My checking my used camper bearing's story.

lineman1234

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Feb 24, 2024
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where i park it
I hope this is in the right spot to post this.

Just a story that could/would have gotten ugly at some point if i hadnt dug into my newly bought used 2020 reflections 273mk, barrings.

I felt i got a very fare deal on the camper, it came very clean and seemed well taken care of, all but the spindles/barring's/seals, parts. Very nice people i bought it from, the guy mentioned something about not liking or trusting the EZ lube system, pointed out a new brake drum assembly, i thought nothing of it. I dont think they tried to hide anything, but whom ever did the barring's, should not do barring's.

I also replaced the cap style lug nuts with normal solid lug nuts as i saw a future problem with normal maintenance of removing and installing the capped style at some point.

Please, this isnt intended to start a debate on how to or if to use EZ lube axels, so lets let each person use them if they wish and those that dont, not. I do..... The way the instructions say to.....

First was the passengers side rear the one that had the new drum assembly. Jacked up, spun and shook. A little loose on the shake, not the best spinning. Both barrings packed very little with some type of black grease, absolutely no extra grease in there. The nut retainer was broken and held on with a plastic zip tie, the nut looked like it was pounded off or on with a large punch. I have never had or seen a barring failure, but the spindle had what i think was a failure. I took pics and sent to a friend that stated if the barrings fit like they should and the seal fits as it should, run it. ( after i found a kit for redoing the seal area with a slide on sleeve, so that will be done soon. For added piece of mind. ) After seeing that, i bought all new barrings and seals to replace on all 4 spindle/axels.

Next passengers side front. Jacked up no shake, not the smoothest spin. Same black grease, only on the barrings, and very little no extra anywhere. Rear seal crapped out, gone in a bad way. Cleaned up, test fitted new stuff then greased and installed new stuff.

Drivers side rear. Lifted, spun not very well, was sloppy to the shake, not good. Took apart, full of grease 2 different types of grease but had grease at least. Nut was 3 turns loose. The seal was gone/bad. Cleaned test fit new stuff packed and replaced.

Drivers side front. Jacked up, spun not well, no shake. I had to take a socket to get the axel nut off, not good. The grease was more of a soft/liquid type than thick and hardy, except for the tan color grease was still hearty, but the gray stuff yucky.. The seal couldnt have been more gone, as the spring on the seal was floating around. The front barring as moved it on the spindle, before removing it, looked odd. Removing it and looking at it, it was missing a roller ( not good )
Cleaned up, test fit all new parts, greased and installed.

I am very happy to have found this/these problems in a place i can/could fix them before breaking down on the road. I bought the camper and towed it 70 miles to where i am as i am hear for the summer.

I am hunkered down for the summer, but before heading south for the winter. Being a little paranoid now..... A day or 2 before travels, as i prep to just get up and head out in the morning anyway. I will take the camper for a long country drive and put back in my campsite, re TQ the lug nuts and jack and spin and shake each wheel to test. then i have done everything i can to assure a smooth trip.
 
Loose hub nuts will cause seals to go bad as the wheel wobbles. Good catch and sound like you fixed it propperly. As long as the spindles are not scared or grooved you should be fine.

Old stroy:
I had a 72 Ford 3/4 ton 4x4 and forgot to fill the rear axel with oil after I drained it. After driving it about 50 miles, the driver side rear bearings melted to the spindle, froze up the rea axel, then broke loose enough for me to drive it home. Got a used hub from the junk yard, new bearings, broke the melted bearing off the spindle, sanded the spindle smooth with 2000 grit paper ( it still had some large pits but nothing raised), reassembled, filled with oil, and ran it for 5 more years without issue.
 
Thanks for posting, a good point about buyer beware. As you said, the seller had taken good care of the coach and wasn't trying to hide anything. But there was something that couldn't be seen without further investigation, good catch.
 
I just need a new seal, and i now have a set of packed barrings, and i kept 2 lug nuts, and i have that as a traveling spare. Now, to just remember where it is going to be put, incase of needing.

Butttt, if i have the bad luck of having, by chance a barring problem. Its a sign to get a 3500 dually and a big truck camper, that i have been thinking about.

Has anyone come across something to sense heat, like a heated up rotor/drum being a stuck brake pad or barrings going bad?
Without getting into it, i have had the break away switch come unplugged by accident wile towing, and my tire monitors, the valve stem screw on ones, that tell temp and psi, didnt show the heating of the red hot brake drum on the drivers rear, the others were hot also, but the one was red hot. All ended up being replace just incase along with all barrings and seals. But one would think the temp sensor alarm would have gone off. Or the temps would have been high, but they werent.
 
Pick up an infrared thermometer at Harbor freight or amazon. Zap your drums through the wheel near hub to check for excessive heat
 
Since you have performed the wheel bearing maintenance I would next move to confirm the shackle bushings are lubricated and in good condition before any road trips. Also check the equalizer for possible replacement.
 
Since you have performed the wheel bearing maintenance I would next move to confirm the shackle bushings are lubricated and in good condition before any road trips. Also check the equalizer for possible replacement.
Someone did install the greaseable suspension on this new to me 5ver. Looks like no one ever greased it. I had to remove the wet bolt on all 4 outer springs, drill out the grease hole, grease/test, then reinstall and grease. The other grease spots took grease.
 
Someone did install the greaseable suspension on this new to me 5ver. Looks like no one ever greased it. I had to remove the wet bolt on all 4 outer springs, drill out the grease hole, grease/test, then reinstall and grease. The other grease spots took grease.
Did you have an opportunity to look at the bushings in the spring eyes? If no evidence of grease they could be worn through. Also check bushings on the equalizer.
 

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