Your Business Rides on Bearings: Save Money, Time and Headaches by Caring for Them

November 24, 2014 by JTI Trailer & Hitch Experts 2 Comments

Bearings are the crux of the inner functioning of your trailer. You can’t see your bearings, so how do you know they are good?  In addition to that, how do you maintain your bearings to assure that you get the full life of them?

If you depend on your trailer, keeping your bearings in the best shape will save you time, money, and hassles. Here’s some advice worth bearing in mind.

(Sorry; sometimes puns are hard to resist.)

FIRST: How to check your bearings

This process does not require you to take off your wheel:

1. Jack up your trailer.

   Support it on jack stands.

2. Without getting under the trailer, grasp each wheel at the top and bottom and attempt to rock it.

   There should be minimal movement. Excessive play may indicate that the wheel bearing is worn and needs adjustment or replacement.

3. Rotate the wheel.

   Listen for any unusual noise and feel for any roughness as it rotates, which may indicate that the bearing is damaged and needs to be replaced.

SECOND: How to re-pack your bearings

… you can do it, but it will take me longer to explain it here than it will for us to do it for you.

Here, some examples of bad bearings.

One is bad, one is good, can you tell the difference? It is hard, that is why we do the dirty work for you.

Here are the two cleaned off. The bearing on the left is discolored, still after being cleaned. Discoloring is a sign of wear.

Here’s the last one – something you definitely do NOT want to see: broken bearings!

Bearings keep everything running smoothly: your trailer, your business, your peace of mind. Maintain your bearings by bringing in your trailer twice a year for seasonal service. We’ll check your bearings and make sure they are good.

That’s another way JTI helps build your business, save you money, and give you time for your real life. _________________________________________________________________________

Need to schedule a routine maintenance appointment? Or would you rather wait until something breaks and you have to come in? Right. Call 440.232.4311 to schedule service and avoid frustrating down time. Want to learn more about bearings (and things to worry about)? Timken offers a very informative poster. If reading it brings up some concerns you’d rather not tackle alone, contact us. We’re here to help.

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