Wheel Bearing Maintenance

[charlie tuna]

So lets hear what works for you? Years ago they came out with an sealed oil method, never tried it? Does it work?? Thanks

[Tidedancer]

Yes if they don't leak. But most of them do. The few OEM trailer builders that used them for a short while stopped because of the leaks. I had a set on one of my older trailers that worked fine and was still working when I sold the boat.
The problem is that the cast hubs have some imperfections in them making a air tight fit hard to come by. Hope this helps.

[charlie tuna]

So i guess i better find my wheel bearing grease and some solvent,rags,etc. and clean them and re-pack them!! Nasty job, but better than having a problem on the road...

[Dubble Trubble]

Don't even try them. They leak. If they had the seal quality of 18 wheeler oil bath seals, they would last, but they are not. Use a good wheel brg grease with BRAND NAME bearing buddies. Do not buy the cheap ones at Wally World. They are crap. Get the good double lip seals and make sure to load the spring on the bearing buddy each trip. I go about 4 years this way, then clean them just to check the bearings. Never had to replace a bearing yet.

Dubble

[charlie tuna]

When i take off for a trip i have a place about the five mile point, that i pull over and check my tire and wheel bearing temperature. This last trip, one wheel was slightly warmer than the other. So i am taking that as a warning. I am running 160 mile round trip, so i load my bearing buddies every other trip. If for nothing else -- "peace of mind"!

[reelbad]

CT, if you are driveng that distance I would invest in a spare hub kit complete with bearings and hardware for a replacement as a cheap insurance policy. Just be sure to take along the tools needed to change it out. I take one with me at all times.

[charlie tuna]

I have a complete set up and necessary tools, Thanks for the suggestion though.

[HewesMan]

One thing to look into is the Super Lube hubs. For trailers that have the zerk fitting on them they are not necessary since they pump grease back to the back of the rear bearing then out the front. These hubs have a grease fitting in the read of the hub that pushes grease from the rear out to the front of the hub, thus eliminating any air space within the hub that allows for no water entry. I have read nothing but good things about these kits. After another year or so I will start to replace my hubs with these.

http://products.tiedown.com/viewitems/m ... hub-kits-2

One of the main issues with bearing buddies is that they only put grease on the front bearing and it never makes it to the rear. If you replace yearly like you are supposed to then it's not a big deal. Most bearing failures come from the rear bearing blowing I would guess from having old grease that finally fails or the rear seal starts to leak and you lose the grease off of that bearing.

[JIm Smith]

I always been told the best time to grease buddy bearing was just before you backed into the water so there was pressure on the wheel seal, that doesn't mean thats what I do, just what I have been told

[reelbad]

One thing to look into is the Super Lube hubs. For trailers that have the zerk fitting on them they are not necessary since they pump grease back to the back of the rear bearing then out the front. These hubs have a grease fitting in the read of the hub that pushes grease from the rear out to the front of the hub, thus eliminating any air space within the hub that allows for no water entry. I have read nothing but good things about these kits. After another year or so I will start to replace my hubs with these.

http://products.tiedown.com/viewitems/m ... hub-kits-2

One of the main issues with bearing buddies is that they only put grease on the front bearing and it never makes it to the rear. If you replace yearly like you are supposed to then it's not a big deal. Most bearing failures come from the rear bearing blowing I would guess from having old grease that finally fails or the rear seal starts to leak and you lose the grease off of that bearing.

This is 100% correct, when you get ready to replace your hubs, check with Will @ Capital City Trailers on North Monroe St if you are in the area. Tell him you are on BBF or NFGFC. He has the best price around for all of your trailer needs.

[FUTCHCAIRO]

I HAVE THE OIL BATH HUBS AND BEARINGS ON MY TRAILER. WHEN I WENT TO THIS TYPE OF LUBE. I CLEANED THE HUBS COMPLETELY AND THEN TOOK STP GREASE AND RUBBED IT INTO THE HUBS, THEN PUT IN THE OIL AFTER I HAD PUT THE HUBS BACK ON THE AXLE. I USE STP ENGINE OIL FOR LUBRICATION, WHEN I SEE ANY SIGN OF OIL LEAK I WILL REPEAT THE PROCESS AGAIN. THIS OIL IN THE HUBS HAS BEEN IN THERE 8 YEARS SO FAR AND NO LEAKAGE OR BEARING TROUBLE.
PA
SEMPER FI

[charlie tuna]

Whats the basic cost of these different set ups?

[ropeman]

Whats the basic cost of these different set ups?

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/us ... 1&type=pla
http://www.trailerpartsdepot.com/itemde ... AL&eq=&Tp=

[Dubble Trubble]

The idea behind the bearing buddy is not to get grease to the rear bearing. It is to keep positive pressure on the inside of the hub. That is why you load them before each run. Even with a good seal and no bearing buddy, when you back in the water, the air inside the hub cools and draws in minute amounts of water. The bearing buddy prevents this. Grease does not wear out. How do you think sealed bearings on cars go 200,000 miles. If the bearing does not have contaminates introduced into it, it can last for many years with the same grease.

Dubble

[charlie tuna]

Thanks for this information Ropeman.