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  • Bearing Packer

    This post is about the tools I used, not the end item (which is a small trailer I drag behind my motorcycle). Now that I'm confident in the bearing maintenance process, I'm going to tackle my 315's bearings.

    I'm not sure who first recommended the bearing packer tool, but it works great. So whoever you are--thank you!

    I've greased bearings manually but I'd never attempted to replace races. I found a race corroded in the hub so decided to replace all of them. Based on what I'd learned here and at RVSA, it wasn't hard at all. Messy, yes, but not hard.

    So while this is about the tools, below is what the race looked like inside the small hub. The race that's facing the camera is the rear of the hub. There's also an arrow showing the inner race.

    Click image for larger version

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    Once I had the races replaced, to grease the bearings prior to install I used the items below (all in pic except generic grease gun):
    Lumax LX-1310 White 1/2" Inner Diameter / 4-1/2" Outer Diameter Plastic Universal Bearing Packer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MD3EL2
    Lock 'N Lube https://locknlube.com/

    For the grease I used Lucas' Red & Tacky: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ARPVO8

    Click image for larger version

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    The bearing packer and Lock 'N Lube were made for each other! Worked great. I scraped off the excess left on the packer and put it in the hub.

    Click image for larger version

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    For those of us that are mechanically challenged, the packer (and definitely the Lock 'N Lube that I've mentioned many times previously) are well worth the $.

    Howard
    Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.

    2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus

  • #2
    A little diversion, but you mentioned changing races. Bearing work can involve two of the most potentially dangerous parts of RV maintenance: lifting the trailer and driving a piece of hardened steel. The most important tool when messing with races is eye protection. A tap can turn a race into flying razor blades.

    I love my LockNLube.
    John & Kathy
    2014 Reflection 303RLS
    2014 F250 SC SB 6.2

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by Jkwilson View Post
      A little diversion, but you mentioned changing races. Bearing work can involve two of the most potentially dangerous parts of RV maintenance: lifting the trailer and driving a piece of hardened steel. The most important tool when messing with races is eye protection. A tap can turn a race into flying razor blades.

      I love my LockNLube.
      I just purchased a slide hammer to pull the races out of the hubs when I need to. Trying to make the job easier than hammering the out.

      Rob
      Rob & Barb
      2022 RAM 3500 Big Horn, 6.7 Cummins HO/Aisin
      2022 Solitude 378MBS

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      • #4
        Calbar howson Howard, picked up one of these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (yet to use it) for the messy job of getting the pesky seals out. If I did more bearings I might consider https://www.amazon.com/GEARWRENCH-41...%2C129&sr=1-12 . I have ran into issues with hubs not being notched or the race blind not being open enough to see the race that needs to be removed.

        Rob, Slide hammers are nice, but remember you will be yanking on a 15lb object trying to pull out the races. You may find if possible to use the slide hammer to push the races out vs pulling as you will be able to block the drum to provide the necessary resistance for driving out the races.
        Joseph
        Tow
        Vehicle: 2024 GMC K3500 Denali Ultimate Diesel
        Coach: 303RLS Delivered March 5, 2021
        South of Houston Texas

        Comment


        • #5
          Jlawles2 -- yep, I've got a seal puller. Easy to get the rear seal off with the tool.


          Click image for larger version

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          The races were also easy to get out of my little trailer's hubs. I have an old rubber mallet that has a metal shaft for a handle and at the end of the shaft it's shaped like a (very large) standard screwdriver. I think it was meant to pry off a hubcap. Anyway, that end fit down inside the hub perfectly and with patience, moving around the race edge visible (see pic in post 1), I drove them out.

          The races that are on the outside of some setups (I've seen YouTube videos) where the person cuts an "X" in the race to split it...that doesn't look like fun.
          Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.

          2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Jlawles2 View Post
            Calbar howson Howard, picked up one of these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (yet to use it) for the messy job of getting the pesky seals out. If I did more bearings I might consider https://www.amazon.com/GEARWRENCH-41...%2C129&sr=1-12 . I have ran into issues with hubs not being notched or the race blind not being open enough to see the race that needs to be removed.

            Rob, Slide hammers are nice, but remember you will be yanking on a 15lb object trying to pull out the races. You may find if possible to use the slide hammer to push the races out vs pulling as you will be able to block the drum to provide the necessary resistance for driving out the races.
            Jlawles2 I plan to clamp the hub down. Not sure how yet but I have all winter to figure that one out though and only need to repack my hubs in the fall so some time to play a bit with some ideas.

            Rob
            Rob & Barb
            2022 RAM 3500 Big Horn, 6.7 Cummins HO/Aisin
            2022 Solitude 378MBS

            Comment


            • #7
              Doing this work once the bearings are cleaned should be treated similar to a surgical setting. No need for masks however on this one, but one grain of dirt and the whole thing can come apart. So its important to have the utmost cleanliness. For driving out races, a brass drift dressed to fit inside the drum would be best where any steel on steel can damage the machined surfaces. Eye protection is critical.

