Repack Bearings

Hey guys,

The trailer that came with my 82, I think is a 1995 Super Sport (or air) Trailer and it has 6 lug wheels on it. I have no clue the conditions of the bearings but it ran pretty smooth all summer. There is plenty of grease inside the hub. The dust cap has a 1" hole in the middle and the PO had duck tape covering it. I used it all summer like that so water got right in but looking in the hub I don't see any discolored grease. I want to put some bearing buddies I just order on but should I remove the bearings first and inspect them? I have never done that before. There are drum brakes that don't work so it isn't as simple as popping a cotter pin and twisting off a nut to get to the two bearings is it? Here is a pic of my wheel without the dust cap. I also wiped some of the grease away to try to see inside:



Should I break them down and repack and then put the bearing buddies on?

Aka - The Thru-spindle system you have is better than a bearing buddy, so I would stay with what you have. You can get replacement rubber center plugs from Champion trailer supply, very cheap. You might want to replace the seals while you have it apart, as that would be cheap insurance.

There should be a thin sheet metal looking washer with a tab on it bent into one of the castle nut slots, look for that and then push it back then you can loosen the nut. The PO probably wanted to grease the back bearing so he cut an access hole in the dust cap, total DA move.

Ok cool! Thanks!