Labor Day weekend is one of the last big RV travel weekends of summer. Before you hook up your travel trailer or fifth wheel and head out for one more adventure, there’s an important maintenance item you don’t want to overlook: your RV wheel bearing service.
At California RV Specialists in Lodi, CA, wheel bearing inspections help towable RV owners prepare for the road. Additionally, the RV wheel bearing service supports safe travel.
Why Are RV Wheel Bearings So Important?
Your wheel bearings allow your RV wheels and hubs to rotate while supporting the load traveling down the highway.
Every mile exposes these components to heat, load, road vibration, moisture, and wear. Proper lubrication and regular inspection are important for bearing life and reliable operation.
A bearing problem can potentially damage the hub, spindle, brakes, or other components—and can leave you dealing with a roadside repair instead of enjoying your Labor Day vacation.
When Were Your Bearings Last Serviced?
If your answer is “I don’t know,” that’s a good reason to check your maintenance records and the recommendations for your particular axle and bearing system.
Service intervals can vary based on the axle manufacturer, bearing system, mileage, time, and operating conditions. Follow the maintenance schedule specified for your particular RV.
We especially recommend paying attention to your wheel-end components if:
- You recently purchased a used RV
- You don’t know its maintenance history
- Your trailer has accumulated significant mileage
- The RV has been sitting for an extended period
- You’ve noticed unusual wheel-end temperatures
- You’re seeing grease around the wheel or brake area
- You hear unusual noises
- You’re preparing for a long-distance trip
What Does Traditional Wheel Bearing Service Involve?
Depending on the axle and wheel-end system, traditional service may include removing the hub, cleaning the bearings, inspecting the bearings and races for wear or damage, repacking serviceable bearings with the proper grease, replacing grease seals, and properly reassembling the wheel end.
This also creates an opportunity to look at other components while everything is apart.
At California RV Specialists, we don’t believe wheel bearing maintenance should simply be about adding more grease.
Inspection matters.
It’s Also a Good Time to Inspect Your Brakes
Wheel bearing service can be a great opportunity to inspect your trailer brakes.
Depending on your braking system, we may be able to identify concerns involving brake components, drums, grease contamination, wiring, seals, or other visible wear.
Your bearings and brakes are both critical components at each wheel end, so it makes sense to pay attention to both.
We also offer DeeMaxx hydraulic disc brake upgrades for qualifying travel trailers and fifth wheels for owners interested in upgrading their braking systems.
Check More Than Just the Bearings
Before Labor Day travel, take a look at the rest of your running gear too.
Inspect your:
- Tires and tire pressures
- Wheels and lug hardware
- Leaf springs
- Shackles and bushings
- Equalizers
- Spring hangers
- U-bolts
- Axles
- Brakes
- Breakaway system
Uneven tire wear, unusual noises, excessive movement, or components that simply don’t look right deserve further inspection before another highway trip.
Schedule Your Wheel Bearing Service Before Labor Day
Labor Day weekend should be about camping, traveling, and spending time with family and friends—not dealing with an avoidable roadside problem.
If your RV wheel bearings are due for maintenance, or you’re simply unsure of their condition, schedule an inspection before your next trip.
California RV Specialists provides RV wheel bearing maintenance, brake service, suspension inspections, repairs, parts, and upgrades for towable RV owners throughout Northern California.
Get the maintenance done now so you can spend your holiday weekend enjoying your RV.
California RV Specialists
200 S. Cherokee Lane
Lodi, California
Monday–Friday | 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Serving RV owners since 2003
Serving RV owners from Lodi, Stockton, Galt, Elk Grove, Sacramento, Manteca, Lathrop, Tracy, Modesto, Jackson, Ione, Valley Springs, and surrounding Northern California communities.
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