Wheel Bearings

Roy Smith · 04 November 2007, 16:46

Well it happened to day got the boat out of the water and the front wheel bearing went on the trailer.
Towed it home (not far) on three wheels,
Now i need all the bearings changed.

Can any body recommend a mobile service some one who can do the work at
my home.

davej · 04 November 2007, 21:59

Hard luck but at least you got home ok on the three remaining wheels. I think your best way would be to contact your local trailer specialist (perhaps an indespension dealer) and ask them to send someone out to do it. Your local bearing dealer would also probably recommend someone or you could have a go yourself! Its not rocket science and with a few tools you should be able to do it. If you start on the knackered one first and take the hub and bearings to your local bearing specialist they will match them up and provide any advice. Doing it yourself also gives you piece of mind that if it goes on a road trip then you actually know how to do it yourself and can carry a spare set of bearings with you. I always carry a spare hub and the tools to do the job if I am going any distance, which I frequently do from the midlands.

DJ

Nasher · 04 November 2007, 22:45

Roy

What sort of trailer is it?
Where are you in West Sussex?

I'd be happy to come over and show you how its done, although its a bit dark in the evenings at the moment so it'll depend on how soon you need to use it again.

Nasher.

Sailmaker · 05 November 2007, 13:52

Hi
Just changed the bearings on a rollercoaster trailer. It was cheaper to buy hubs and bearings than just the bearings alone at Indispension.

Simple job to change.

Nasher · 05 November 2007, 14:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailmaker

Hi
Just changed the bearings on a rollercoaster trailer. It was cheaper to buy hubs and bearings than just the bearings alone at Indispension.

Simple job to change.

Yep, normally true for Un-braked trailers, but with Brakes its a bit different when you need to buy the drums with the bearings.

Bearing traders can supply the bearings alone for about £50 an Axle, including the seals for the backs.

Takes about an hour to do an axle with no unforseen problems, however if the bearing really has collapsed it will have probably damaged the brake shoes on that side as well with the extra movement.

Nasher.

Nick Hearne · 05 November 2007, 15:10

Got 2 axles on order with indespension at the moment as at some time the wheel has been off on both of the axles & damaged the stub axle!
It dose trail OK but the bearings do not last long as the fit is sloppy & as the people I bought it from are paying because it was sold as A1 nearly new I'm replacing both axles!

Roy Smith · 05 November 2007, 17:45

Thanks all
I have ordered the bearings £28 +vat each and the nice man at R & M Trailers said that if i
bring the hubs over to his yard he will press out the old bearings and press in the new ones. any way as i am completely useless at this type of thing i will take pictures and ask questions,
I really need to see if i can do this as i want to take to boat to the South of France and God fore bid some thing should happen it would be nice to know that
i could at least have a go at fixing it
Oh had a quote from Hayling trailers Only £600

1up · 05 November 2007, 18:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy Smith

Thanks all
I have ordered the bearings £28 +vat each and the nice man at R & M Trailers said that if i
bring the hubs over to his yard he will press out the old bearings and press in the new ones. any way as i am completely useless at this type of thing i will take pictures and ask questions,
I really need to see if i can do this as i want to take to boat to the South of France and God fore bid some thing should happen it would be nice to know that
i could at least have a go at fixing it
Oh had a quote from Hayling trailers Only £600

if the bearings need pressing in you cant do this without a press anyway, so is best to have spare hubs and bearings ready to change if one fails.

Nasher · 05 November 2007, 18:54

Standard Taper rollers can be drifted in and out carefully, the sealed type can't.

I've done a few for me and other people over the past few years, I even carry a set of drifts, bearings etc in my 'towing box' ready to do it at the side of the road, and have even been known to do it as a side line on a mobile basis.

Roy

If you get stuck give me a shout, I'll PM my mobile No.
Happy to advise, or come and show you how to do it.

Did you get a set of seals as well?

Nasher.

Roy Smith · 07 November 2007, 21:36

Well the hubs off no problems
But as i took them off the linings of the brake shoes fell off, its looks like the linings have been rubbing on the drums they get very hot the grease melts and the bearings collapse, so now they need replacing.
My dad came over to help at 76 i was shocked at how much he know about it all
as i cant remember seeing a spanner at his house.

Roy Smith · 11 November 2007, 17:08

I need to put the hubs back on now the bearings are in
but the nuts/washer need tightening i have borrowed a torque wrench
But dose any body know how tight its needs to be

Limey Linda · 11 November 2007, 17:24

You need to state if they are sealed bearings or tapered roller I think.

Pete7 · 11 November 2007, 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy Smith

I need to put the hubs back on now the bearings are in but the nuts/washer need tightening i have borrowed a torque wrench But dose any body know how tight its needs to be

Right ignore all that I have just edited, I was looking at Nicks photos. Assuming you have sealed bearings (most RM trailers seem to have) the torque is something like 205 foot lbs, which for me is standing on the the end of a breaker bar. Have new circlips been fitted to hold the bearing in place ?

If you fitted new shoes then they will need adjusting.

Pete

Roy Smith · 11 November 2007, 22:23

Have not fitted new shoes yet,
I got the bearings from BRT in Portsmouth took one in to match up they said they are ones fitted to Astra vans astra cars etc. Would it follow that the brake shoes would be the same as i have looked on trailertec web site and they charge £49 (for trailer brake shoes) where as Part/Co if they are the same are £15 is there some thing special about trailer shoes.

David G · 12 November 2007, 06:51

I have had some good service from these people:

http://www.rphleisure.co.uk/php/catalog/index.php

and these:

http://www.westerntowing.co.uk/index.html

Regards,

Orve

Pete7 · 12 November 2007, 07:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy Smith

Have not fitted new shoes yet,
I got the bearings from BRT in Portsmouth took one in to match up they said they are ones fitted to Astra vans astra cars etc. Would it follow that the brake shoes would be the same as i have looked on trailertec web site and they charge £49 (for trailer brake shoes) where as Part/Co if they are the same are £15 is there some thing special about trailer shoes.

I would go with Part/Co for that price and change all the springs at the same time. Would be a shame to have to go back in there in six months time because a spring failed. Clean up the adjusters in diesel or something similar too.

Pete

bedajim · 12 November 2007, 08:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy Smith

Have not fitted new shoes yet,
I got the bearings from BRT in Portsmouth took one in to match up they said they are ones fitted to Astra vans astra cars etc. Would it follow that the brake shoes would be the same as i have looked on trailertec web site and they charge £49 (for trailer brake shoes) where as Part/Co if they are the same are £15 is there some thing special about trailer shoes.

Take the old shoe to part/co or any motor factors they should be able to sort it

I also use RHP good service and helpful

James

Hugh Jardon · 12 November 2007, 09:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

Right ignore all that I have just edited, I was looking at Nicks photos. Assuming you have sealed bearings (most RM trailers seem to have) the torque is something like 205 foot lbs, which for me is standing on the the end of a breaker bar. Have new circlips been fitted to hold the bearing in place ?

If you fitted new shoes then they will need adjusting.

Pete

hopefully that breaker bar is around 1 ft long!!