When you’re towing a trailer, the last thing you want is for it to break down due to lack of maintenance. To avoid these frustrating situations and unnecessary, expensive repairs, it’s imperative to grease your trailer wheel bearings. NSAR has a variety of matchingbearing products, so please contact us.

A regular trailer inspection checklist should include wheel bearings, and more specifically bearing grease. These bearings are located inside the hubs of the trailer axles and allow the wheels to rotate freely while driving. During driving, the rotational forces create friction, and friction generates heat. To prevent the bearings from overheating, they need to be lubricated by injecting grease into the inside of the hub (the part that contains the bearings).

Keeping the bearings lubricated and filled with fresh grease can help ensure that you can get to and from the ramp safely and worry-free.

What are trailer bearings?

Trailer bearingsare small metal balls or rollers that sit inside metal rings (called raceways). They sit on the spindle inside the wheel hub. The main function of trailer bearings is to reduce friction between the wheel and axle, ensuring smooth rotation so that the trailer can be easily pulled behind the towing vehicle.

Without them, or if they break, the wheels will seize up and you’ll need more traction to move the trailer. Worse still, they may disintegrate, potentially causing the wheels to fall off the vehicle while you’re driving.
Bearings act as a buffer between fixed and moving parts to minimize wear, and if they’re not in good condition, your trailer won’t run as long. Properly lubricated bearings also improve fuel efficiency by reducing rolling resistance.

How to Check and Refill Grease?

1. Remove the bearing protection cap.
2. Check the amount of grease by pressing on the edge of the spring piston. If you can move or rock the piston, the hub has enough grease. Do not add more. If the piston does not move, you need to add more grease.
3. Attach a hand pump grease gun to the grease nipple (commonly called a grease nipple) in the center of the piston. Pump in grease until you see the piston begin to move outward, then continue adding grease until the piston rocks about 1/8 inch when you press on the edge.
4. While this is not necessary, you can also jack up the trailer so the tires can rotate freely in front of the trailer to help distribute the grease.
5. Wipe off any excess grease before replacing the cover of the bearing protector.
AINE DFLis a company specializing in bearing sales for more than 20 years, with its overseas warehouse in the United States.Our other quality bearings:Wheel Hub Bearings,Rodamientos de agujas,End Rod Bearingsand other accessoriesLinear Guideway,Sello de aceite.