Do You Have Your Trailer Wheel Bearings Repacked Regularly?

 

Wheel end hub unit

Bearings fit into the hub of your wheels and they are what allows your wheels to turn properly. Truck wheel bearings carry the entire weight of the truck so repacking your truck bearings is a critical part of your regular truck maintenance.

Bearings require grease to prevent friction and ensure the wheel turns freely but over time the grease starts to break down. If your bearings are not kept well-greased the increased friction will eventually cause your wheel to seize.

If this happens while you are hauling, it will not only leave you stranded roadside, but it will also cost you a lot of money in truck repairs. Furthermore, if your bearings seize or fail at a high rate of speed it can put you and others at risk of a serious accident.

How can you tell when your bearings start to fail?

1) Sound

You will hear a screeching, grinding, or roaring sound coming from your tires in motion

2) Tire Movement

If you grab your tire with both hands and you are able to move it up and down more than normal this could be a sign that it is time for some bearing maintenance.

3) Steering Abnormalities

If you feel your truck start to veer to one side consistently or there is more play in your steering than there should be then it is likely that it is time to repack or replace your bearings.

Truck bearing

How often should truck wheel bearings be repacked?

The axle manufacturers recommend that you repack your truck bearings once annually or every 12,000 km.

If you are over-do truck wheel bearing maintenance, we would be happy to help you. All of us here at Qianyu Auto Parts want to make sure that every trip you take with your truck is a safe and uneventful one!

How much does it cost to repack a wheel bearing?

 

In a car, it will cost between $100 and $400 on average to have your bearings checked, repacked, or changed professionally (depending on your location and mechanic). Some servicers will provide these optionally during break tune-ups; others do not. Trucks tend to be cheaper to repack professionally (think $100-$200), but don't underestimate the power of the upsells a mechanic might try to give you.

If you're serious about cash, you can likely save a few bucks by repacking your bearings yourself. However, the tradeoff is a few hours of your time to learn and do the procedure, and a probable lack of experience in doing so. You stand to save a considerable amount of money if you do it right though - just make sure you know what you're doing. Best case scenario: find someone who has done it before and ask them to show you how it's done!

Whether you choose to use a professional or do it yourself, weigh the pros and cons of each option carefully before making your decision. We are a high-end auto bearing manufacturer from Shandong. If you are interested in our products, please contact us now!

How Do I Know If I Need New Wheel Bearings?

 

 

Imagine driving on the freeway when suddenly the left front tire and wheel break off, sending your out-of-control vehicle skidding across several lanes of 65 mph traffic. This is reality, and this can happen if you fail to notice the signs the wheel bearings are deteriorating and need immediate repairs. This is not an exaggeration.

 

What are Wheel Bearings?

Wheel bearings are important components of a vehicle's braking, steering, and suspension systems. The one-piece hub assembly, located between the drive axle and the brake disc or drums, incorporates the hub, wheel bearings, ABS wheel speed sensor, and mounting flange.

It's the component that allows a wheel to turn.

The bearings are tightly packed in a grease-filled, waterproof, sealed metal ring. This housing, called a race, is located inside the hub, and each wheel has one. Wheel bearings have a Herculean responsibility: They are engineered to support the vehicle's entire weight.

 

What's the Life of a Wheel Bearing?

Wheel bearings are theoretically engineered to last the life of the vehicle. There is no maintenance schedule for replacing wheel bearings, and there is no constant source of lubrication. However, they can be damaged. They are especially vulnerable if you hit a pothole, tall curb, or a speed bump at a brisk speed.

If water, mud, road salt, or sand get past the seal and touch the bearings, it will contaminate the grease, causing the bearings to wear down, eventually leading to fail prematurely. Also, ignoring worn-out wheel bearings can damage the vehicle's constant velocity joint (CV joint) or automatic transmission. The outer CV joint attaches the driveshaft to the wheels, and the inner CV joint connects to the transmission. Find a reputable service technician for advice.

 

How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Wheel Bearing?

Finally, the cost to replace one front-wheel hub assembly varies widely. Among the variables are the vehicle brand and model, the garage's labor rate, and the cost for parts. The average out-the-door price without taxes is about $350; however, luxury brands are more expensive to repair. If bearings go bad at one wheel, it is unnecessary to replace the bearings at the other wheel on the same axle. Don't let someone talk you into work that is not needed. Get the price estimate for wheel bearing replacement for your make and model of car.

Top Warning Signs Your Wheel Bearings Need Replacement

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1. Humming Noise

The most easily identifiable and common symptom of bad wheel bearings is audible. But it can be confusing. For example, the source of a humming noise can be linked to other issues, such as tires and the CV joint.

 

2. Squealing, Growling

The typical sounds of worn-out wheel bearings are squealing and/or growling. The sound intensifies as vehicle speed increases. Try to pinpoint the location of the noise because it will identify the location of the worn-out wheel bearings.

