What causes a wheel bearing to go bad on a car hauler trailer?

Answer 1

There are 2 main reasons bearings "GO BAD" on a car hauler.Number 1 is lack of grease/The correct HIGH temperature grease! and the 2nd is overtightening the bearing lock nut.As the wheels turn temperatures increase and bearings expand,this causes the bearings to grind into or gall the races causing particles of bearing to destroy the smooth bearing surface.First wipe off grease from bearings.NEXT place long strand high melting point wheel bearing grease in your palm.With the clean bearing(soak in solvent after wiping off grease) press the larger end of bearing into the grease in your palm,until grease comes out of top of bearing cones,or through the entire bearing assembly.Do this to the other bearing of course.Clean old dirty grease from spindle and inside hub.Then replace inner bearing and grease seal.Then replace hub assembly on spindle.Install outer bearing next(make sure the bearing races pressed into hub were cleaned,and of course make sure no pitting exists on bearings or races.If so replace both as a set.)hand tighten hub nut finger tight,spin tire/hub assembly make sure nut is still finger tight.Then back off spindle nut 1/16 to 1/18 of a turn,until cotter pin lines up with holes in spindle nut and spindle.Insert cotter pin,bend over ends and make sure there is clearance for dust cap so cotter pin doesnt rub on inside of dust cap.YOUR DONE.