Bearing buddies and rear seals

[irishflies]

When I fill my bearing buddies until the spring reaches the outer area and grease comes from the full hole, sometimes grease is pushed from the rear seal into my drum brakes.My rear seals have been replaced but this problem still happens.How do I prevent this?

 

[irishflies]

Re: Bearing buddies and rear seals

Sorry for double post

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bearing buddies and rear seals

You are not using the bearing buddies correctly. There is no pressure relief system so simply forcing grease into the hub has to force air out somewhere so it blows by the rear seal. When installing bearing buddies, the hubs are to be removed, the bearings cleaned and packed, the hubs packed, reassembled, the buddies added. At this point you add grease with a grease gun ONLY until the center disc begins to move. Do not try to pump hubs so full that the disc comes all the way outward. That's not how they are intended to work. You've probably flipped the lip on the seal outward so you might as well replace them.

 

[milkyway]

Re: Bearing buddies and rear seals

From what I've read, this is the specific reason why loadrite and champion do not recommend bearing buddies. The pressure from this gadget can cause grease to pass the seal and then invade the brakes. Just quoting their web statements...

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Bearing buddies and rear seals

Upinsmoke's comment:ONLY until the center disc begins to move.

That seems to be the secret. I pump after every trip, and I use a lot of grease each season. Can't see where it goes, but I'm a bit afraid not to pump grease, and that's the problem with BB's. <br /><br />It's a user problem, not a manufacturer problem. I've got to train myself not to put too much grease in.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Bearing buddies and rear seals

That seems to be the secret. I pump after every trip, and I use a lot of grease each season.

Where is the grease going? Grease is not consumed in normal operation so it's got to be leaking out somewhere. Once any air pockets are filled with grease you should not have to add any.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Bearing buddies and rear seals

I think the grease is coming out while I drive along and getting splattered on the highway! My wheels are a disgrace anyway, and I keep them that way to deter thieves.<br /><br />The point I was making is that BB's don't need pumping until the disc is solid flush with the front shoulder. It's enough to have the smallest disc movement when you pump grease. But it's hard not to give an extra few pumps 'just to be sure'.

 

[tommays]

Re: Bearing buddies and rear seals

well i have found them to be of limited use compared to the newer axles that are drilled to pump grease dirrectly to each bearing<br /><br /><br />they do a great job on the outer bearing but any grease that makes it over to the inner bearing is just luck<br /><br />i did to good of a job packing grease this year so it was building up so much pressure it would eject them<br /><br />i have to unpack some to keep them on<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bearing buddies and rear seals

If everyone properly packed the bearings (not just stuffing the cavity full of grease) there would be no nead for bearing buddies. The front wheels of rear wheel drive cars got by for decades without them and bearing failures, although they did happen, were rare. Used properly, they work well. If the back side of the wheel has grease spray patterns on it, the rear seal is shot.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Bearing buddies and rear seals

On the other hand, car wheel bearings don't get plunged into cold water on a regular basis after running hot, like boat trailer bearings do, with the consequent contraction of both the air and grease in the bearing housing. <br /><br />So the likelihood of salt or fresh water being pulled into the housing is much smaller, or even non-existent, and it's this specific condition that BB's are designed to overcome.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bearing buddies and rear seals

While they don't get plunged into cold water, they got driven in driving rain storms for miles at a time, driven through puddles at high speed and were subjected to the rapid cooling of the hubs just like boat trailers. Long periods of no rotation such as in winter storage or infrequent use causes the rollers to leave marks on the races. It would be interesting to see some statistics regarding which trailers experience more bearing failures -- those used frequently, or those used infrequently. I know where I would put my money. During winter storage (inside), my trailer gets jacked up, supported by the frame, and the wheels are spun by hand nearly every time I walk past it. Better for the tires, springs and bearings.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Bearing buddies and rear seals

Upinsmoke, your talking to a guy from Malta, I don't think he has "winterising' issues .<br /><br />I agree with your first post. When used correctly, they are a great devise. When used incorrectly, they can cause headaches. i also let my trailer bearings cool down before dunking - usually about 10 minutes, just enough time to unstrap, rearrange tackle (fishing, not me), put the plug in, give the ladies time for a loo stop etc, etc........<br /><br />Aldo

 

[Triton II]

Re: Bearing buddies and rear seals

Duna said:<br />

usually about 10 minutes, just enough time to unstrap, rearrange tackle (fishing, not me), put the plug in

And to think you had a go about me and my UK roots!

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Bearing buddies and rear seals

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Bearing buddies and rear seals

Upinsmoke: and the wheels are spun by hand nearly every time I walk past it. Better for the tires, springs and bearings.

Upinsmoke, that - in a way - was the point I was making about car wheel bearings versus trailer bearings.<br /><br />True, car wheels get wet through rain and puddles, etc - but the wheel is usually spinning when this happens, and centrifugal forces throw the water away from the centre, where the bearing is.<br /><br />Trailers are dunked in cold, often corrosive, water and left there while the boat is unloaded and docked. Plenty of static time for the damage to be done.<br /><br />Given that, don't you reckon that car wheel bearings get dunked less often, and in less hostile conditions, than trailer bearings?<br /><br />What Dunaruna says is true about winterising. We don't have it here much, and reading about winterising on this forum has opened a kinda new world to me.<br /><br />Now I'm gonna check the rear seals on my BB's to see where all this grease has gone!

 

[BillP]

Re: Bearing buddies and rear seals

BBs work perfectly when installation is done right. If you pack the hubs full and then top off the Bearing Buddies with spring half way there are no problems. Drive one or two times and pump them back up if needed, then forget them...they stay full and the springs don't go down. Do it any other way and the bearings will likely get wet. It's that simple. Hot or cold dunkings don't matter.<br /><br />Stillfishing...if the rear seals aren't leaking and you didn't pack the hubs first, the BBs will keep needing grease until the hubs get full. As you drive the grease works in and the springs go down.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Bearing buddies and rear seals

BillP,<br /><br />Found out this week that my rear seals are leaking, so at some time in the past I guess I must have overdone the grease. The insides of each wheel are messy with streaky grease. Not much - just enough to look bad (wheels are galvanized).<br /><br />I'm gonna leave it till I lay up the boat in December, and then do the whole trailer maintenance package.<br /><br />Ready for the water again in February!

 

[rwidman]

Re: Bearing buddies and rear seals

Originally posted by tommays:<br /> well i have found them to be of limited use compared to the newer axles that are drilled to pump grease directly to each bearing .....

That's what I have, they are great. Here's a diagram:<br /><br />

<br /><br />There are a couple different manufacturers of this type.