Trailer Wheel Bearings

lanason

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 Jul 2001
Messages
7,512
Location
Malvern, Worcs
Visit site
I took one of my 4 trailer wheels apart today, so that I could identify the wheel bearings. The numbers that I could read are lm48549x and 18590. Does anyone recognise these and know who supplies them ?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
I don't recognise the numbers but I would suggest that you pop along to Anglian Trailer Supplies about 9 miles north of Bury St Edmunds.

They have helped me out with one or two trailer problems and should be able to assist.

No connection apart from a satisfied customer.
 
I don't recognise the lm number, but the 18590 sounds like a fairly standard taper roller. A bearing stockist, (yellow pages ) or perhaps a trailer specialist should be able to recognise and supply
 
How much !!!!!! £90.41 (Excluding VAT at 17.5%) crikey plus £29.06 for each wheel.

thats £560 for four wheels - - - /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
Who said being a boatowner was cheap? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I actually have little idea about costs and what'sinvolved, but the right google search provided these results - they look like pretty standard things though, as I say give Indespension a ring and see what they can do for you /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Take the old bearing inner and outer to any bearing stockist see yellow pages or www.yell.com) and - unless it is something unusual - they will be able identify them and supply replacements. By taking certain measurements they can tell straight away whether it is a stock item, or a special.
 
Hi
Nobody makes their own bearings. They will be a standard set. Get them from a bearing supply stockist. If you go in looking "scuffy" should cost about £20 a pair (you can usually get a 50% discount from the RRP)
 
And while you're at it, get hold of some Bearing Buddies. (no commercial connection- just an enthusiastic endorser) and pack your bearings with the best grease you can afford- my mate uses Corrosion Block (same detachedness), and slip- and beach-launches his commercial fishing-boat 2-3 times a week. I know he wears his tyres out more frequently than his bearings!
 
A point worth mentioning is that "high precision" bearings can cost as much as 20 times more than a "standard utility" bearing of the same size. you may have been quoted for precision bearings so it would be wise to take an old bearing to your nearest stockist and let them measure it, and ignore the serial numbers.
You dont need precision bearing for dunking in the sea. You can knacker utilty ones just as quick.
 
I wasnt keen to pay more than a tenner a set. I'll do some digging locally tomorrow. I like the idea of the bloker and grease . . /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I wasnt keen to pay more than a tenner a set

[/ QUOTE ] Even ball races will cost more than that. Surprised that one of yours is so expensive though. Imperial sizes now difficult to get is part of the trouble perhaps.

My tralter has 4 ex mini rear wheel hubs. They have got (Imperial) "Angular contact" ball races in them. 8 of those make yours look cheap.

I was wondering if I could convert to taper roller bearings but than would need some very careful machining of the hubs. I might just go for deep groove ball races if I can find some that fit.
 
But do the bearings need replacing? A lot depends on how far and how fast you want to travel with the boat on the trailer.

I don't go very far and certainly not fast and I have found that pretty rough bearings( as compared to what you want on your car) are OK provided they are serviced ie regreased often well at least after each dunking in salt water.

However it reminds me of a story (true) of my father's. He was asked to tow a caravan from Darwin to Perth. After the devastating cyclone of the 70s there were lots of caravans that had been taken there for accomadation and were no longer needed. The caravan had been towed only a few miles. But was some years old.

He took off, beetling down the highway and after a few hundred miles the bearing collapsed and eventually melted the axle, the wheel shot off into the bush and started a small fire and of course the remainder of the axle dropped on the road. So yes bearings need to be greased and checked.

olewill
 
[ QUOTE ]
A lot depends on how far and how fast you want to travel

[/ QUOTE ] If, and I sress if, for me it will be journey of 80 miles which will include a fair bit of dual carriageway and motorway potentially at speeds up to 60mph. As I am just about on the maximum capacity for the trailer thats far enough and fast enougt to need bearings in a reasonably decent state.

My trouble is that I so seldom use the trailer that every time I do it needs all new tyres and very possibly new bearings. I replaced the bearings after the last time I used it but I know the weather has got into the hubs some how and they are pretty shot without being used!
 
Why don't you remove the wheels and tyres and store them out of the sun? If you take the hubs off at the same time (as a complete wheel/hub unit) you can clean and re-grease the bearings, before storage. Plastic bags (ventilated) over the brakes and trailer on blocks.
 
Is there a Swan Bearings near to you?
Nationwide stockists, so a good chance of rare bearings.
I had a trailer that used BMC 1100 rear bearing sets (bigger than Mini and like hen's teeth).
They got me some at £22 per set.

I rang a stockist in Barrow (shipbuilding town) first and their version was £90 each. Marine grade see.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Why don't you remove the wheels and tyres and store them out of the sun

[/ QUOTE ] Could I suppose but the tyres seem to deteriorate just as much on the shady side as they do on the sunny side. The answer with tyres is to buy major brand names not cheapies.

I was surprised that the wheel bearings have deteriorated.
 
Top