How to Identify Replacement Bearings for Tow Dolly

Question:

I have had a car dolly for over 20 years. I think I can see a budget sticker, faded, on it. I am about to pull a car from Texas to Tennessee, 850 miles. I was going to service the bearings but I have never seen the ones on this. I found the ones you have for sale and was curious, can I service the ones that I have or do they need to be serviced if they are sealed. When I google Budget car dolly, your explanation is Demco Kar Kaddy, Tow it II, Penske Tow Dolly

asked by: Matt H

Expert Reply:

If you refer to the linked photo you'll see where bearing part numbers usually appear on such parts and this will help you with finding proper replacements.

It is a very good idea to check the bearings and the grease seals on your 20-year-old tow dolly before making a long trip. It is quite possible that the grease in the tow dolly's hubs has dried out; and the rubber portion of the seals too may have deteriorated. Once you remove the bearings and inspect them you may find that they are in good shape and need only a fresh dose of grease, but if they are worn or damaged you'll want to find that out beforehand. We do carry many popular bearings and we probably have what you need. Wipe down the bearings and check their condition, looking for nicks in the roller and dents in the roller cage. If you see any of these problems or if you see lines, spots, or discoloration of the metal, discard the bearings.

I linked our main page for parts such as bearings and seals and once you find the part numbers for your bearings and seals you can directly search using those numbers. I also linked several helpful articles on the process of replacing bearings and on the different formulas of wheel bearing grease. It is not too likely that a 20-year-old dolly will have sealed bearings but you'll find out once you get into one of the hubs.

It is important to completely remove all old grease from the hubs and bearings because different grease formulations may not be compatible with each other. Re-packing the bearings will be easier if you use a bearing packer tool like # ALL647646 along with wheel bearing grease # L11380.

expert reply by: Adam R