How Hot Should Hubs Get After Installing New Electric Brakes And Bearings

Updated 09/14/2022 | Published 09/12/2022

Question:

Hi, I purchased these 7inch electric brakes for my dexter axle and replaced bearings on both wheels using Lucas redntacky #2. The installs went fine, the grease is oozed just outside the castle nut, and both wheels spin with slight brake drag. Ive also confirmed the brakes only engage when the brake pedal is pressed. On my last two trips, after driving for 1 hour the left hub is reading 120F while the right hub is 155-160F measured with a laser thermometer. Ive adjusted the right brake to reduce the brake drag but the temps still land in that range. What temp range is considered ok for the hubs/bearings and is such a difference between hubs ok? Thanks.

asked by: Jim K

Helpful Expert Reply:

Typically as long as you're staying at or below 200 degrees you're doing fine. The fact that one hub is hotter than the other could just mean that you had more weight over that one hub or that the brake setting was more aggressive on that hub than the others.

I recommend double checking that you aren't losing any grease and you may need to possibly repack the bearings for the hotter hub with some # L11390 to ensure it's fully filled up and then playing around with the brake settings again to ensure that you don't have too much drag on that specific hub.

The bearings should stay below 180 degrees for typical use. With what you've stated the heat is pretty minor so you don't have to worry too much.

expert reply by: Kevin C