Trailer axle knock

[wickedinhere]

Today i was checking my tire pressure on my trailer and i pushed on the tire with my foot and the axle made a knocking sound. I was wondering if this could be
a sign of bearing failure its about 3 years old i have never greased the bearings
but there not making any noise. I will jack it up tomorrow and see whats goin on
any suggestions?

 

[MrJimi]

I'm sure that you already know that we a little more info than that

 

[wickedinhere]

Tell me what you need.

 

[MrJimi]

Tell me what you need.

Bearings somewhat snug? how much end play when you wiggle top of tire and does it make a noise when you spin wheel ? for starters , does it spin freely? without weird noises

 

[wickedinhere]

I got it jacked up and checked the rear axle. Both tires spin easily with no niose
and both of them do have some play when i try to wiggle them but not very much. I was thinking maybe the axle nut is slightly loose? I not sure how often your suppose to repack the wheel bearings.

 

[MrJimi]

I got it jacked up and checked the rear axle. Both tires spin easily with no noise
and both of them do have some play when i try to wiggle them but not very much. I was thinking maybe the axle nut is slightly loose? I not sure how often your suppose to repack the wheel bearings.

The easily and no noise is a good thing
and the re-pack bearings will come up with a search unless someone else comes up with it, I wish you were here, we could do this in minutes
Jim

 

[wickedinhere]

Thanks for the help, i have changed and repacked bearings before so hopefully it will go easily. I am gonna do the back axle tomorrow and if it goes pretty easy i will do the front axle also. Thanks again for the quick response and help i will update you tomorrow and let you know how it went.

 

[MrJimi]

Thanks for the help, i have changed and repacked bearings before so hopefully it will go easily. I am gonna do the back axle tomorrow and if it goes pretty easy i will do the front axle also. Thanks again for the quick response and help i will update you tomorrow and let you know how it went.

Axles are easy, no top play and good smooth sound when ya spin them, any grinding sounds are not good at all

 

[wushaw]

It's not unusual for a little play after the grease from a previous packing job has basically run out of the bearings but still there....make sense...

 

[Bird]

I not sure how often your suppose to repack the wheel bearings

I think most of the "experts" recommend annually, but I doubt that anyone actually does that. If there's very much "play" at all, I'd do it, though. It's not a difficult job; just messy.

 

[crbr]

I got it jacked up and checked the rear axle. Both tires spin easily with no niose
and both of them do have some play when i try to wiggle them but not very much. I was thinking maybe the axle nut is slightly loose? I not sure how often your suppose to repack the wheel bearings.

Not to insult your intelligence at all. Here's something that you may very well know.

==> Bearing Buddy® <==

They sure do a good job on every trailer I have.

To be as inexpensive as they are, I personally don't go without them. I repack about every third spring season, as I rely on the Buddy Bearings to keep a good supply of grease to the bearings. Don't forget the bra covers. That is the secret to liking these things.

Above and beyond grease, there is also a very nice setup of an oil bath lubricartion for trailer hubs. A bit more expensive.
==> Oil Bath hub (page loads a little slow) <==

 

[wickedinhere]

It's not unusual for a little play after the grease from a previous packing job has basically run out of the bearings but still there....make sense...

I Gotcha i am gonna get on it first thing in the morning.

 

[Bird]

I repack about every third spring season, as I rely on the Buddy Bearings to keep a good supply of grease to the bearings

I agree. I've used them, and like you said, you still need to repack the bearings occasionally; just not as often.

 

[wickedinhere]

I got them repacked this morning i did both axles in a little over an hour. The bearings were still in good shape just need some grease. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Mahana79]

Not to insult your intelligence at all. Here's something that you may very well know.

==> Bearing Buddy® <==

They sure do a good job on every trailer I have.

To be as inexpensive as they are, I personally don't go without them. I repack about every third spring season, as I rely on the Buddy Bearings to keep a good supply of grease to the bearings. Don't forget the bra covers. That is the secret to liking these things.

Above and beyond grease, there is also a very nice setup of an oil bath lubricartion for trailer hubs. A bit more expensive.
==> Oil Bath hub (page loads a little slow) <==

good for a non brake hub but can be a disaster on a brake hub. the grease can squeze past the bearing seal and coat the pads with grease. then they do a real good jod of helping stop. I dont like them. I repack annually and replace the seals.

 

[Jimbrown]

If this thing has springs check all of the spring mounting and shackel bolts. If it is torison bar check the mounting bolts.

 

[Bird]

good for a non brake hub but can be a disaster on a brake hub.

Absolutely . . . good point we didn't mention before. Personally, I'd use them on any trailer without brakes, especially boat trailers, but would never use them on a trailer with brakes.

 

[wickedinhere]

The trailer is a 14x6.5 no brakes i use it in my lawn service. I still need to buy a trailer for my tractor.

 

[Skyco]

Ditto on no Bearing Buddies for trailers with brakes. In fact I don't like them on any trailers except boat trailers, there is some merit to keeping pressure on the grease when hot hubs are dunked in cool water, which can suck water in past the seals if there isn't some pressure. My favorite though is the Easy Lube type of system where you pump grease in through a fitting in the end of the axle that is covered by a removeable rubber cap, the old grease comes out around the fitting through the hub hole.
BTW I hope every one knows there can be problems with mixing different grease types, some can react and become worthless. Dexter uses lithium based greases and they can accept most other lithium based grease. You gotta know whats in there or get it ALL out when going to a different grease that may not be compatible

 

[Farmwithjunk]

If this thing has springs check all of the spring mounting and shackel bolts. If it is torison bar check the mounting bolts.

A point worth considering along the same lines....

Springs and their associated hardware make all sorts of popping,cracking, groaning, and squeeking sounds if the trailre has sat for any length of time. The wear points between springs get rusty and create noise when moved. A few minutes on the road usually wear away any rust and things quiet down.