Saturday, April 12, 2014

Knowing if You've Got the Right Trailer Wheel Hub

Trailer wheel hubs are an important part of making sure a trailer runs properly. Unlike the truck or car pulling the trailer, there is no central suspension that coordinates all the wheels together. This is where a trailer wheel hub comes in. Without the wheel hub to align the wheels together, you might end up conducting repairs more than traveling.

This is why making sure that you have the right wheel hub for your trailer is important. Some reasons for installing a new wheel hub may range from the old one having worn out to needing a total overhaul after an accident. The end result must always be choosing the correct wheel hub. To do this, there are a few things to consider:
  • Check on the number of stud holes in the hub. They are either four or five depending on the make of your trailer.
  • Check the bolt hole in the center of the hub and measure it. This is where the castle nut goes to hold the entire thing together and the correct diameter makes sure it is a snug fit. Castle nuts usually range from four to six inches, so measure carefully.
  • There are inner and outer ball bearings in the hub and you need to know their sizes. Just check on their reference number.



Thursday, April 3, 2014

The Basics of Adjusting Your Trailer Brakes

Travelers, campers, and professionals in the freight industry understand the importance of a good trailer. It is through these mechanisms that a person or a party can easily carry and transport large and numerous items from one location to another. A good trailer helps people get from place to place.

The most important part of the trailer is arguably the brakes. As the trailer is not a natural part of the vehicle, it is going to skid and crash to the back of the vehicle if the brakes are not properly secured and adjusted. This is why it is important for the brakes to be re-adjusted properly.

One of the first things you should do is to raise the wheel whose brakes are going to be adjusted using a jack. The person who will do the work must be careful and ensure that the wheel is properly lifted from the ground.

Next, make sure that the wheel is properly loose and isn’t stopped by the handbrake. Follow that action by removing the lower dust cap on the inside of the brake. With a flat blade screwdriver or a special tool meant for adjusting the brakes, tighten up the brake’s adjuster until the wheel does not move anymore. Afterwards, loosen the wheel up by five to eight times. Doing this with every wheel of the trailer will assure the owner that he will have nothing to worry about on his next trip.