              Jim

              Comment


              • #8
                Guest Jim, I'm not trying to hijack this thread, but I happened to look at your photo on the left and thought "wow, his trailer is really dirty". Then I looked again, and clicked on it, lol. Is that a new project?
                Dave and Darren Bakersfield, CA
                2019 GMC Denali dually 4x4 duramax, BW puck hitch, timbrens
                2015 Chevrolet 3500 CC duramax SB SRW (much loved; replaced with dually)
                2021 Solitude 390 RK-R (3 A/C, solar, gen, 8K axles DP glass), comfort ride shocks, VIN 03584
                Max and Riley, our chihuahua/jack russell furbabies

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by DarnDave View Post
                  Guest Jim, I'm not trying to hijack this thread, but I happened to look at your photo on the left and thought "wow, his trailer is really dirty". Then I looked again, and clicked on it, lol. Is that a new project?
                  No its just a pic of a rig I had seen while traveling. It does look like a nice fixer upper though. LOL.

                  Jim

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by howson View Post
                    Jlawles2 -- yep, I've got a seal puller. Easy to get the rear seal off with the tool.


                    Click image for larger version  Name:	seal puller.JPG Views:	56 Size:	11.8 KB ID:	73953

                    The races were also easy to get out of my little trailer's hubs. I have an old rubber mallet that has a metal shaft for a handle and at the end of the shaft it's shaped like a (very large) standard screwdriver. I think it was meant to pry off a hubcap. Anyway, that end fit down inside the hub perfectly and with patience, moving around the race edge visible (see pic in post 1), I drove them out.

                    The races that are on the outside of some setups (I've seen YouTube videos) where the person cuts an "X" in the race to split it...that doesn't look like fun.
                    Pick up one of these to help make your life easier, https://www.harborfreight.com/bearin...-pc-63261.html

                    This is also an option for the bearing packer tool, https://www.lislecorp.com/specialty-...bearing-packer

                    I have had these for years and they do make jobs go quicker.
                    Last edited by Bob P; 01-11-2022, 03:45 PM. Reason: spelling
                    Bob P.
                    2018 F-350 CCLB 4X4 Dually
                    2020 337RLS
                    VIN last 8 L3326309

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Bob P View Post

                      Pick up one of these to help make your life easier, https://www.harborfreight.com/bearin...-pc-63261.html

                      This is also an option for the bearing packer tool, https://www.lislecorp.com/specialty-...bearing-packer

                      I have had these for years and they do make jobs go quicker.
                      Obviously I did a lousy job in my original post.

                      The Harbor Freight kit linked in your post is exactly what I used to drive in the races, set the rear seal, and it also worked great to install the new dust seal cap. (I bought a complete kit with races, bearings, dust cap, rear seal, and even a new cotter pin. Readers will hopefully remember the work was not done on my RV--it was a small utility trailer--thus the focus was on the tools.)

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                      Click image for larger version

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                      The Handy Packer (pic below) looks like a viable alternative to the Universal Bearing Packer tool I used. .

                      Click image for larger version

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                      Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.

                      2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by howson View Post
                        The Harbor Freight kit linked in your post is exactly what I used to drive in the races, set the rear seal, and it also worked great to install the new dust seal cap. (I bought a complete kit with races, bearings, dust cap, rear seal, and even a new cotter pin. Readers will hopefully remember the work was not done on my RV--it was a small utility trailer--thus the focus was on the tools.)

                        The Handy Packer (pic below) looks like a viable alternative to the Universal Bearing Packer tool I used. .
                        Howard, Howard, Howard. Here we go again..........more tools

                        The upside is I have a bearing packer like the one above (keeps the grease in the packer when not in use) and I also have a wood block for setting the rear seal, and a set brass punches to get the races out and in. To remove the seal the Tech use a pair of small offset channel locks - I happen to have one of those too.

                        So this time your off the hook my friend

                        But that HF set does look nice

                        Keith
                        Last edited by howson; 01-12-2022, 07:18 AM.
                        2018 Reflection 150 Series 220RK 5th whee, Star White 2022 F350 King Ranch CC Long bed (HAL) (CCC 4062lbs), B&W 25K OEM Companion,. SteadyFast system, Trailer reverse lights, rear receiver spare tire holder, storage tube, sumo springs, Victron MultiPlus 12/120/3000, Solar, Custom 6K axles upgrade, and other modifications.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by howson View Post
                          The bearing packer and Lock 'N Lube were made for each other! Worked great. I scraped off the excess left on the packer and put it in the hub.
                          I too use the same bearing packer you have in the photos. I find this easy to use and does an excellent job.
                          Last edited by howson; 01-12-2022, 07:18 AM. Reason: Edited quote down to make response easier to read.
                          Keith and Tina
                          2021 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
                          2014 RAM 3500 6.7L Cummins Crew Cab SWD SB 4X4
                          Hitch Curt 20k Fixed Mount

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