Almost home after picking up our 21 NE Monday in Chilliwack
The wheel hub on the port side front axle is very hot. Anyone know if this is a wheel bearing issue and if so what size wheel bearing would we need?
We’re on the Alaska highway 1.5 hours from home so we can unhitch tomorrow and get what we need and come back to fix
Thanks so much
Cara and Fraser.
If it is new it could also be a brake issue. I suggest you might jack up that side and spin the wheel to see if there is resistance from the brakes. Compare it to port side rear.
The drum is too hot to remain touching. Remaining three are cool. When up on jack, front spins but comes to a halt far a quicker than rear. Some grinding noise and some top to bottom play in both wheels.
I’m still kind of voting for a brake problem. Check out YouTube on manually adjusting the brakes. It involves using a long screwdriver through a hole on the backside of the brake backing plate to turn an adjustment wheel to loosen the brake pressure on the drum. Try to loosen the brake so that the wheel spins as freely as the other one. Self adjusting brakes have a one way ratcheting action that only tightens the brakes. To loosen it you need to do it manually on the brakes I am familiar with.
The level of heat you describe does not sound like a fatal bearing meltdown. If the drum cools down within an hour I think you can drive on, stopping occasionally to check the temp since you are close to home. If it rapidly heats up again then stop.
In any case I suggest taking the trailer to a tire/brake shop to check the play in the wheels and torque the lug nuts.
Both bearings looked ok, however a definite lack of grease. Once repacked and with the nut tightened and backed off accordingly, I believe we can head home tomorrow. I’ll review the brakes and other wheels when I get home.
A fellow traveller from Saanich, Tim Or with a 21C pulled in right next to us and was very helpful and had a grease gun!
Many thanks for all your help!
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