Wheel bearing failure poll

[rbw156]

Earlier this year I had a wheel bearing fail on a trailer that was 9 months old that had been serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions!

Have you experienced a wheel bearing failure? If so, when? What do you think caused it? Was it covered by warranty? How much did it cost to recover? How much did it cost to repair? How often do you service your wheel bearings?

[qcamel]

An 18 month old trailer had 3 of 4 bearings fail and it was not covered by warranty primarily because it had been immersed in salt water!!!!!!!!!!!!

No recovery fee, got lucky, it gave up 3 miles from a very helpful company that had the replacement bearings in stock.. Lucky as I was 300 miles from home.

Ollie

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by qcamel

An 18 month old trailer had 3 of 4 bearings fail and it was not covered by warranty primarily because it had been immersed in salt water!!!!!!!!!!!!

It would make an interesting court case if a company who makes boat trailers declined a warranty claim because the trailer had been in the water.... and somebody decided to challenge it.

I think there's a thing called "fit for purpose" in consumer rights law?

[bedajim]

It just seems wrong to me that you put the trailer bearings/brakes in salt water every week and then tow down the motorway at 50+ mph

and what does a life time guarantee mean, when it fails its at the end of its life

[qcamel]

However I always flush out the brakes with the fresh water attachment, you would expect a little more than 18 months, they were only wet on about 16 occasions...

[codprawn]

I assume these were the so called "sealed for life" bearings? Nothing beats good old nipples well greased!!!

[mark-f]

Had three wheel bearings fail within the first year from New, suplier said I should wash the bearings out more even though I had been , took the trailer to a trailer specialist and found the trailer was under rated for the boat and equipment fitted and it was the brakes coming on prematurely that fried the bearings, pointed that out to the supplier and they swaped out the trailer for a new higher rated trailer without so much as as murmer.

MArk

OH yes the cost, brake service and 1 bearing replacement £150 plus a few beers for my m8 to come and pick it up with his spec lift

[Nos4r2]

I had a bearing collapse earlier this year. It was 9 months old and I was on the way to get it changed. I change them at the beginning of the season every year.

If you're dunking it in salt water don't expect it to last-it's NOT GOING TO! It's the way it works. If you get salt on it it'll rust,score/break up and collapse.316 or A4 stainless isn't any good for bearings so unfortunately Fit for purpose=bollocks in this case.

[Jimmy_Beam]

Get one!! I highly recommend it.

http://www.bearingbuddy.com/

And for god sakes, take them out, solvent clean and dry, inspect, replace seals, pack and re-install every 12 months.. You will never have this problem again.

[toby4594]

Exactly how hard is it to change bearings ,The chap I purchased my rib from was really keen ,There was grease everywhere and he had maintained the rib impeccably,but I always wondered if bearing replacement was a seasonal duty.