Trailer Bearing protection

[maxi]

I have a trailer that is 4 months old, it gets totally dunked every outing and it dosn't have any Bearing Buddies, wondering the best way to keep the bearings in good condition. Should I fit Bearing Buddies or not and if so are their good ones and bad ones. Boat Bits have them advertised at the moment for $19 a pair which sounds cheap to me. Any advice much appreciated.

Greg

[SunnyCoastMark]

Bearing Buddies don't give you an extra protection for your bearings. All they do is allow you to grease your bearings without having to take off your hubs.

The idea being that you pump them full of grease, so that there is no room for water to rush in, or just as a top up.

They are handy - to a point - as long as you don't go thinking they are the be all and end all. - You still need to maintain your bearings.

If you have good quality twin lip marine bearing seals on and regularly repack your hubs - at least once a year (depending on use). - That is the way to go.
In my Opinion.

Mark

[Heno]

Personally I would'nt use them. I have often heard complaints of them being knocked off while the owner is out fishing. Regular serviceing of your bearings will stop any problems and carrying a spare set greased and ready to use never hurts...and a spare dust cap too.
Cheers,
Heno.

[Hagar]

Maxi

There has been much debate here on this topic :P :P - you could do a search if you want to read it all . I'm not going there .

For me the critical part as Mark has said is the inner hub seal . If it is not the twin lip chevron type 'donut " seal then next service throw them away anf fit this type . For them to seal correctly the outer flat section ( dust seal lip ) should be almost running flat on the stainless insert ring . You will get good intervals between regreases if you get this right first . BTW - I run bearing buddies and the bearings were perfect after 3 years untouched keeping them fully primed with waterproof grease - but I am not here to convince anyone .

[Spaniard_King]

I am with Hagar ;) the seal is the key, 2 piece is only way to go

3 1/2 years and still A1 condition. I top up the BB's every month 8-)

Garry

[merc]

Ha Greg
The best bearing protection in my opinion is Dura Hub. Oil filled clear window to see level and if any water does get in you see it before its had a chance to damage anything. Although I fitted them to my trailer about 12 months ago and have not had an ounce of trouble. They have a pattened digaphram system to equalize the pressure when bearings are hot after your drive to the ramp and submerge them ,not a drop comes in. The key is though, sand your axle with the emery paper provided in the kit even if your axle is new as axles are mass produced and don,t have a smooth enough finish which can result in the seal leaking. They are avalible from C.B.C bearings and Supa cheap auto for around $95.00. Have a look they could be what your after.
Cheers Mick

[John_R]

I have been thinking about dura-hubs too. Did a bit of research on them and found the most often quoted downside is that they could drop the oil if the seal is not done properly and then you are going nowhere.

Answer to that seems to be you can drive for up to 6 hours because of the residual oil. #Looks like doing a careful installation and making sure the axle is smooth is paramount.

I would keep a spare set of bearings and some grease in the car on long trips as a backup just in case.

Have decided to get some next time they are on sale. Last time I looked at supa dear they were $125. Also not all stores have them.

They are also supposed to reduce rolling resistance and save fuel towing.

With the crap forecast this weekend might be something to do.

[Angla]

I've got Bearing Buddies and after 2 years the bearings are fine. Repacked them and put them back in with all new grease.
Bye the way, I always hot dip to the bottom of the mud guards.

You still have to maintain them. they are not set and forget!

Angla

[tiny_tinny]

I've had Bearing Buddies (the genuine ones, not cheap imitations) on various boat trailers over more than 20 years. I always add grease before I leave home - not much, just enough to move the piston slightly.

Over that time I have never had a bearing failure. I check and repack the bearings once every 2 years or so, and there is never been any sign of corrosion. So I'm a big fan of Bearing Buddies.

When I was looking for a set for my present boat, I couldn't find anny genuine ones. So I fitted imitations. I plan to check the bearings after a year, and will then be able to comment on the imitations.

Mike

[Heath]

Same as Garry & Hagar,

3.5 years and still going strong. They were checked about 2 weeks ago, when my brakes needed changing.

[maxi]

Thanks heaps guys,

I'll check to see if Sea-Link run the chevron seals, If not I'll get some and service every 12 months. Probably get some BB'S as well.

Cheers,
Greg

[whyknot]

The time tasken to check your wheel bearings at home sure beats having a failure on the way to a days fishing, I use bearing buddies and find good in keeping the hub full of grease to not allow the water in. One of the most important things to remember is the hub seal and the seal running surface. Even with a new seal you need a FLAT smooth seal running surface for the seal to keep out the water / dirt.

Cheers,
Trent ;)

[littlejim]

Maxi,

I have to dunk my bearings each launch or bust the back of the boat. My bearings used to go after a couple of outings despite bearing buddies. It was always the big inner bearing near the seal that went.

they now last for years.
the difference started when I not only repacked my wheel bearings with grease, but filled the ribs in the seal with grease too. Looks as though the water can't get past the grease in between the ribs on the seal. (I'm only using the standard ribbed seals you get with a bearing kit.)

whenever this topic comes up (every few months) there are always heaps who get a great run from the bearing buddies. They didn't do the job for me. maybe some axle setups are beautifully made to the right tolerances and nothing goes past the inner seal.
Mine isn't like that obviously, but greasing the seals works like a charm and costs blow all to do.

[billfisher]

I think those who are getting a good run from bearing buddies are doing so despite of them, not because of them. In other words they don't really do any good. As others have said it is the seal that is important and filling the ribs with grease is a good tip as well as regularly repacking the bearings with grease.

In fact the bearing buddies can do a lot of harm. By filling with grease via the nipple point you can pressurise the hub thus causing damaging heat build up. Also you run the risk of popping the inner seal out, thus allowing water to enter the bearings.

You should not see any grease coming out of the seal as this could mean water is coming in.

[John_R]

I installed the dura hubs. Seem good so far after one highway trip. No leaks. Wheels spin much easier. Have not measured fuel economy yet.

[Heno]

as mentioned above the hub can be presureised when useing bearing buddies and the inner bearing is usually running dry of grease(if the pressure doesn't blow the seal first). You can buy seals that have a pin hole to relieve the pressure but this means if you forget to regrease the bearings then water will enter the hub and then your up for new bearings. Either way regular checks will prevent any problems. A regular visual inspection is a must but this is just my opinion.
Cheers,
Heno.

[PADDLES]

do the bearing "kits" from places like bias or whitworths have the best seals in them? how do i identify the chevron 2 piece seal mentioned in this thread?