Can Single Lip Grease Seal Be Used To Replace Double Lip Grease Seal On Utility Trailer

Published 08/13/2021

Products Featured in This Question

Grease Seal - Double Lip - ID 1.719" / OD 2.565" - for 3,500-lb Axles

(2752)

$7.47

LubriMatic LMX Industrial Strength Grease - 14 oz. Cartridge

(274)

$10.77

LubriMatic Standard-Duty, Lever Action Grease Gun

(60)

$21.93

Question:

Help! Youre always good in a pinch! I have a utility trailer, old tilt snowmobile trailer, whose axle was replaced 10+ years ago. Its not heavily used, short trips 5-10 miles periodically with moderate to light loads. Spindle is 1, straight, with zerk fittings. I dont recall repacking them, just added at zerks .. my bad. Bearings and races look very good, but while there was little to no grease leakage, Im wondering in my ignorance if the seal is right and need your thoughts. The bearings are L44643, the seal has a AD1836N number and is a dual lip with spring. While the ID was snug and no leakage, OD was correct and snug, the depth of the seal seems shallow. There is 13/32inch depth from the inside edge of the hub to the inside bearing, clean in place, no grease. The seal housing depth is .25, meaning there is 5/32inch of playfoot between the bearing and the seal. But the bearing does seat firmly to the inner base lip of the spindle. Is that space correct and reasonable? The seal does properly fit to the base of the spindle, just past the inner grease hole in the spindle, so allows the grease to pump in. So Im guessing that 5/32inch is proper fit? Since I figured the seals were all I needed, I picked them up at my local NAPA, where they could only cross reference the original seal and ID/OD to a NAPA/SKF seal # 12407 for the sizing, but it is not a dual lip seal. Not being a marine unit, am I good? Thanks for your always welcome sales and services!

asked by: Fred F

Helpful Expert Reply:

I would be happy to help!

The gap between the inner bearing and grease seal in the hub is completely normal, and is needed to make sure the inner bearing never contacts the grease seal.

You can get away with a single lip grease seal, though it is not as ideal for keeping water out of the spindle, as you are not submerging the trailer in water.

I recommend cleaning the axle right behind the grease seal, and the back of the hub really well then repacking the bearings and reinstalling the hub.

If there are any grease leaks you will see the grease leaking on the back of the hub, or on the axle tube.

If you do not already have grease I recommend cleaning the little bit of grease you found in your bearings/hub and then using LubriMatic LMX Industrial Strength Grease # L11390 and grease gun # L30200 to add grease via the grease zerk you installed until you begin to see the outer bearing move or you see grease seeping through the outer bearing. If you pump the grease slowly and rotate the hub, you should not blow the grease seal. Once you see the grease seeping through, you can install the washer, spindle nut and nut retainer. This should be done every year or sooner, but sine you tow the trailer so little you can get away with once a year.

I included videos of the products mentioned for you to take a look at.