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The Daily Insight

What are parallel bearings

Author

Sophia Edwards

Published Mar 13, 2026

The bearing on the outside is called the outer bearing. Parallel bearings are generally considered better for off road use as they have a higher load rating (1600 kg). With standard bearings, the inner bearing is larger than the outer, but with parallel bearings they’re the same size.

How do I know if I have Ford or Holden bearings?

The main two differences between a Holden and Ford bearing is of course the sizing. A general rule of thumb is if the bearing fits over your thumb, it is a Ford bearing. Ford bearings can also be known as slimline. The Holden bearing is slightly smaller and won’t quite fit onto your thumb.

What are parallel trailer bearings?

Trailer wheel bearings comprise of two parts, the cup which is pressed into the hub and the cone, this is the part that contains the rollers of the trailer wheel bearing. Parallel bearings are generally considered better for off road use as they have a higher load rating (1600 kg). …

Are all boat trailer bearings the same?

Expert Reply: Trailer wheel bearings are specific to the spindle that is installed on the axle that is on your trailer. … Once the hub is removed you will be able to get the part numbers from the inner and outer bearings to determine the correct replacement parts for your spindles.

What size are Ford trailer bearings?

The 45mm or 50mm solid steel axles are manufactured to suit the Ford bearings. These bearings sit on the 35mm shoulder (inner bearing) and the 22mm shoulder (outer bearing) of the axle spindle.

Are all trailer axles the same?

In almost all cases 3,500 lb axles will all use the same bearings. If your trailer has a Lippert or Dexter 3,500 lb axle then yeah they would be the same. But to be safe it won’t hurt to pull them off and get the numbers.

What is Ford stud pattern?

Stud PatternStud PCDCommon Stud SizeFORD5 x 114.3mm1/2″COMMODORE5 x 120mm7/16″HQ HOLDEN5 x 120.65mm7/16″HT HOLDEN5 x 108mm7/16″

How do I know what stud pattern my trailer is?

Find Your Stud Pattern If you have an odd number of studs you must measure from the centre of one stud, to the furthest edge of the opposite stud. For an even stud pattern (4 or 6 studs) You can simply measure from the centre of one stud to the centre of the opposite stud.

What size bearing does a 3500 lb axle?

3500 lb axles have the most common and most consistent spindle sizes. They are typically 1.73 inches at the seal, 1.38 inches at the inner bearing and 1.06 inches at the outer bearing like # TRU24FR.

How do I know what axle rating My trailer is?

To find the load capacity for your axle you should look on the trailer VIN plate or sticker that lists the VIN number. The weight rating of the axle should be listed on that same plate or sticker. Also, the axle could have a tag or plate on it that will list the weight capacity.

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When should you replace trailer bearings?

Expert Reply: We recommended to repack the wheel bearings on your trailer every 12 months or 12,000 miles. There is not a specific guideline as far as actually replacing the bearings. When repacking them with grease, you will also just want to check for any damage or wear and replace anything if needed.

How often should trailer wheel bearings be repacked?

How often should you repack your trailer bearings? The axle manufacturers recommend that you repack your trailer bearings once annually or every 12,000 km. If you are over-do for trailer wheel bearing maintenance, we would be happy to help you.

How much play should a trailer wheel bearing have?

For adequate trailer wheel bearing maintenance, you need to check your bearings on a regular basis. Jack up the trailer and secure it on adequate capacity jack stands. Check wheels for side-to-side looseness – There should be a very slight amount of play in the wheel, typically 1/8-inch or less.

Are wheel bearings universal?

Do Wheel Bearings Differ by Type of Car? Essentially, the symptoms are universal to almost all vehicles.

What hubs do dunbier trailers use?

Dunbier uses standard Holden wheel bearings for all trailers with 39mm round and 40mm Square Axles. Axles that are 45mm or 50mm Square use Ford Bearings.

How tight should axle nut be on trailer?

Correct Torque Rating for a Trailer Wheel Spindle Nut The nut on the spindle should be tightened until snug, with no side-to-side play in the hub and then backed off slightly, about maybe a 1/8 of a turn.

What happens when you over tighten a wheel bearing?

