Dealer Price to Repack Wheel Bearings

[2dabeach]

I previously owned a popup trailer and paid $50.00 to have the 2 wheel bearings repacked each year by the Coleman dealer. I now own a 2007, 25' Safari and went through sticker shock when I had the 4 wheel berings serviced by my Airstream dealer and received a bill for $358 ($43.00 parts & $315.00 labor. He also charged me $111.00 ($6.00 parts & $105.00 labor) for checking and adjusting the brakes.

I like the dealer but would like to know if his charges are in line with what other Airstream owners are paying for similar service.

[easyride]

He has to pay for that $4.00 gas too,ask before you commit. Dave

[AirsDream]

Sounds mighty high to me. Just had my bearings repacked at Camping World, and if I recall, was about $80 for the four wheels ... they were running a "special" on this service. Probably a "loss leader" to get folks in the door and go shopping while the service was being done. I thought this was an incredible bargain, however; so inexpensive that I decided not to spend the time to do it myself! They did find two bad bearings, which were about $20-$25 each. And for the most part, bearings and grease and seals and cotter pins are pretty universal ... no real advantage in having an Airstream dealer do the work that I know of, other than that I had to show them where to jack the trailer.

Can't comment on the brakes, other than to say that can't be much over an hour's work, so not too far out of line.

Next time, I'd shop around.

[lynn]

Was it the New Jersy Airstream dealer?

[ArtStream]

Seems high to me!

I've paid $80.00 per axle + parts at one of the national chain brake places.

Michael

[2dabeach]

Originally Posted by lynn

Was it the New Jersy Airstream dealer?

Lynn

It was NOT the NJ Airstream dealer.

[moosetags]

We paid $285 to have that done last fall in Jackson Center. Six or eight months prior to that we paid around $300 to have it done at the Airstream Dealer in Alachua.

[Fyrzowt]

Local dealer charges $110 hr, unless they've gone up...

[HowieE]

The charge for repacking the bearings is a bit high but not out of line if they did the job right. To remove and clean the bearings and install new seals takes about a 1/2 hour each. Without either watching them or removing one wheel you will never know if they did infact do the job right. However once the brake drums are off for the repacking and replacement of the seals the inspection of the brakes and adjusting takes about 2 mins. per wheel. They charged Flat Rate for each separate job.

In the automotive world they are called "Stealers".

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by 2dabeach

I previously owned a popup trailer and paid $50.00 to have the 2 wheel bearings repacked each year by the Coleman dealer. I now own a 2007, 25' Safari and went through sticker shock when I had the 4 wheel berings serviced by my Airstream dealer and received a bill for $358 ($43.00 parts & $315.00 labor. He also charged me $111.00 ($6.00 parts & $105.00 labor) for checking and adjusting the brakes.

I like the dealer but would like to know if his charges are in line with what other Airstream owners are paying for similar service.

Normal time for a normal major brake is as follows. Rusted or damaged parts changes the picture.

1 axle 1.5 hours
2 axles 2.5 hours
3 axles 3.5 hours

A major brake is defined as follows.

Jack up the trailer.
Remove the hub and drums along with the tires and wheel.
Look for any damage or excess wear to those parts.
Inspect the magnets for wear.
Inspect the brake shoes for wear.
Remove the grease seals.
Clean the bearings with a solvent.
Pressure pack the bearings.
Clean all the dirt and grease off the the complete backing plate and hub and drum.
Deglaze the brake shoes.
Scuff the drum armature plate and shoe surface.
Clean the dirt and scuffings from the shoes and hub and drum and spindle.
Inspect the adjuster springs.
Install the inner bearings.
Install new grease seals.
Install the hub and drum back on to the axle.
Install the outer bearings.
Tighten the bearing retainer nut to specs.
Install new bearing retainer nut cotter pins.
Install the grease caps.
Adjust the brakes to specs.
Remove the jacks.

Replacing any parts is extra, such as the magnets, shoes, adjuster springs, shocks.

Of course, balancing the running gear at the time of the 10,000 mile major brake, is also essential.

It's Sunday and fathers day. I probably forgot something.

A major brake should be done every 10,000 miles or once a year, which ever is first.

Using the trailer infrequently, is not a justification to not do the once a year thing.

Why?

All kinds of things can happen to the brake/bearing system, even if the trailer made one trip. Rusted parts is another reason.

Tread separation can happen, even if the trailer did not move.

Ball park, every notch out of adjustment electric brakes become, represent about 1000 miles of wear.

Electric brakes, are not self adjusting.

Andy

[TIMEMACHINE]

Andy,

Thanks for the great breakdown on major brake service. It really shows your level of professionalism.