Posts: 3511
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hi Bruce,
No reason to pull the "race" from the hub. About the only thing with those is to keep the same bearing with the same race. Many of the bigger axles (3500# and up) have two different sized bearings...a smaller one and a larger one, so this is not an issue.
As for bearing grease, I have used many brands, and have never had any problem so long as they are a high temp wheel bearing grease with (I believe) a lithium base to it. I, like shep, still do a hand-pack, although I have recently switched now to a bearing packer which is really nice. I feel that when the grease squirts out of all the grooves (top, bottom, and between the rollers) It's packed solid. I tested the first 5 or so by doing a final hand-pack, and they didn't need anything further.
If you repack yearly in the fall (recommended for any trailer that gets immersed in water) you will be all set, and bearing wash-out will not be noticed (again...dependent on use of the correct type of grease). Do preventative maintenance, and there will be no breakdowns on the road.
Steve |
