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Old 01-10-2018, 11:08 AM   #1
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Question Wheel bearing service frequency

How frequent do wheel bearings need service under normal circumstances... 10000km (7000miles) more or less??
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Old 01-10-2018, 03:32 PM   #2
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LCI states every 12,000 miles or 12 months. This is for repacking. You’ll want to thoroughly clean them first, inspect for any damage, and then repack with a good grease. This is a good time to inspect brakes and make any brake adjustments needed.
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Old 01-10-2018, 03:34 PM   #3
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I do mine annually, usually while parked wintering some place warm, which is about 10k miles. I pack bearings, grease the suspension (I do this 2-3 times a year), inspect the brakes & rotate the tires at the same time.
I've got a BIL (with a PhD) that says packing the bearings is a waste of time & money, "you don't do it on your car" he says, no on cars nowadays they are sealed bearings. But he also can't figure why he can't run his ac when on a 20 amp circuit using a 100' 16 gauge extension cord, fortunately he has burnt it down, YET!
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Old 01-10-2018, 05:30 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by travelin texans View Post
I've got a BIL (with a PhD) that says packing the bearings is a waste of time & money. But he also can't figure why he can't run his ac when on a 20 amp circuit using a 100' 16 gauge extension cord, fortunately he has burnt it down, YET!
I wonder if we are related, I have a BIL just like that.

I've been parked, (different camper) for years and not had to do this type of maintenance. This 5th wheel has less than 200 miles that I have put on it, plus whatever was put on bringing it from the factory to NH. I don't have the tools or skills to do this stuff. I'm going to have to pay to get it done. Next summer we have a seasonal site again, but are planning on a couple of weeks and a few week ends in different places. I don't anticipate doing more than 2,000 miles at most all summer. It's the time, more than the mileage. Anyone know about what it costs to have the bearings packed?
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Old 01-10-2018, 06:43 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanRN View Post
I wonder if we are related, I have a BIL just like that.

I've been parked, (different camper) for years and not had to do this type of maintenance. This 5th wheel has less than 200 miles that I have put on it, plus whatever was put on bringing it from the factory to NH. I don't have the tools or skills to do this stuff. I'm going to have to pay to get it done. Next summer we have a seasonal site again, but are planning on a couple of weeks and a few week ends in different places. I don't anticipate doing more than 2,000 miles at most all summer. It's the time, more than the mileage. Anyone know about what it costs to have the bearings packed?
If you're in a rv park ask around, there's probably someone there to help you out for an adult beverage. Likely you could check 1 wheel, if it looks good you're good to go.
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Old 01-11-2018, 09:55 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanRN View Post
I wonder if we are related, I have a BIL just like that.

I've been parked, (different camper) for years and not had to do this type of maintenance. This 5th wheel has less than 200 miles that I have put on it, plus whatever was put on bringing it from the factory to NH. I don't have the tools or skills to do this stuff. I'm going to have to pay to get it done. Next summer we have a seasonal site again, but are planning on a couple of weeks and a few week ends in different places. I don't anticipate doing more than 2,000 miles at most all summer. It's the time, more than the mileage. Anyone know about what it costs to have the bearings packed?
Sean, around here we can get it done for about $250-300 (two axles),unless a problem presents itself.
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Old 01-11-2018, 11:49 AM   #7
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Thanks guys... much appreciated
We'll locate a wheel specialist and have the bearing checked once every two years or 10,000 km (6500 miles)
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Old 01-12-2018, 03:01 PM   #8
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You may want to avoid a RV dealer for this service simply due to the length of time it may take.

I need to relate what happened to us this past fall. I keep the bearings on our Seville packed using the EasyPacker that Lippert "thoughtfully" installed on the camper. I grease the hubs using this technique yearly just to make sure.

We were traveling in the St Louis, MO area last fall and had what I regard as a catastrophic bearing failure with the outer bearing basically disintegrating, scoring the spindle a little. There were no bearing material found in the hub once it was removed.

We called all the rv dealers in the St Louis area as well as a Lippert "Gold" dealer, none of whom had the necessary parts to repair the damage. Our sons live in the area and they independently called folks they know and we were referred to a trailer supply location by 2 independent sources, which proved to be the best answer.

