Has anyone done their r-pod's wheel bearings?
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Topic: Has anyone done their r-pod's wheel bearings?
Posted By: Outbound
Subject: Has anyone done their r-pod's wheel bearings?
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2010 at 3:05pm
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The weather's been improving lately, and the itch to get the trailer ready for camping will be coming on strong soon. Has anyone done their bearings yet? What size is the spindle? What type of bearings does the r-pod use? Is there anything unusual that I should be prepared for? Thanks! Craig
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Replies:
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2010 at 12:40pm
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2010 at 9:04pm
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Personally I wasn't planning on doing this until next year since we got our 'pod in August and only went on 5 trips.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: HuronSailor
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2010 at 9:29am
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We bought our pod last May, and took several short trips within the state before the snow started to fly and we put her to bed. So we weren't too worried about brakes/bearings then. But we just got back from a 2000+ mile winter getaway trip with the pod, and I'm taking it to the dealer today. Although we didn't have any problems on our trip, one of the things I've asked them to do while the pod is there is check the bearings and brakes.
I'll let you know how they held up. ------------- .: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: 2018 rPod 180 :. |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2010 at 1:13pm
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I've only once had bearing problems, and that was on a dirtbike trailer that I had neglected for several years. The bearings disintegrated and the hub came free. But, my concern isn't so much with how far the trailer has been towed (which was only a few thousand miles last year). Instead, I'm concerned about the 5 month period that its been sitting. Oh well, I guess that I'll do it blind this weekend. Hopefully I won't wreck a seal by accident.
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2010 at 1:53pm
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If its like my popup, you probably can get away with leaving the inner seal. I know some people feel that since they are in there already they might as well change it, and I can't disagree. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: HuronSailor
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2010 at 9:19am
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Dropped our pod off at the dealer yesterday after our FL trip to have the window leak fixed, and at that time he said he doubted the bearings or brakes would need any special attention. We've got a grand total of about 3000 miles on it since we bought it last May.
But they're going to pull the wheels and give them a quick look see while it's in the shop.
BTW, he had a baseball jacket on that had the rPod logo on it ... ------------- .: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: 2018 rPod 180 :. |
Posted By: TIDALWAVE
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2010 at 12:46pm
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Do you really have to dis-assemble and re-grease axle bearings once a year? I understand the reason for that, if you had no other method to get new-clean grease to the bearings. But there is a 'zerk' fitting behind the cap to add more grease if needed. The manual, I received from the axle manufacturer, simply stated that I should wipe out any old grease, and carefully inject more clean grease until it came out from the relief valves. They did say to do a complete maintenance on them if the axles were ever completely submerged. ------------- TIDALWAVE |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2010 at 12:06pm
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The zerk fitting comes out beside the inner bearing and manages to squeeze a little bit of grease on the inside of the bearing. It does very little toward forcing grease through the bearing and does nothing for the outer bearing. Using the zerk fitting does next to nothing compared to proper bearing maintenance. As an update, I pulled the wheels & looked at the bearings on Sunday. The inner bearing seal has to be destroyed in order to pull the inner bearing (way too tight to tap out), and unfortunately I wasn't able to find replacement seals, so I put everything back without doing the bearings. I'll have to do them another day after I've found the proper bearing seals. For those that are interested in doing this maintenance themselves, I found these videos to be very useful and accurate for the r-pod: http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-6170030694955709729&ei=RH-WS_oVyYqUB_zy2YkD&q=trailer+bearings&hl=en# - http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-6170030694955709729&ei=RH-WS_oVyYqUB_zy2YkD&q=trailer+bearings&hl=en# http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k2T79nHXgw - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k2T79nHXgw -edit- Yes, I know that the guy in the first video says that you can re-grease your bearings by just squeezing in grease into the zerk fittings... but, no, not on the r-pod. You could use a whole tube of grease and never fill the void between the bearings. If you tried this, you'd also end up squeezing grease through the inner seal onto the brakes, which would be incredibly dangerous. |
Posted By: Tusten Traveler
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2010 at 12:17pm
This does not sound like any type of DIY project project to me.  So when should it be taken in to the dealer- after a few seasons?------------- John and Linda One 14 lb Cockapoo 2010 RPod 174 |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2010 at 12:47pm
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General wisdom is to do your bearings annually. The problem lies more with the amount of time your trailer sits idle as opposed to the number of miles its hauled down the road. Most dealers offer bearing and brake service for an (un)reasonable* price. *Seriously, tho, I'd expect a mechanic in a shop to take 90 minutes to do the bearings and adjust the brakes. I wouldn't be surprised to see a "reasonable" price for the job to be in the $120-$150 range. Canadian dollars, of course
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2010 at 1:13pm
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Actually the average Joe can do this in less than an hour, as long as Joe doesn't mind getting their hands greasy. Its truly an easy job. I had the same jitters at first, but then a mechanic friend of mine walked me through it and I wondered why I was so worried. That said, while oil changes and brake pads are also pretty easy I find myself taking the cars in for those jobs more and more often...
