Wheel Bearing Repack

[phillyg]

I have always repacked my own bearings but I just called a local RV facility for a quote. Was just told wheel bearing service is three hours labor for two axles, which is $375 in my area. Seems to me three hours is too long. What does the brain trust say?

[mlh]

Probably by the time they get it in the shop jack it up do the work get it out $375 doesn’t seem to out of line.
Lynwood

[Mikendebbie]

I think the Crestview RV dealership closest to me was $415 last summer.

[PeteandJoan]

Paid $250 2 yrs ago at RV Outlet Mall in Georgetown. Talked to Tech and reminded him to grease all the zerk fittings and he said he had never seen zerk fittings on a 5ver before!!!!!! Started to drag my rig out of there but didn't cause they had always been pretty good in years past with all other issues. Maybe he was just pulling my leg? Said he had 19 yrs experience . How do we even know for sure that they do some of the work we take to them? Just have to trust them and cross your fingers and hope for the best sometimes if you don't know them well. Did my own this year....with G-son help.
Don't really care for Crestview...long story.

[Mr Mustang]

Originally Posted by PeteandJoan

Paid $250 2 yrs ago at RV Outlet Mall in Georgetown. Talked to Tech and reminded him to grease all the zerk fittings and he said he had never seen zerk fittings on a 5ver before!!!!!! Started to drag my rig out of there but didn't cause they had always been pretty good in years past with all other issues. Maybe he was just pulling my leg? Said he had 19 yrs experience . How do we even know for sure that they do some of the work we take to them? Just have to trust them and cross your fingers and hope for the best sometimes if you don't know them well. Did my own this year....with G-son help.
Don't really care for Crestview...long story.

Hi there, I have a 2014 3850 fl there are zerk fittings on the spring eyes 8 total very important to keep them greased!✌��️����
Also I took my Montana to Les Schwab tire, for bearing service if I remember correctly it was under $200.

[Byron B]

Originally Posted by PeteandJoan

Paid $250 2 yrs ago at RV Outlet Mall in Georgetown. Talked to Tech and reminded him to grease all the zerk fittings and he said he had never seen zerk fittings on a 5ver before!!!!!! Started to drag my rig out of there but didn't cause they had always been pretty good in years past with all other issues. Maybe he was just pulling my leg? Said he had 19 yrs experience . How do we even know for sure that they do some of the work we take to them? Just have to trust them and cross your fingers and hope for the best sometimes if you don't know them well. Did my own this year....with G-son help.
Don't really care for Crestview...long story.

When you talk about RV Outlet mall doing work, run like a bat outta hell. I gave them two chances and that was two too many. They charged me $3600 to pull a bedroom slide and repair it. Got it home after a 6 week wait and the slide wasn’t even fixed. It broke again immediately. Called them up and explained what happened and they told me it would be two months before they could look at it again.... Called my lawyer and asked him to look into it for me. He called back and said there are so many law suits filed against them it would be years before we would get anything. IF anything.
Crestview is not much better. However when the older lady ran their parts department it was a great place if you needed something immediately. Not so much since she left...

[AZ Traveler]

Seems reasonable.

[Texan]

I usually take about 3 hours from jacks down to jacks up. This includes inspecting the brakes and tires and torqueing the wheels. The hardest part is removing and installing the wheels. I use the 6 pt. lift so this saves me some time compared to using floor or bottle jacks. You are not being gouged on time it's just i think these dealers are to high on there hourly rate.

[steiny93]

Buddy at work just had the wheel bearings on a single axle trailer done, it was $175. So your number seems inline.

[phillyg]

Okay, thanks all. I guess I haven't been keeping up with the times because I've done this work myself for so many years.

