Trailer wheel bearings question

chriswood · 30 June 2015, 06:37

Bit of advice needed. Just spent yesterday evening replacing the wheel hubs and bearings on my trailer. Question is when adjusting the the castle nut to locate the split pin - it's either just that bit too tight (slight bit of movement in wheel, spins relatively freely) or when I back it off to the next position there's just that little bit too much play in the wheel. Any recommendations of which one is the best to go for? Thanks

paintman · 30 June 2015, 07:04

My preference for taper roller bearings is to have slightly too much play instead of too little.
If I grip the wheel at 12 & 6 & rock it I want to feel a SMALL amount of play. I does this with cars & trailers.
I nip them up whilst rotating the wheel until the wheel starts to bind them back off until I get the play.
I've never had any issues (incl MOT test) doing it like this but I DID once over-tighten a taper roller on the front of the Scimitar & ended up being recovered due to the bearing overheating & self destructing. Had a right game getting the inner race off the stub axle too!

Pikey Dave · 30 June 2015, 07:31

If there is just perceptible movement in the wheel, that's just enough.

chriswood · 30 June 2015, 16:26

Ok thanks for the responses. I think I'm going to go with the very small amount of play in the wheel against the next position which seems too much.

Sonar · 30 June 2015, 19:01

You can always readjust them if required after a few road miles..

I had to do the same ...

jyasaki · 01 July 2015, 16:06

If you replaced the races as well as the cages, they're going to seat a little with use, freeing stuff up. A bit tight at the outset is better than a bit loose.

jky

mick · 01 July 2015, 16:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

If you replaced the races as well as the cages, they're going to seat a little with use, freeing stuff up. A bit tight at the outset is better than a bit loose.

jky

Wouldn't fancy adjusting the bearings at the side of a motorway if there running hot 😳

paintman · 01 July 2015, 18:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

If you replaced the races as well as the cages, they're going to seat a little with use, freeing stuff up. A bit tight at the outset is better than a bit loose.

jky

Replace taper roller bearings & races as the sets they are supplied as. They wear together & replacing just one part is false economy.
A bit tight is asking for trouble - as | said earlier I learnt that the hard way.