[A/S] Wheel Bearings - David's question from #2006

["Richard McFarland" <estatewagons@xxxxxxx>]

David - here's my two cents on your question:

I am reminded of the well known phrase:

"Use It Or Lose It".

You mention above that the truck is "driven" year after
year.  There is a big difference between something being
driven and something that sits.

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>I have had several vehicles with well over 100,000
>miles each and three vehicles with well over 150,000
>miles each and I have NEVER had ANY wheel bearings
>packed (unless it was done with brake jobs - I don't
>know about this).  Yet I have never had any bearing
>failures on any of my cars / trucks.

>Is this a conspiracy or are trailer bearing somehow
>inferior to those used in cars / trucks?

My question for you here is - "were you using your
vehicles REGULARLY"?  If so - then you should not
use the car vs. trailer comparison - as trailers usually
"SIT" for long periods of time - and that creates a whole 
different scenario - in terms of what may or may not affect 
the bearings on the trailer wheels.

I have a favorite old Mercedes that is driven very little - I 
remember some years ago asking the mechanic to 
check a "noise" in the rear.  

I was told it was fine.

The car then sat for 6 years in the garage without moving
more than a couple of feet. (it was on the ground not on blocks)

When I got it out of storage and back on the road - the rear 
wheel bearings were noisy.  I figure that the noise I'd heard
6 years earlier was the "initial" sound of them going bad.
(this is my theory anyway)  So - sitting there and not moving
for 6 years simply exagerated the (deterioration) situation - 
for whatever reason - and they deteriorated.

My point is - you might have perfect bearings in your trailer and
you "might" luck out if you never serviced them...but...what if
your trailer has a bearing that has an imperfection in it?  If allowed to 
sit for long periods of time - it might end up becoming a real problem 
sooner than later....and if you never serviced it...it might become a 
real problem "WHEN" you are towing it....and who knows what 
the scenario might end up being! 

Here is another scenario - let's say you have bearings that are in
perfectly new condition - but as you travel you drive through a
lot of wet weather.  If you don't service your bearings regularly -
do you know for sure that your seals are in good shape and that
no water has gotten into the hubs?  No.

If water has gotten in there...and then you park if for a long time...
...well...I can't imagine it's a good situation.

Better to be err on the side of safety - and have your bearings
serviced regularly.

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> This trailer
>had sat in my mom's backyard for at least 15 years. 
>When I pulled the wheels off, the greese inside looked
>fine.  I did, of course, pack the bearings.  However, I
>think it might have been fine with the grease already
>there!

The important word you use here is "might have been fine".

You don't say that you "know it would be fine".

Are you willing to risk the "might" scenario?

The cost of a regular bearing service is not that much.

The cost of having a major breakdown in a situation that
you will not control (as to when and where it might happen) 
is not one that most people want to risk - for a variety of
reasons. 

This is one of those situation where a little regular service
does not "cost"...it "pays".

There is no guarantee that with regular service of your trailer
that "nothing" will go wrong...(Murphy's Law takes care of that)...
but at least you will be doing your best...to look out for 
yourself....so that "YOU" will have potentially fewer
headaches and fewer withdrawals from your
checking account/credit cards.

Just my opinion and 2 cents.

Best Wishes.  RL