Trailer Wheel Bearings

Published July 27, 2020

You try to take real good care of your vehicle. But there is something that you may be overlooking: wheel bearings on your trailer. Whether it’s a small utility trailer or toy hauler up to a big work trailer, boat or camp trailer, they all have wheels with bearings that need to be serviced from time to time.

Wheel bearings allow the wheel to spin freely. They are packed in heavy duty grease that can withstand the heat generated by the spinning wheel and keep protecting the bearings.

When your technician services the bearings on your trailer, he’ll remove the wheel bearing assembly and inspect the bearings themselves. If they are damaged or corroded, they will be replaced. He will then pack fresh grease around the bearings, replace the seals and put the wheel back on.

We actually expect a lot from trailer bearings. They may sit unused for an extended period of time – but when we hitch up that trailer, we need the bearings to be in top shape to meet the demands of highway miles, heavy loads and even very dirty conditions. A bearing failure will sideline the work or fun you had planned.

Excessively worn bearings may result in uneven tire wear. Wheels can wobble which may hurt handling. Extremely worn bearings can even seize, causing the wheel to lock-up; obviously that can be dangerous.

Boat trailers require special attention. The bearings are quite hot after the trip to the lake and then you back into the cold water. The extreme temperature difference draws moisture into the bearings and forces out some of the grease. A good practice is to have boat trailer bearings serviced at the end of the season so that they don’t rust during the winter.

Talk with your service advisor at Dakota Ridge Auto about your trailer and how you use it. He can recommend the proper bearing service.

Dakota Ridge Auto 13074 W Ida Ave Unit A-2 Littleton, CO 80127 303-795-2600

https://www.dakotaridgeauto.com

More from the blog