bearing buddies

[MajBach]

Well, these things are a lot nicer than what I am used to on my old trailer, but I do not know much about servicing them. This will be the 5th season for my trailer. Each year, I add grease as per the mfg.'s instructions but nothing more. Is there more that I can do? Do they come apart easily? Do they contain regular wheel bearings or are the parts proprietary?

 

[navigator336]

Re: bearing buddies

Buddy Bearings don't have the wheel bearing in them. They are simply a means of keeping a pressurized volume of grease in the wheel bearing which keeps water out. They come apart very easily. Snap ring pliers makes it much easier to get the snap rings out. Pretty much all they are is the outer housing, an inner and outer snap ring, a spring and the zerk fitting end cap. The whole assembly can be removed from the wheel hub with a rubber mallet by moderately hitting it on the end of the outer housing at multiple points. Removing them will allow you to adjust the wheel bearings. You put them back on with the rubber mallet also.

 

[roscoe]

Re: bearing buddies

Bearing Buddies are just a way to conveniently add grease, and keep slight pressure on the grease, to force it into the bearings. It replaces the grease that is lost out the seal.<br /><br />Yes you have conventional bearings and seals inside the hub. They need to be serviced and checked periodically. The Bearing Buddies pull straight out of the hub, just like an old fashioned cap.<br /><br />Depending on amount of use, or if you have water intrusion, you may need to add grease more often (every use if you have a bad rear seal).<br /><br />Do not over fill, as this will force the rear seal out. Fill till the spring is compressed, but but not all the way.

 

[JB]

Re: bearing buddies

Moving to Trailers

 

[Solittle]

Re: bearing buddies

To give you an idea of how effective they are I am in the process of refurbishing my trailer now. It is a twin axle, 10 years old and gets completely submerged in salt water every launch & retrieval. I have never pulled the wheels to check the bearings & do have the Braring Buddies. Six of the bearings show no signs of wear or rust. Two have minor rust and I am replacing them. The old seals blew out years ago of course. I have given them a shot of grease once in a while and put my hand on the hubs afer a trip to check for hot bearings - never got hot.