Fullthrottle52

Bought a boat and trailer a month ago. Previous owner had a flat tire a week before selling the boat. He bought two new tires and rims but only installed one new one to replace the blow out, so the trailer came with a new tire and rim. Jacked up the trailer today and replaced the older tire and rim with the new one, so I now have 2 new tires and rims. My question is, the older rims that I took off was caked with grease on the back side. Front was fine but the back had a very thick coating on the whole inside rim. Does this indicate a problem. Is grease fron the bearings leaking out the back and on to the rim. Should I check the bearings. They are well greased but can this indicate a problem.

thanks for any help you can give. Never experienced this before.

Parthery

Rear seals on the hub are blown out, probably from adding too much grease.

You can tear the hubs down and replace the seals, clean the bearings, and repack the hubs. Or, spend a few bucks more on a new hub that comes already packed, and just pull the old off and put the new one on.

Bamaskeetshooter

Make sure the seal riding surface is ‘baby bottom” smooth. If not, the new seal will be damaged very quickly.

Fullthrottle52

Is there a way to tell what size hub kit I need without pulling the hub and measuring it? It is a five lug wheel.

getthenetmontauk

You need to know if its a straight shaft or tapered shaft.Take the hub off and measure everything,take some photos and try Eastern trailer there sponsors here.

Fullthrottle52

Thanks, appreciate the help.

Dacman

The rear grease seal is failing , could be the riding surface is pitted or the seal just gave up.
Pull the hub, clean up the spindle with brake cleaner spotless, and have a look at the seal surface on the spindle.
Record the bearing part number of the front and rear , that should give you enough info to order a new hub.
Both bearing numbers, the number of lugs and also the lug spacing measurements should do. Got my new hubs from Northern tool with that info . Worked great.
And is it an easy lube spindle with the zerk fitting in the spindle end? You can get an easylube hub for better servicing if not.

kaku

i buy the vortex hubs already lubed and ready to go ,works well for me

xlr8ngn

He may have fixed the hub and not cleaned the wheel. I would disassemble, inspect the hub, seal and seal surface, and if it looks good fill with grease and monitor the new wheel.