Understanding
Husky Trailers carries a diverse selection of quality trailer hub caps, bearings, races, and seals online. Whether you’re looking for trailer bearings or seals, in addition to other trailer hub parts, we have them stocked and ready to ship in a variety of measurements & materials. Hub sizing is extremely important, which is why Husky carries a variety of hub replacement part sizes. If you’re replacing your hub body, it’s always important to replace the inner & outer cups when you’re using a bearing kit. The quality of your bearing grease, as poor-grade grease can result in corrosion, is something you might want to consider. No matter what you’re looking to do, Husky has the trailer wheel bearing parts you need.Per Page12244896All
Types of Trailer Hub Bearings
The wheel hub assembly attaches the wheels to the trailer. Inside of the hub is the races, trailer bearings, and seals. There are two types of bearings: hub and wheel. Wheel bearings can be taken apart, lubricated, and reassembled. They only need to be replaced if they are damaged or worn out. Trailer hub bearings are sold and installed as a complete unit. They come pre-packed from the manufacturer and cannot be taken apart for relubrication. They must always be replaced.
Trailer Hub Bearings Maintenance
Most trailers have wheel bearings so knowing how to inspect and maintain them is important and can save you money. Because the trailer hub parts attach the trailer wheels to the axle and body of the trailer, they are the most important part of the trailer. These critical steering components should be inspected annually.
The frequency of trailer hub bearings maintenance depends on the trailer type, wheel size, and load. In general, the bearings in smaller tires need to be replaced more often. Smaller tires spin faster which places more stress on the bearings. Boat trailers with small wheels require repacking every 2,000 miles. Frequency can also be determined by its location, the environment it’s used in, and how the trailer is used. Trailers that are exposed to saltwater or have the tires submerged in water frequently will require more frequent maintenance. If the trailer has hauled extremely heavy loads or has been used off-road, it should be maintained more often.
Improperly maintained wheel bearings can be very dangerous. Wheels can come off without warning and result in damage to the trailer, cargo, and even nearby people.
How to Replace Trailer Bearings and Seals
The trailer hub bearings are the most critical trailer hub parts. They should be repacked every 20,000 miles to keep them rotating smoothly. If they start to make noise, they probably need to be replaced and should be inspected immediately.
The replacement process is fairly simple and should take about an hour. First, the trailer hub caps, hubs, and old bearings will need to be removed. Next, clean everything and apply new grease. Finally, install the new bearings and reassemble everything. Once the wheel is back on the trailer, you’re ready to hit the road.
How to Find Size for Trailer Hub Bearings
An easy way to determine which bearings are used on your trailer axle is to take the hub off and check for the numbers stamped into the bearings. If the bearing numbers cannot be read, the next best solution is to find the bearings’ inner diameter. Aside from the actual part number, the inner diameter of a bearing is the best place to start identifying the bearing.
The easiest and best way to determine the size trailer hub bearings you need is to remove the trailer hub caps and hub from the trailer, then follow these steps:
- Disassemble – Remove the front and rear trailer bearings and seals, then locate the number on the back of the bearing or measure the inside dimension of the bearing.
- Spindle Size – The numbers from the bearing represent the spindle size. If the number isn’t legible, you can measure the inside diameter of the bearing using a micrometer.
- Seal – If you are lucky, the seal will have a number stamped on it. Otherwise, you will have to measure both the inside and outside diameters of the seal to ensure the proper fit.
- Studs – Trailer hubs come with 4, 5, 6, and 8 studs, depending upon the capacity of the trailer axle. If you have 4, 6, or 8 studs, you don’t need any other information to determine the correct size.
- Bolt Pattern – This additional step is only needed if you have a 5 stud hub. Measure from the center of the hub to the center of one of the studs, then multiply by two. The result is your bolt circle. A 5 lug on 4.5″ circle is most common for boat trailer hubs and rims. The 5 lug on 5″ bolt circle is typically seen on utility trailers.