 

3. Clicking Sound

If you hear a clicking sound that increases in frequency as the vehicle accelerates, there could be a problem with the wheel hub assembly.

 

4. Wheel Wobble

Technicians can check for wheel wobble by putting the vehicle on a lift and manually checking for wheel movement. Normally, it would be impossible to shake the wheel and tire. However, if it moves, the hub assembly needs immediate attention. The tire/wheel can literally come off the vehicle at any time, at any speed, if the issue is not repaired.

 

5. ABS Failure

The anti-lock warning light may illuminate. If the ring, tire, and wheel wobble, the wheel's speed sensor are no longer operating properly, and the ABS may operate sporadically or not at all. See a professional for a repair.

 

6. Uneven Tire Wear

If one tire is wearing out faster than the others, it could be a sign that the wheel bearings are worn. However, it also could be a sign the tire is improperly inflated (too much air pressure or not enough), the tires are improperly aligned, or the vehicle has damaged or worn suspension components.

 

7. Vehicle Pulls to One Side

Worn bearings may cause a vehicle to pull to the left or right when brakes are applied. The direction the vehicle pulls signals where the worn bearings are located, left or right side of the vehicle. However, this also can be a signal of brake rotor or brake caliper problems.

 

8. Steering Wheel Vibration

Bad wheel bearings can cause the steering wheel to vibrate. The intensity increases as the vehicle speed increases and the vehicle turns to the left or right. However, the vibration could be linked to an out-of-round tire (there could be a flat spot on the tire) or is no longer balanced. Another cause is damaged or worn suspension components.

 

9. Steering Feels Loose

If there is excessive play in the steering, meaning the steering seems less responsive less precise than normal, worn bearings could be causing the problem. Also, this could be a sign the vehicle needs a wheel alignment.

 

We are a truck bearing manufacturer. If you are interested in our products, please contact us now!

Wheel Bearing Preload And Endplay Explained

 

Renault truck bearing

Preload vs endplay both affect wheel performance. Either one can optimize performance. However, because they are pretty much opposite settings, you can't set bearings to both preload and endplay. In fact, setting one will eliminate the other.

Here's Why You Should Care

Wheel separation may sound like something from the Final Destination films, but it is a real thing – and a real problem for truckers. Wheel-offs is one of the most common causes of wheel accidents by big rigs that could be easily avoided if truckers would perform routine maintenance work on their wheel end systems. In this blog post, we will discuss pre-load settings vs. end play. Let's get started.

 

Why You Can't Ignore Preload And Endplay

It's good to understand preload vs endplay, but it's just as important to know how they influence trucks' operation and safety. For example, bearings with accurate preload or endplay settings promote even tire wear and extend tire life. Proper settings discourage vibrations that can affect seals and brake systems. What's more, proper preload or endplay helps keep bearings working correctly to reduce bearing failure and help prevent wheel-off events from occurring.

 

Preload

Preload settings on a bearing optimize wheel end performance by eliminating axial clearance. With this setting, pressure applied to the bearings keeps the rollers in place. This allows them to move the way they were built to move.

 

Endplay

Loose wheel bearings can negatively affect the performance of tires and cause wheels to wobble. Therefore, it is important to take the time to adjust wheel bearings to make sure they have verifiable end play.

According to Timken, wheel bearing end play refers to the free movement of the tire and wheel assembly along the spindle axis. This action is applied to steer, drive and trailer axles using single or double nut systems on Class 6, 7 and 8 trucks and can be achieved with proper adjustment of the wheel bearings. Tapered roller bearing adjustments should always be performed based on the instructions from the same brand's manufactures. If different brands are used, there is a possibility that the procedure for installation will be different. Technicians that risk using impact wrenches to fasten bearings risk over-or-under tightening them. Instead, it is best to use a breaker bar and socket then a torque wrench.

The Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) Recommended Practice 618B states that a standard wheel bearing should be tightened to .001-.005 inches of end play and can be determined using a dial indicator.

 

How To Verify End Play

Technicians should perform a few essential steps to verify proper end play in manual wheel bearing adjustments: Make sure the dial indicator is attached with the magnetic base to the hub or drum to achieve an accurate reading. The dial indicator will need to be adjusted so the tip is against the end of the spindle (parallel to spindle axis). Read the end play as the total indicator movement. If TMC recommended end play is not achieved, re-adjust the bearing.

For Pre-Adjusted wheel bearings, the procedure is different; and the manufacture's recommendations should be checked prior to performing the maintenance work. It is important to note that single nut systems will be different from double nut systems (200-300 pounds of torque).

 

Final Thought

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance just announced the theme of the 2022 International Roadcheck: Wheel-ends. Truckers that are not familiar with what to expect should read this blog post and start replacing wheel system parts prior to the June dates to avoid citations, lengthy lectures from inspectors and failing grades on inspections. By the way, we are a truck bearing manufacturer. If you are interested in our products, please contact us now!