spring type triple axle. I have always pulled the trailer with it very level on my driveway which is also very level. The trailer sales owner suggested I try pulling it this next time with the 2 inches up in the front and see what happens. My next step on the hitch is 2 1/4 inches so that is what I am going to try. I am also going to check the tire and bearing temps ever couple of hours while traveling next week on a 550 mile trip. I am hoping that the temps tell me something about the balance on the trailer. I will be posting more updates as we take our trip. Thanks again for everyone that posted suggestions. All were thoughtful and I appreciate them. Rick Cates

07-14-2017, 03:36 PM	#9
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,314 Likes: 25 Liked 544 Times in 213 Posts	Re: Trailer Wheel Bearing Issue The tire would show some sort of abnormal wear if the axle was out of alignment. If the tire is wearing the tread fairly even and not featheredged across the tread it's good. Trailer loading definitely might be a factor. More weight on one wheel is possible.... The type and quality of grease made a huge difference for me years ago on a trailer I had. It was eating bearings and only had 3500lb axles on a 22' box trailer. It would routinely trash a bearing and I was not towing long distances. It got to the point that every trip I made to the track I jacked the trailer up with car unloaded to feel the bearings. I carried complete new sets with seals. I started using synthetic waterproof grease and never had a failure again. That was a fairly new product at the time and was far better than the usual stuff. My present trailer has Nev-r-lube sealed bearing cartridges......I've replaced them once for no other reason than I felt better with new. I kept the old ones for spares...... Blown tires and burned up bearings on the road makes for a rough trip.....been there.... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R Last edited by Rich Biebel; 07-14-2017 at 03:39 PM.