Oh, and while the usual recommendation is to do the bearings every year, personally I do it every 3 or so. We do 7 or 8 trips per year, most less than an hour away and one 3 hours away. The axle doesn't get submerged like a boat trailer. I feel "once a year" is much like changing the oil every 3000 miles on your car - materials and design have improved and where it might have been prudent to do both as recommended 30 years ago, it isn't now. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Wyn
Date Posted: 24 May 2010 at 4:54pm
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Being 'old fashioned', I service the trailer bearings every spring before we start camping. The manual provided by the axle manufacturer even states that once a year the bearings should be cleaned, inspected and lubed, the zerk fitting is only for interim lube during the towing season. Personnally I have never lubed the bearings using the zerk fitting, I only lube them when I do the annual spring repacking.
The seal was available from NAPA, if anyone wants the seal part number, post a reply to this post and I will pull my file and let you know the number.
The only difference in re-packing the pod bearings from other campers I have owned is the use of a retaining clip for the castle nut instead of a cotter pin, the tabs on the retaining clip had to be bent away from the castle nut slots to permit the nut to be unscrewed. Not sure how many times the clip can be re-used, but I will probably by a new set for next year. ------------- Wyn Hudson Valley, NY 171 |
Posted By: secretbard
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2011 at 6:55am
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Never got a clear answer here. I see numerous sizes of bearings and seals on etrailer. What size bearing and seals does the Rpod have? My Pod is a 2010, so I doubt I will have to replace any seals or bearings, but I'd really like to keep spares in the parts kit I have in the pass-through storage compartment along with the grease. Oh yeah, I plan on grease packing those puppies this weekend and once a year. Seeing the videos on etrailer, it looks like something I could definitely do myself.
------------- 2010 Rpod 172 :) 2004 Chevy Trailblazer |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2011 at 7:58am
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These are the bearing seals you're looking for ( http://www.etrailer.com/Seals-for-Trailer-Bearings/TruRyde/58846.html - link ). 3500 pound axles have a standard size, its much easier than I originally thought to find seals. Make sure that you get the double-lipped seals. If you're inspecting your bearings, you will need new bearing seals. The seals are next to impossible to get out without destroying. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: secretbard
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2011 at 8:10am
They have two different bearings, one for 2.95, the other for 3.75. Which one will work? Thanks again for the info. 
------------- 2010 Rpod 172 :) 2004 Chevy Trailblazer |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2011 at 10:40am
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You'll need one of each. The rear bearing is larger than the front. If your bearings need replacement, have a good look at the races too. And as far as races, thats where the amount of effort to get them out (and new ones in) is where I take it to a professional. Personally, I plan on having the bearings and races replaced by my dealership at the 5-year mark when I buy new tires.
------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: secretbard
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2011 at 6:58pm
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Thanks for the valuable info. ------------- 2010 Rpod 172 :) 2004 Chevy Trailblazer |
Posted By: secretbard
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2011 at 4:44pm
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I just greased the wheel bearings taking care to follow the on-line instructional videos found on etrailer. I have to say, it was a project for the first wheel because I'm new to this, but once I did the first wheel, the second wheel went quick. I must say, this is probably the first time that wheel and hub have ever come off that trailer. Evidence? Well, the breaks had cobwebs inside and the breaks were very hard to move, nearly fused to the back metal from rust. I had to take a little grease and coat where all the metal met metal behind the breaks. Once that was done, the breaks moved back and forth very smoothly. I can't imagine that was very safe. I have to say, the learning curve was long and arduous for me (me with the high IQ), but I really enjoyed doing my own work on the Pod. There is a sense of personal accomplishment. Hey, if any of you want to do work on your bearings and have questions, ask me and I'll try to help.
------------- 2010 Rpod 172 :) 2004 Chevy Trailblazer |