Hot wheel bearing/hubs

[Slap Shot]

Ok, I've repacked the bearings, and replaced bearings, and made sure my disc brakes weren't dragging significantly ... why then are my bearing/hubs still hot. I've done the same work on the hub without brakes and had no problems. Help!

 

[Skinner24]

I would say that it is just your brakes heating up the hubs when you slow down. I have disc surge brakes on my trailer and when I stop at a gas station, I can feel the hubs and they will be warm sometimes and sometimes they will be a little to warm to hold on to. So I would say it just depends on how many times you stop before you check them. For example stop and go traffic.

 

[springer3]

Hot is normal. Too hot to touch is normal if you had a long stop down hill or from high speed. Too hot to touch all the time, or smoking hot is a problem. Which do you have?

 

[Lazy Daze]

Hot is normal. Too hot to touch is normal if you had a long stop down hill or from high speed. Too hot to touch all the time, or smoking hot is a problem. Which do you have?

and... is this your first time doing bearings? Just wondering because maybe you tightened the castle nut too much.

 

[Westie]

Are they significantly hotter than the disc on your tow vehicle? All disc brakes will get somewhat hot.

 

[andy k]

if your brakes are electric, make sure your setting is not to high in your truck. I made that mistake last year

 

[unlvrebel]

The hubs should be warm to the touch - about 100 to 110 degrees F. You should be able to hold on to them. If they are warmer than that, you have a problem. The fact that you say that the wheels you did without brakes are fine leads me to believe it is a brake dragging issue.

Jack up a side and try to spin the wheel. It should spin relatively freely. There will be a little drag from the brakes but it should still spin.

 

[Slap Shot]

Thanks All - the hubs are too hot to hold but not smoking hot. Ok for 10 miles to ramp but planning 800 mile trip up NJ Turnpike this summer. I was able to do front bearings and have no problems although I am a novice but thought I was careful not to overtighten castle nut. The trailer is a 2005 Shorelandr. I had problem last year with brakes locking up. I bled the brakes and all was fine ... except the heat.

 

[unlvrebel]

If you still can't find the problem, take the brake calipers off and run the trailer. If the hub aren't hot, then you know there is still something wrong with the brakes. If the hubs are hot, then you have an issue with the hubs. Seems like a lot of work, but at least you can isolate the problem.

 

[Slap Shot]

Thanks univrebel! Looks like I'll be "playing" with my trailer again this weekend.

 

[springer3]

If you still can't find the problem, take the brake calipers off and run the trailer. If the hub aren't hot, then you know there is still something wrong with the brakes. If the hubs are hot, then you have an issue with the hubs. Seems like a lot of work, but at least you can isolate the problem.

No need to remove the calipers to run this test. Simply lock out the surge brakes during the test drive. If they get hot with the back-up lever locked in place, that means they are dragging and need repair or adjustment.