Roger Maye, National Service Manager for Consolidated Medco, Inc. (ConMet), provides the following tips when reviewing wheel-end systems for pre-trip or post-trip inspection:
- Check the oil level and condition on steer and trailer hubs lubricated with oil.
- On oil lubricated wheel-ends, use a magnet to look for metallic particles that may be in the lubricant.
- Look for loose, missing or broken fasteners on the hub cap, drive axle and wheel bolts.
- Check for leaking hub caps.
- Check for cracked or broken wheels.
- Look for dark or rusty stains coming from the wheel bolts that may be a sign of loose fasteners.
- Visually inspect the inside of the wheel and brake assembly for signs of leaking wheel seals.
- Visually inspect the brake related components on the wheel-end at this time.
Specifics for lubrication of wheel-ends:
- On steer axles, monitor the lubricant condition and fill level. Look for signs of contamination and use a magnet to check for metallic particles.
- On drive axles, remove the fill plug in the barrel of the hub, if so equipped, and check the lubricant condition. Use a magnet to inspect the lubricant for metallic particles. Also be sure to check the condition and fill volume the lubricant in the drive axle housing.
- On trailer hubs lubricated with oil, check the lubricant condition and fill level.
- On trailer hubs lubricated with semi-fluid grease, remove the hub cap and check the quantity and condition of the lubricant. Be sure the ends of the bearing rollers are covered with lubricant.
- On all wheel-ends, when the axle is lifted off of the ground for service or inspection, use a pry bar to lift the wheel and check for ‘chucking’ or loose bearings. If loose bearings are found, use a dial indicator to verify the wheel bearing endplay.
If there are issues with any of the inspection checks listed above it is critical to correct any problems found during the inspection before placing the vehicle back in to service.
