Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: wheel bearings

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wheel bearings

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14448
Printed Date: 12 Oct 2025 at 6:23pm
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Topic: wheel bearings

Posted By: EchoGale
Subject: wheel bearings
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2021 at 3:58pm

I have a 2016 172 (not the Hood River one).

I just had someone repack the bearings. I will sheepishly admit it had been two years, not one since i had last done it. After he was done I learned he had repacked only one wheel and he said the other "didn't need it" so he injected grease as a precaution but called it good. (He didn't charge me for both).

Does this seem right?

What experience do you have with this grease injecting system? I've done some reading and now have concerns.

Thanks for the insights.

Julie

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Julie

Replies:

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2021 at 4:12pm

I repack both at same time, strange not to. I do not repack every year, I may add grease and I like the injection system used. When I have taken them apart they were OK. I am more likely to repack after about 10K miles. Not quite sure what your bearing person is doing. That is not normal, if I have a bearing problem on a car, I replace and or repack both axle bearings. I want the maintenance to match.

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2021 at 4:13pm

I have done similar in that I repack my bearings by hand every other year. The opposite years I jack the tire up and pump grease in via the zerk while rotating the wheel. This has worked well for the past 10 years on our 177 with 36,000 + miles.

My only concern would be that hopefully on the one that he didn't repack, did he use the same grease as what was already in/on the bearing. Not a good idea to mix grease on bearings.

Replaced seals, bearings and cups on the 177 2 years ago as it had 26,000 miles at the time and figured it would be a good thing before taking a major trip. Upon taking apart I found out it was totally unnecessary as the bearings and cups were in excellent condition. Replaced anyway as the parts were already purchased and the total cost for bearings, cups, and seals for both wheels was only $ 18 total.

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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

Posted By: EchoGale
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2021 at 6:08pm

Both very helpful, thank you.

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Julie

Posted By: JR
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2021 at 8:16pm

I have had my 179 only 2 years and the first year put 10,000+ miles on it and the second year 7,500 plus miles on it. Both years I have packed the bearings by hand. I don't like to use the zerk fittings because you can too much grease into the wheel bearing cavity and then the excess grease ends up on your brake shoes which then you have to replace those shoes for your brakes to work. It's really not a hard job and I have not taken the trailer to a dealer and priced out repacking the bearings by hand. Hope this helps.

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Jay

179/2019

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2021 at 8:15am

I also repack by hand and avoid using the zerk fitting. Pulling the drums allows for a brake inspection as well. I too wonder how your guy could decide that one wheel needed to be pulled but the other didn’t. I would ask him.

Also, If you paid him to pull the drums and pack the bearings then he should have done both wheels. As a matter of course he should also have inspected and adjusted the brakes, and let you know the status of that. Since he only did half the job he needs to either do the other half or you only pay him for half. Takes 10 seconds to squirt grease in a zerk. If it was me I’d be looking for another mechanic in future, he is making decisions about what to do and not do on the trailer without first consulting with you, the owner. That’s not right.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2021 at 10:04am

That is not right. You really can't inspect the bearings without removing, except for cases of damaged bearings. So I think whoever was doing the job just decided to flake out. Once you have the wheel off, it is not a giant leap to actually doing the job.

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost