lorieandkeith
Novice
Dear Community:
I need new tires. While our Campinn is not that old, we tend to put a lot of miles on. While we are having the tires changed, I want to have any other service done that is appropriate. The owners manual says:
1. Wheel bearings should be repacked every 50,000 miles, or when the tires are replaced or trailer brakes are inspected.
2. Your trailer brakes should be inspected and serviced at two year intervals or more often as use and performance requires. Magnets and shoes must be changed when they become worn or scored thereby preventing adequate braking. Clean the backing plate, magnet arm, magnet, and brake shoes. Inspect the magnet for any loose or worn parts. Check shoe return springs, hold down springs, and adjuster springs for stretch or deformation. It is more cost effective to replace the entire backing plate assembly than to replace only the brake shoes. ...the new backing plate assembly will give you a new [overall system] and it is easier to install - just 4 bolts.
3. It is recommended that you repack the wheel bearings any time the brakes are inspected.
So, I think I should as them to do the following:
1. Replace the tires.
2. Inspect the brakes [and maybe replace]
3. Have bearings repacked.
I have two questions:
A. In some discussion somewhere, Cary said not to repack the wheel bearings for the sake of repacking the wheel bearings. [If I understood it correctly] he said that the wheel bearings are more likely to fail after they are repacked than if you just leave them alone, provided there is no leaking or other problem evident. He said that places tend to overpack wheel bearings. Then, because they are overpacked they get hot, the grease heats up, dribbles out, and you are running with no lubrication. Since we go on long hauls, this would be really bad for us. We would get stuck in the middle of the desert somewhere without coffee on board....
It seems odd - if you have to repack the bearings so frequently, why could you go 50,000 miles? Should I repack or leave well enough alone?
B. Anything else we should have done while the trailer is being serviced?
Thank you. I really appreciate all you people out there who are more knowlegeable and handy than me.
Lorie
I need new tires. While our Campinn is not that old, we tend to put a lot of miles on. While we are having the tires changed, I want to have any other service done that is appropriate. The owners manual says:
1. Wheel bearings should be repacked every 50,000 miles, or when the tires are replaced or trailer brakes are inspected.
2. Your trailer brakes should be inspected and serviced at two year intervals or more often as use and performance requires. Magnets and shoes must be changed when they become worn or scored thereby preventing adequate braking. Clean the backing plate, magnet arm, magnet, and brake shoes. Inspect the magnet for any loose or worn parts. Check shoe return springs, hold down springs, and adjuster springs for stretch or deformation. It is more cost effective to replace the entire backing plate assembly than to replace only the brake shoes. ...the new backing plate assembly will give you a new [overall system] and it is easier to install - just 4 bolts.
3. It is recommended that you repack the wheel bearings any time the brakes are inspected.
So, I think I should as them to do the following:
1. Replace the tires.
2. Inspect the brakes [and maybe replace]
3. Have bearings repacked.
I have two questions:
A. In some discussion somewhere, Cary said not to repack the wheel bearings for the sake of repacking the wheel bearings. [If I understood it correctly] he said that the wheel bearings are more likely to fail after they are repacked than if you just leave them alone, provided there is no leaking or other problem evident. He said that places tend to overpack wheel bearings. Then, because they are overpacked they get hot, the grease heats up, dribbles out, and you are running with no lubrication. Since we go on long hauls, this would be really bad for us. We would get stuck in the middle of the desert somewhere without coffee on board....
It seems odd - if you have to repack the bearings so frequently, why could you go 50,000 miles? Should I repack or leave well enough alone?
B. Anything else we should have done while the trailer is being serviced?
Thank you. I really appreciate all you people out there who are more knowlegeable and handy than me.
Lorie