Excessive preload will cause excessive friction and the bearing will run hot, compromising lubrication and eventually leading to flaking (material coming off) at the large end of the rollers/races,” he says. “On the other hand, adjusting the bearing too loose causes excessive looseness and vibration in the system.

Can you tighten a wheel bearing?

Once greased up and put back into place, wheel bearings need to be tightened in a very specific way. … However, if the bearing is not tightened enough, the bearing will loosen itself up and the entire wheel may fall off. Needless to say, tightening a wheel bearing has to be done carefully and precisely.

What is SL bearing?

SL (Slimline or Ford) bearings are rated for 1500 kg on a 45 mm round or square axle. … With standard bearings, the inner bearing is larger than the outer, but with parallel bearings they’re the same size.

What cars are 5x114 3 bolt pattern?

The most popular cars with PCD 5×114,3 are: Honda Civic oraz Accord, Nissan Qashqai, Dacia Duster, Hyundai i30 and x35, Renault Megane III and Laguna III, Kia Cee’d, Sportage and Venga, Mitsubishi Lancer, Outlander and ASX, Toyota Auris and Avensis III, Citroen C-Crosser, Suzuki SX4, Fiat Sedici, Mazda 3.

How do I know what bolt pattern my rims are?

Measure from the middle of one stud to the outside of the second stud (skipping a stud). The number you see will be the actual measurement of the bolt pattern. So if you see 4 1/2 inches, you have a 5 on 4 1/2 ( also 5×4.5 and 5×114.3) bolt pattern. Other common bolt patterns are 5×4.75 and 5×5.

How much weight can a 5 lug axle carry?

Technically, a trailer rated for 10,000 lbs can have 5 lug hubs. They are most common on 3,500 lb axles but can be used on the rare 4,000 lb axles as well. You could have a gooseneck or 5th wheel trailer with the 10,000 lb capacity and tandem axle 5 lug axles because the tongue weight can carry the rest.

How much weight can a 8 lug axle carry?

And just like larger truck axles, an eight-lug trailer axle is usually rated at 5,200 to 7,000 per axle so somewhere between 10K and 14K gross weight. The trailer that our friends were using was only equipped with the smallest 3,500-pound rated axles.

Should my trailer axle bow up or down?

A trailer axle should actually be bowed upwards in the middle and not downwards. When the trailer is loaded with your boat, that upward bow will flatten out and your tires will make even contact with the ground.

Are all trailer rims the same?

Most trailers on the road have a 4, 5 or 6 Lug pattern. A very common designation for a trailer wheel would be 5 on 4.5. This means that the hub has 5 bolts spaced evenly on a 4-1/2″ circle (see 5-lug diagram). … Most trailer wheels have 4 or 5 lugs per wheel.

Are all 5 bolt patterns the same?

The five lug pattern remains a common trait for passenger cars and light trucks, even in modern automobile manufacturing, but every company has a different approach. For instance, General Motors wheels had two common bolt patterns, 5×4-3/4-inch and 5×5-inch.

Are HQ and HT stud pattern the same?

HQ are the same as commodore but HT are different. After a whole heap of time on google I’ve finally read that there is 0.5mm difference in HQ and commodore studs.

How much weight can a 3500 pound axle carry?

The carrying capacity of two 3,500 pound axles is 7,000 pounds. The axles support not only the cargo’s weight but also the weight of the trailer’s frame and body.

Can you use mobile home axles on a trailer?

Mobile home axles are made for transporting such a dwelling only one time, to its permanent location. But they really are not suitable for ongoing use on a trailer. They simply are not made for that particular application, in the same way that passenger vehicle tires are not suitable for use on trailers.

How do I check my axle weights?

The kerb weight of each axle can be found in the manufacturer’s brochure. Simply subtract the kerb weight of each axle from the maximum legal axle weight figure on the plate. The difference between the two figures is the maximum load that can be carried on each axle.

Do bearing buddies really work?

Bearing Buddies are a great way to keep grease in a trailer hub. I recommend them as long as you are aware that it’s very easy to put too much grease in a hub with these which will blow out the seal. They have no problem being used on longer road trips so the would work well for you.