[ChuckS]

If unable to physically do the work yourself find someone as a helper and give them $50 and tutor them as you observe. No way would I pay those fees to clean and repack wheel bearings

[phillyg]

So, I know some of you recommended I do the work myself, but it really is a messy PITA, in my opinion. Instead, I took it to a recommended RV repair facility nearby. They told me I needed all new backing plates and hubs (drums), for $2,300. Tried to tell me the seals failed. I went and looked. The insides have a lot of brake dust, not grease. The bearings have not been serviced since new, so I knew they had not been over-greased. The shoes could stand to be replaced but are not glazed or greasy, nor are the drums. The wires on one of the four magnets are broken. Of course, the backing plates are Dexter Never-adjust so they're expensive at $250-325 a pair if I buy them, but it's not needed. I told them to put it back together; I'll do the dirty work myself. A can of brake cleaner ($6), four pair of shoes ($120), four seals ($50), and a pair of magnets ($40). So, for $216, plus the minimum one hour labor ($125), maybe two, that they'll charge when I pick it up, I get to do the messy work myself, grrrr.

[Montana Man]

Originally Posted by phillyg

So, I know some of you recommended I do the work myself, but it really is a messy PITA, in my opinion. Instead, I took it to a recommended RV repair facility nearby. They told me I needed all new backing plates and hubs (drums), for $2,300. Tried to tell me the seals failed. I went and looked. The insides have a lot of brake dust, not grease. The bearings have not been serviced since new, so I knew they had not been over-greased. The shoes could stand to be replaced but are not glazed or greasy, nor are the drums. The wires on one of the four magnets are broken. Of course, the backing plates are Dexter Never-adjust so they're expensive at $250-325 a pair if I buy them, but it's not needed. I told them to put it back together; I'll do the dirty work myself. A can of brake cleaner ($6), four pair of shoes ($120), four seals ($50), and a pair of magnets ($40). So, for $216, plus the minimum one hour labor ($125), maybe two, that they'll charge when I pick it up, I get to do the messy work myself, grrrr.

Gut it out and do it knowing that you are not letting them screw you over. You will know the job is done right and it will feel good at the end of the day.

[Texan]

This is exactly why i try to do what i can while i can. You wouldn't get this job done for 1 or 2 hours labor. There is nothing honest about rv repair facilities. Don't forget to add 10.00 for the grease lol.

[Chasnracin]

Speaking of wheel bearings and seals, where can I find what seals I need for our 2011 3400RL with Dexter 7k axles before removing the wheel? I don't have room at home to work on it, so I need to be as expeditious as possible when I start the work in our storage area. Thanks!

[psomers]

Originally Posted by Chasnracin

Speaking of wheel bearings and seals, where can I find what seals I need for our 2011 3400RL with Dexter 7k axles before removing the wheel? I don't have room at home to work on it, so I need to be as expeditious as possible when I start the work in our storage area. Thanks!

This is what mine uses. Think yours are the same: https://www.etrailer.com/Seals-for-T.../RG06-070.html

[Mike_Garcia]

I always get my seals at NAPA. Never had a problem getting the exact correct seal and no shipping/waiting. Every town has a NAPA, don't you?

[GreG L.]

So when should you have them repacked, millage, time? Have a 2020 with disks.

[AZ Traveler]

Originally Posted by GreG L.

So when should you have them repacked, millage, time? Have a 2020 with disks.

With disks, every other year should work. For those with drums, once a year to look at brakes.

[Dave W]

Every time I see what RV dealers charge per hour and for a simple job like wheel bearing service, it almost convinces me that I should have gone into the RV service business instead of working for a living.


- Seals - ~10 bucks for a set of four unbranded that have proved to be as good as the over priced and completely identical Chinese made Dexter's
- Pound can of grease ~10 bucks or ~6 bucks/tube if I use the bearing packer.
- Roll of paper towels about a buck and a ha;f
- 8 to 12 Harbor Freight nitrile gloves 50 cents


This all totals to about $22 or so



Time - I'm retired, but even jacking the 5er up (no self leveilng), plus cleaning the tires and wheels, getting out then cleaning and replacing tools, maybe 2 to 3 hours if coffee breaks don't interfere too much.


I do understand that some folks just do not have the physical ability to do this job. I just don't like the time frames RV service places hint at to often do a half a@#$ job either. Luckily, I still can and my savings adds up to a few nights camping or several diesel fuel fill ups.


I do like the idea of hiring a neighbor teen (if you can tear him away from his phone) and teaching him how to do this mundane job. A few bucks pay will be even more enticing.