How to Install New Grease Seal on Trailer Hub

Updated 03/04/2020 | Published 03/02/2020

Question:

1994 year trailer. 8-283 hub. 10-42 seal. The seal is not as thick/deep as the mating surface on the hub. When installing the seal, do you drive it all the way down in the hub to the seat, with the seal recessed in the hub? This would result in the seal being fairly snug up against the bearing.

asked by: Jim W

Expert Reply:

Based on the information you provided, the # 10-42 grease seal is the correct one for your application on the now obsolete Dexter 8-283 hub for 2,800 lb axles.

To install it, with the inner bearing in place, set the grease seal over the top and press it in all the way, until it's flush with the rear of the hub bore. You can use a block of wood and a hammer or rubber mallet to apply even pressure around the seal, to push it back into the hub. And yes, you want the grease seal to be butted right up against the inner bearing.

The video link at the bottom of the page shows this install process on a similar grease seal, but it's essentially the same for your application.

expert reply by: Carla M