Grease On Trailer Wheel?

[Bluebasser86]

I was doing my post trip inspection of the boat and trailer after my last trip and noticed several spots of axle grease on my trailer tire. Last time I saw this the bearing was shot and my wheel and tire were ruined because I didn't notice it until it was too late. The axle didn't feel any warmer than it should, is it possible it was just a little extra grease (the axle is fairly new) or is this a sign my bearings are about to go bad or need repacked or something? I know without a doubt it was not there before I left because I just put the wheels and tires on it this summer and they didn't have a spot on them before we left.

[Jig Man]

That is usually a sign of a seal failure. Have you looked to see it from the inside and checked for grease there?

[Bluebasser86]

That is usually a sign of a seal failure. Have you looked to see it from the inside and checked for grease there?

No, haven't had a chance to do anything with it yet but that gives me a place to start looking thanks!

[BKeith]

If common if you just greased them, and over greased them. It will push the execess back out. If it just showed up and you didn't recently pump grease in them, you might want to pull them off, clean, inspect, pack and install new seals.

If it was the outside, Bearing Buddies will make a mess all over the outside of the wheels if you over grease them or if you don't use the bras.

[00 mod]

Also you can put too much grease in them, causing them to throw it while traveling. You say you just put them back on, was this your first trip since then?

Jeff

[Bluebasser86]

Also you can put too much grease in them, causing them to throw it while traveling. You say you just put them back on, was this your first trip since then?

Jeff

Nope, I just bought the wheels and tires a couple months ago and the axle a couple months before that. It wasn't too much grease, I took the dust cover off tonight and there was actually water still inside under the dust cover So I'm thinking it's the seal that needs replaced. Grease was looking a little milky so I'll probably just repack the bearings and clean all the old grease out and put a new seal on.

[BKeith]

Better get you a seal and bearing kit. If that water has been in there very long your bearings and races will probably be pitted or discolored

You say you just installed that axle, when you take it apart, make sure you check the seal running surface on the axle. With this cheap axles we are being stuck with now, a lot of times that shoulder for the seal is welded on and you will find welding slag stuck to it so the seal is running on it. That will wipe out a seal up in just a couple of miles.

You will definetly have to pull it apart and clean everything up to get the milky grease out, that's where water has gotten blended into it and it's gotta go.