bearing buddies

[john55]

not sure where to post i have bearing buddies on a trailer i bought . just pumping them up with grease really work ? or should i repack bearings? thanks in advance john

 

[89Suburban]

IMO those things are useless. Just repack them.

I been thinking about trying these out:

http://www.pacifictrailers.com/Kodiak-Trailer-Disc-Brake-Oil-Bath-Bearing-Kits/

 

[GTME94]

My trailer has the Tie-Down Super Lube hubs which pushes the old grease out the front when you pump in new grease. Not an cheap retro-fit like the bearing buddies but I feel good knowing new grease is getting all the way in there and that any water or contamination gets pushed out.

 

[skysurfer]

I've had no issues with Bearing Buddies. I pulled the bearings on a 5 year old trailer that had only been used in salt water and they looked like new.

 

[89Suburban]

Mine the fuggin grease fitting stripped out.

 

[skysurfer]

Mine the fuggin grease fitting stripped out.

Doesn't surprise me, I've seen those bear paws you call hands.

 

[89Suburban]

Maybe different brands are better than others. These ones I have suck. lol

What do you think of those oil bath type?

 

[skysurfer]

Maybe different brands are better than others. These ones I have suck. lol

What do you think of those oil bath type?

Well, my first thought was someone poached the idea from tractor trailers. If they seal properly they would be great, considering how many miles a trailer gets hauled annually. But what if they don't seal? Water is going to mix with the oil, whereas a grease-filled bearing will prevent water intrusion.

Another issue, one that doesn't apply to you 89S, is most boat trailers sit for months at a time. With an oil-bath hub the lubrication sits in the bottom which would leave the top half of the bearing exposed to air and any condensation within the hub.

And finally, what if the hub falls off? I had a Bearing Buddy bail out somewhere along the road but the grease stayed in the bearing the whole trip. With an oil bath hub the bearing would seize pretty damn quick at 60 mph and no lubrication.

I think I'll stick with what's worked for me for the last twenty years.

 

[89Suburban]

Well, my first thought was someone poached the idea from tractor trailers. If they seal properly they would be great, considering how many miles a trailer gets hauled annually. But what if they don't seal? Water is going to mix with the oil, whereas a grease-filled bearing will prevent water intrusion.

Another issue, one that doesn't apply to you 89S, is most boat trailers sit for months at a time. With an oil-bath hub the lubrication sits in the bottom which would leave the top half of the bearing exposed to air and any condensation within the hub.

And finally, what if the hub falls off? I had a Bearing Buddy bail out somewhere along the road but the grease stayed in the bearing the whole trip. With an oil bath hub the bearing would seize pretty damn quick at 60 mph and no lubrication.

I think I'll stick with what's worked for me for the last twenty years.

Well put. What brand are you running?

 

[skysurfer]

The toon came with a Zieman trailer equipped with a Trailer Buddy torsion axle, so the bearing protectors are TB also. I don't know if they're any different from Bearing Buddies. I read on one forum that the actual bearings Trailer Buddy uses are imported but I haven't taken them apart to find out. If they are, I'll swap 'em out for some Timkens when I have it apart. I don't think there's any rush to check them though, the trailer sat in storage at the lake since new so figuring the delivery miles and what I've put on it the bearings probably have no more than 100 miles on them.

 

[89Suburban]

Oh you got torsion axles huh? That ride nice?

 

[skysurfer]

Most of the time. There's one patch of road I travel, less than 100 yards, that has a couple of bumps in it and they're spaced at just the right distance to get everything buckboarding. I think it's a combination of speed, the Suburban's wheelbase, the distance to the trailer tires, and the fact it's a single-axle trailer that creates the perfect storm on that short stretch of pavement. Other than that I'm real happy with the way it tows.

 

[89Suburban]

I always wondered about the longevity of that type of axle and how long before the wheels start cambering outwards. Anyway Ill have to be digging into my hubs in the spring and repacking them, can't wait. lol

 

[oneluckypops]

Personally I am NOT a fan of any external greasing methods. If you are forcing NEW grease in to the hub then the old grease has to go somewhere, which is out the back of the hub past the seal. Keep in mind the seal has 2 jobs 1 to keep grease inside the hub, and 2 to keep moisture and contaminates OUT of the hub. If your forse grease past the seal you may aswell remove the seal as it will NOT work properly again.

Another problem I have with them is the wasted grease inside the hub. Before you can force the old grease out of the bearing cages you have to fill the space between the cap-outer bearing, then from the outer to the inner bearing, and then from the inner bearing to the seal, which is ALOT of wasted grease.

IMHO you can NOT beat repacking the bearings by hand. Repacking by hand will allow you to visually INSPECT the bearings, races AND the spindles.....

 

[89Suburban]

OLP in da house!!!!