There are those that will tell you the "EasyPacker" is the way to do it but I was never comfortable with that method and now I know why. It requires you to pump enough grease to fill the inside of the hub completely, forcing the old grease out. While that seems simple enough, it really is problematic in that the you also have the opportunity to leave possible debris in the hub, possibly force grease past the seal into your brakes, and it takes a bunch of grease. Not all greases are compatible with each other, and filling the hub could possibly cause and expansion issue.

I'd be concerned if an rv dealer would pull your hubs, clean the bearings, and re-pack with good grease or just use the easypackers with a pressure gun (that WILL cause a problem).

We took our Seville to a utility/construction/goosneck/commercial trailer shop, Curt Trailer in Valley Mills, MO. They had the necessary parts and expertise to both save the axle with the bad bearing but also put on new self-adjusting brakes, a new hub, and get us on our way quickly. We pulled in at 8:30am and was back on the road at 10:30am. Given the issues, I thought the cost was reasonable for a hub complete with bearings, self-adjusting brake backers, and labor at $425 USD.

On their recommendation, when we got home I ordered new bearings, seals, and brake assemblies for the other 3 wheels. when I pulled one of those, I found grease on the brake linings.

My advice is to find somewhere like Curt Trailer and have them do a repack and brake inspection. I carry a set of bearings and a new wheel seal just in case. A competent trailer supply house (e-Trailer, Wentsville, MO) will have the parts as will a good dealer.

If you only tow around 2,000 miles a year, you will probably get away with a repack every couple of years,. The trailer shop suggested I do a repack every year and replace the bearings if there are apparent issues. I'm going to do mine every couple years. These bearings are made in China, the next set will be North American made Timken, NTN, or SKS bearings.

Best of luck in your travels this next year.
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Old 01-12-2018, 03:34 PM   #9
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I to have a 2011 Seville - great idea to carry spare set of bearings and seal (cheap insurance package)
You would happen to remember the bearing package / inner & outer and seal part numbers?
Cheers
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Old 01-12-2018, 04:49 PM   #10
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Jeffur, here's the part numbers that I used. The only thing I don't have is the Dexter part number for the axles.

Seville Axle parts
Brake hub assembly - Lippert p/n 122465
Brake hub - Lippert 122096


Bearing Kit - Lippert p/n 333951 - Dexter BK3-200 (need 10-10 seal)


Outer Bearing - Lippert p/n 127009 - UPN 14125A


Inner Bearing - Lippert p/n 122066 - UPN 25580


Outer Race - Lippert pn 127012 - UPN 14276


Inner Race - Lippert P/n 124287 - UPN 25520


Seal - Lippert 122088 - UPN 10-10


Backer Plate Lippert 298275 (OEM - manual adjust)


Backer Plate Never-Adjust 12x2 7K 23-464 (left) 23-465 (right)



A good contact number to have is the Lippert help desk
Lippert 1-574-537-8900 (Brandon)
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Old 01-12-2018, 06:57 PM   #11
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And dont forget to grease the bearings ,wrap in wax paper and seal in a margerine container or zip lock bag . Keep a small container of grease and appropriate tools to change if needed.
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Old 01-12-2018, 07:20 PM   #12
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In my opinion, NEVER EVER use the Easy Lube system on ANY rv, or for that matter ANY trailer. The only sure safe way to pack bearings is hand packing, by doing so you can inspect the bearings, brakes, magnets & the rest of the suspension.
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Old 01-12-2018, 08:21 PM   #13
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Danny, I absolutely agree. When we get back in from our winter trip, my intention is to pull the ezlube zerks and replace them with a plug so it can't be used again.

I was lucky my bearing failure didn't result in more damage to the spindle that it did. The shop that fixed it does big truck service and has a guy that welds new spindles in place. The suggestion from the mechanic and owner was that if that bearing starts having problems, replace the axles (both).

When I pulled it apart, "made in china" was engraved on the spindle. So much for Lippert's claim about made in the USA or North America.
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Old 01-13-2018, 06:06 AM   #14
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Thank you for supplying the information (saves me from sourcing all the parts).
Cheers & happy trails
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