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05-20-2016, 10:28 AM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
2009 19' International
DURANGO
, Colorado
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 9
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Wheel bearings
Hello. Is there a way to check if there's grease in the wheel bearing housing?
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05-20-2016, 10:39 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SiverD
Hello. Is there a way to check if there's grease in the wheel bearing housing?
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You can take the grease cap off. That will let you see the "outer" bearing only.
To see the inner bearing, you will have to remove the drum from the axle.
Andy
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05-20-2016, 10:52 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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You can carefully pry off the bearing cap and see if there is grease on the outer earring. But this tells you little to nothing about the inner bearing's condition.
Don't assume grease is where it needs to be with a cursory look under the cap. Need to pull the wheel to really inspect it, and if you do, might as well do a full repack job and inspect...
Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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05-21-2016, 04:41 PM
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#4
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retired USA/USAF
2001 30' Excella
Somerset
, New Jersey
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,418
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Before you take this job on go to the auto parts place and pick yourself up a small can of wheel bearing grease. Any name brand will work, Valvoline is a common one. Also need / should get a set of seals. One set for each axel. Not a difficult job but can be a bit messy. I just did mine a few days ago. If it's your first time there's plenty of DYI information here on the forum. Go for it. Give the brakes a good eyeball while you have the drums off.
__________________
Roger in NJ
" Democracy is the worst form of government. Except for all the rest"
Winston Churchill 1948
TAC - NJ 18
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05-21-2016, 09:12 PM
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#5
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Moderator
Vintage Kin Owner
...
, ...
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,696
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Removing the grease cap won't reveal much. Conventional bearings should be removed, cleaned and thoroughly inspected and this requires removal of both (inner and outer) bearings and the grease seal. As mentioned previously you should pick up replacement seals and appropriate grease. If you have a bearing packer the job will be easier, but a packer in not required.
I repack my inspected bearings as follows:
Put on nitrile gloves.
Place a glob (technical term) of grease inside a quart size ziploc style freezer bag.
Drop one bearing in and seal the bag.
Mush (technical term) the grease thoroughly into the bearing while you keep your hands reasonably clean.
When you complete one bearing, remove it, add more grease, the next bearing, and repeat.
On a scale of one to five Rivets, I'd assign this a "1 Rivet" level of difficulty.
Best of luck,
Kevin
__________________
"One of the best lessons I've learned is that you don't worry about criticism from people you wouldn't seek advice from."
William C. Swinney
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05-21-2016, 09:26 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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About the only thing pulling the cap would really show is the condition of the grease on that end of the spindle. Agree to pulling it apart and doing it right.
Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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05-21-2016, 09:34 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,806
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Like others have said, pull the cap, see what you can see, that along with getting up under the trailer to look at the backside of the hub, can tell you a bunch. If the backside of the hub is "clean" (no grease blown out onto the backside of the backing plate), chances are the real seal has not blown out, the grease is good and your fine. If you feel the need to repack the bearings, here's a link to an old "Vintage Advantage" that has the process of how to do it starting on page 26.
http://vintageairstreamclub.com//wp-..._VA_spring.pdf
Enjoy,
__________________
Paul Waddell
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05-22-2016, 10:07 AM
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#8
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1 Rivet Member
2009 19' International
DURANGO
, Colorado
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 9
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wheel bearings
Thank you all for the useful information. I think we can do this!
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05-24-2016, 09:42 AM
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#9
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4 Rivet Member
2018 23' Flying Cloud
Huntsville
, Alabama
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 260
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__________________
Ron
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05-28-2016, 03:55 PM
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#10
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Living Riveted since 2013
2016 Interstate Lounge Ext
Green Cove Springs
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 8,210
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What if we have those NeverLube bearings?
__________________
Rocinante Piccolo is our new-to-us 2016 Interstate Lounge 3500 EXT
(Named for John Steinbeck's camper from "Travels With Charley")
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06-02-2016, 05:18 PM
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#11
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Site Team
2009 25' FB International
2018 27' Globetrotter
Tavares
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,726
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Can Never-Lube bearings be retrofitted into older units?
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06-02-2016, 07:09 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,119
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You can add Never Lube bearings by changing the axles to axles with the Never Lube bearings. You cannot just put in the bearings. If I had the Never Lube I would inspect them once per year to see if the the seals are okay and the grease is not running out.
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