Broken Trailer bearing

[dsla]

I have a ryan single axle trailer, and the bearing hub cracked on the way home last night. Does anyone know if this is easy to replace, or best left to the shop?

[MikeC]

RE: Broken Trailer bearing

dsla, it depends on your level of mechanical aptitude, kind of like asking if it's easy to run the ski course at 35 off - just depends on who you ask.

If it's the actual hub, that's probably the easiest part to change because the bearings are already in the new hub. Remove the wheel; then remove the grease cap, the cotter pin and the axle nut; the hub (with the bearings inside) should slide off the axle. Make sure the new bearings are well greased (if you have a bearing buddy grease cap you still need to grease the bearings before you install them) slide the hub over the axle then tighten it. To tighten, slowly spin the hub while you are tightening the nut, keep tightening until the hub is difficult to turn, then back the nut off about a quarter of a turn. Make sure the hub spins freely and that it doesn't have any play in it.

Here's a link to the hubs at Northern Tool: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...+166845+775725

[dsla]

Thanks MikeC. I guess my question left a little room for interpretation. I have never really worked with anything that had surge brakes on it, and I wasn't sure if I would have to take them apart. I will give it a try. I have changed brakes & rotors on cars, so this looks like it is within my abilities.

[seth]

You should be fine. I had never changed any sort of bearings, rotors, brakes on a car or trailer before, and replaced bearings, seals, and brakes on my trailer in a few hours.