Whether you repack or replace the bearings on your trailer, removing them can seem challenging. Trailers vary in construction, weight and design, but the bearings and axles all share common components. Following a few simple steps will allow you to remove and service your wheel bearings easily with a few common tools.
Secure the trailer on jack stands, elevating the wheel enough so that it can be removed. Use blocks or wheel chocks to keep the tires that are not raised from rolling while you work on the trailer. Remove the wheel nuts and the tire with a lug wrench and set them aside.
Remove the bearing cap with a flat screwdriver or a small pry bar. Pry carefully around the sides, working the cap loose a little at a time and being careful not to bend it. If the cap is rusted or bent and leaking, replace it with a new one. Under the cap is a cotter pin that secures the axle nut. Straighten the cotter pin and remove it with pliers. Set it aside.
Remove the axle nut with the large socket and set it aside. Some axle nuts are reverse thread, so they may loosen clockwise instead of counterclockwise. If you are unsure, check the threads on the axle and see which way they slope. This should tell you which way the axle nut should be removed. Axle nuts are typically not tightened to high torque specifications, so if the nut does not spin off easily with minimal effort, first ensure that you are loosening, and not tightening, the nut. Remove the axle washer, located behind the nut.
Slide the entire hub off of the axle. Slide it slowly at first as this will push the outer bearings to the end of the axle. Carefully remove the bearings and set them aside. Slide the hub the rest of the way off the axle and set it on a bench, front side down. Remove the wheel seal with the flat screwdriver or pry bar and discard. Pull the inner bearings out of the hub.
Reassembly in the reverse of disassembly. Repack old bearings or pack new bearings with the wheel bearing grease. Always replace wheel seals when servicing trailer bearings. Torque the axle nut to the manufacturer's specifications, ensuring that it is not too tight. An overly tightened axle nut will cause the bearings to bind and heat up, possibly causing bearing failure. Replace the cotter pin with a new one before replacing the bearing cap.
