[A/S] Re: Wheel Bearings [ Looonng! ]

["nickcrowhurst" <NickandSandra@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jack, the bearing temperature is normally about 10 degrees above 
ambient temperature if the brakes have not been applied. However, I 
am usually concerned with checking to see if there is any marked 
difference in one wheel. After a brake and bearing overhaul, I tow 
the trailer a few miles on a quiet road, and aim not to use the 
trailer brakes at all. I stop and check that the bearings are all the 
same low temperature. Knowing that all is well with the bearings, I 
then continue driving, and apply the trailer brakes firmly, perhaps 
five times. I then check the temperatures of the drums, through the 
holes in the wheels. Typically, they will be about 180 degrees, and 
one or two will be 210 or 150. I then go up one notch on the cool 
wheel, and down one notch on the hot wheel, and check again. One 
notch tends to equate to a change of about 20 degrees. When they are 
all within 10 to 15 degrees, I leave it at that. I do these minor 
adjustments without jacking up the trailer. 15 seconds with a bent 
screwdriver in a parking lot is quite sufficient. In this way, I know 
I have even braking on the trailer. A couple of months ago I saw a 34 
ft A/S come into a Wal-Mart parking lot. The driver checked the wheel 
temperatures by hand. He was happy with what he found. I asked if he 
would like me to check with the infra-red thermometer. When I did, I 
found 5 wheels at about 180, and the middle one on the kerbside to be 
230. He decided to come down 3 clicks on that wheel, and walked 
across to Radioshack to invest $29 in the tool. I also use it on the 
tires, as well as the bearings, brakes and tires on the tow truck. 
The readouts are instant, and digital, and a walk round at each stop 
takes less than a minute. It makes sense to me. Nick.