I had a blow out on one of my trailer tires on the way to New York week before last (trailer loaded to 13,000 running 70 mph and about 95 degrees out). When I stopped to get another tire put on, the guy at the tire place said my wheel bearings were loose and that is why the tire blew out. I had just pulled all four wheels the week before to inspect the brakes and magnets and stuff in preparation for the trip. I put the hubs back on just like I have done for years, tightened the axle nut up till it was just snug, then backed off to the next hole that would allow the cotter pin to go through. This allowed maybe 0.020 play back and forth if you grabbed the tire and tried to move it. I also aired the tires up to max pressure just before I left.<br><br>The question is, should the bearings be totally tight like the tire guy said?<br><br>I never tighten any wheel bearings till there is no play left and leave them that way. The bearings were not hot on the other wheels. My opinion is that the tire picked up something and leaked down or just could not take the heat since the side wall at the bead area appears to have let go. By the time I got stopped and pulled over, the tire was totally destroyed and it was only a year old.<br><br>Either way, it was not fun with that four ton R model JD tractor up there and then trying to change a tire when it is 95 degrees out and cars are whipping past at 80 mph. Fortunately, my son and I had pulled a tire off my dump trailer and put up on the GN the night before I left.<br><br>How do you tighten your bearings?<br><br>DD4X4

 

I do my bearings the same way you describe as well. I make sure I spin the wheel in the clockwise direction when initially tightening the nut before I back it off to make sure the bearing is totally seated.<br><br>Just before I button it all up I like to make sure the wheel doesn't have any play before lowering it - well maybe just a little bit.<br><br>Years ago, it seemed like there was only one way to tighten wheel bearings, but now that I've gone through a number of cars/trucks, it seems like each OEM has there own approved method to do it. I like my method.<br><br>Are the suspect bearings in good shape or were they scored? Was the tire guy implying that the tire cooked off due to bearing heat, or that there was excessive play in the wheel that caused excessive friction on the tread to ruin it?

 

Same way I tighten them , no failures in 30 plus years.<br>I hold wrench in right hand and spin tire counterclockwise<br>with the left hand. I doubt the direction has any effect but I have allways spun them.

 

The tire guy said he thought the play was excessive but it was no more than the other three.

 

Bearings should have no preload and no play. Adjust accordingly. Remember this guy is only a tire guy. Not a licenced mechanic. Small amounts of wheel brg play will not kill a tire. Pressure probably went down and it blew. Or the steel belt shifted and punctured it. HTH

 

These axles only have the one position to put in the cotter pin through the castle nut. I wonder if I could get a set of those stamped adjusters that will allow multiple positions for pin insertion to take just a little more play out of the bearings? Or go to a double lock nut set up?
Since I have been pulling trailers, I have never had this happen so maybe this is not even a bearing issue but instead a tire failure issue. They are bias ply tires and it appears that the shoulder of the tire blew first right below the bead.

 

That is possible or shim thrust washers. Does the stub have two cotter pin holes (at 90 degrees to each other) I know when adjusting my trailer I go tighter rather than looser, but that is just me. Being a mechanic for years I have a &quot;feel&quot; for the preload so it is hard to explain. Loose bearings on the front of a 2WD will give you a low brake pedal. The play will let the rotor move the brake pad in further into the caliper, thus giving more pedal travel. This is where no preload no play comes in.

 

I've only seen the one hole. I've been wrenching for more years than I care to remember too and ahve never had this problem before.

 

I would then chalk it up to a faulty tire or a puncture. If your brg procedure has been working for you for alota years then I would carry on. Happy trailerin.. ;D