Bearing buddy issues

[Chris1956]

Only one issue with bearing buddies, that was about 12-14 years back. Lost the whole Bearing Buddy, t came out on the way home from July 4 fireworks. Threw all the grease out going down the E way at 65 mph. Hub overheated and disinigrated. Noticed the wheel wobble as I backed into my barn. Ended up replacing the axle stub, whew...that was a lucky one !
Have had many standard metal caps come off in past years. Started using some blue loctite when I mount them now.

I suspect you had bearing issues before the 'buddy fell off. Grease should not be ejected from the bearings, if they are packed properly.

 

[dingbat]

To answer my own question, per some google image digging, the nipples have backing nuts. So I'll have to pop mine off to replace the nipple in any case:

It probably came loose for who knows why. If I opt to fix it (rather than replace it), I'll be sure to use some blue or orange threadlocker on it. Maybe do the other side too?

I would pull the snap ring and check the condition of the o-rings while your in there

 

[airshot]

I suspect you had bearing issues before the 'buddy fell off. Grease should not be ejected from the bearings, if they are packed properly.

When the bearing buddy falls off the hub, it is open, nothing to hold the grease inside. What was left of the hub had no sign of grease as it all came out at 65 mph. My hubs are and always have been inspected regularly. There was a small crack on the lip of the hub, whether it caused the issue or whether it happened when the BB came out...who knows. The way people drive and park, it could gave been hit in the parking lot, would not be the first time. That is the only issue ever with a bearing buddy

 

[Chris1956]

When the bearing buddy falls off the hub, it is open, nothing to hold the grease inside. What was left of the hub had no sign of grease as it all came out at 65 mph. My hubs are and always have been inspected regularly. There was a small crack on the lip of the hub, whether it caused the issue or whether it happened when the BB came out...who knows. The way people drive and park, it could gave been hit in the parking lot, would not be the first time. That is the only issue ever with a bearing buddy

Gee, I have lost dust caps before. The net result was that the grease collected dust and dirt from the road. The bearing, if good and installed properly, shouldn't move much, as you drive. The nut and washer hold pressure on it. Just my experience.

 

[Pmt133]

I only lost the grease immediately behind the bearing buddy. It was otherwise packed flat to the lip. Nut/cotter pin still concealed

 

[Jeff J]

A lot would depend on how far it was run without the bearing buddy. Also, bearings and/or races can fail without much warning so I would not assume the bearings were good when the cap came off.

I heard a “ping” one day while a buddy was backing me down the ramp. We pulled the hub in the parking lot and found the race had broken. Color was normal and this was shortly after I had experienced a catastrophic failure so it was getting looked at and repacked twice a year.

On my catastrophic failure, I discovered it when I pulled out of the garage and started down the street listening to a horrible screeching and grinding noise. About half the spindle was gone. The nut was beat up but still there. The hub could have come off because the bearings and races were gone. In fact, I removed the hub without removing the nut. It was a grease through the axle system so no bearing buddies. The trip it actually failed on was about 80 miles round trip. The trailer was less than a year old and would have had 1200-1500 miles on it.

 

[ratdude747]

I would pull the snap ring and check the condition of the o-rings while your in there

That's what I did, remembering what a pain they were to seat.
The O-ring was in good shape. As was the grease that was in there... the only signs of moisture I found were on the snap ring itself. The grease still looked nice and dry (no water blobs or the like) and still had a good consistency.

Made a quick trip to the Auto Zone down the road from me and fetched some nipples (they're 1/4-28 for future reference). A dash of orange threadlocker and it went back together no problem. Added grease until the piston moved (and a couple pumps more for insurance). Calling it good for now.

 

[airshot]

Gee, I have lost dust caps before. The net result was that the grease collected dust and dirt from the road. The bearing, if good and installed properly, shouldn't move much, as you drive. The nut and washer hold pressure on it. Just my experience.

There is no seal on the outside, and I don't know when the BB popped off.
It was dark at night, we went out for fireworks, so not sure when I lost it. About a 40 mile roundtrip to and from the ramp, at 65 mph, there was no way the grease was going to stay in there. The axle got hot enough the cotter key was gone and the nut was black and about to fall off. Races were welded to the spindle, just cut the axle stubs off and welded on new ones. Never another issue with them, but use blue loctite after that...

 

[airshot]

That's what I did, remembering what a pain they were to seat.
The O-ring was in good shape. As was the grease that was in there... the only signs of moisture I found were on the snap ring itself. The grease still looked nice and dry (no water blobs or the like) and still had a good consistency.

Made a quick trip to the Auto Zone down the road from me and fetched some nipples (they're 1/4-28 for future reference). A dash of orange threadlocker and it went back together no problem. Added grease until the piston moved (and a couple pumps more for insurance). Calling it good for now.

The instructions on my BB state that the wheel should be jacked up so free to spin. Hubs should be spun in both directions while pumping in grease.
Whenever I add grease, I always spin the wheels both ways.

 

[dingbat]

The instructions on my BB state that the wheel should be jacked up so free to spin. Hubs should be spun in both directions while pumping in grease

While it can’t hurt, I think you’re confusing bearing buddies with EZ -lube hubs.

I see no mention of spinning hubs in BB instructions.

How Genuine BB® Works | BearingBuddy

www.bearingbuddy.com

 

[airshot]

While it can’t hurt, I think you’re confusing bearing buddies with EZ -lube hubs.

I see no mention of spinning hubs in BB instructions.

How Genuine BB® Works | BearingBuddy

www.bearingbuddy.com

Hmmm...there was on mine....never used EZ lube hubs that I can remember.
My instructions from years back always recommended jacking up the wheel and spinning it both back and forth to help remove air pockets and distribute the grease. Been following those guide lines for over 40 years.

 

[chrisgt]

I have never understood what problem bearing buddies are trying to solve. They are another point for water ingress and don't seem to do anything else useful. I see more bearing failures from these stupid things because the excess grease pushes out the seals, water gets in the bearings, and then they get ruined.

Bearings cavities should only be 1/4 to 1/3 full of grease otherwise they overheat, thus bearing buddies lead to two issues: overheated bearings and premature failure, or too much grease pushing out the seals and then obvious bearing failure.

If you have water in the hub, no amount of adding grease is going to fix the problem. If you have old, worn out grease in the hub, you need to take it apart, clean it, and properly regrease it. What other purpose could these things possibly try to serve?

 

[Beretta 1]

I agree with most of you guys as I had them a long time ago and always had issues with them. At present time and it’s been 25+ years with out them and no issues not using them. Clean and pack them with new seals every 5 years or so and that depends on how much I tow. Pack them like we used to with a car and with good synthetic grease pop the metal cap on and wrap the joint from the cap with good ”3M” electric tape. Never had an issue again..

 

[Mc Tool]

On the other hand lots of peeps have had them for years without issue . I think humans being humans get the grease reservoir idea and then over fill them ...coz you know how if a little is good a lot must be better. Im sure the success of the buddy is just about solely reliant on the integrity of the rear seal.
I have 4 trailers of various sizes ,only one with BB's and I have seen no difference in longevity

 

[airshot]

Been using BB for decades, no issues after I followed the instructions closely ! Early on I was over filling them. Then they came out with the ones that gave the little weep hole...you fill until grease comes out the hole and quit. Never have had an issue since. Also highly recommended to raise and spin the wheel while filling, removes excess trapped air. The manufacturers tell you, that the hubs need rebuilt at least every other year or every year in heavy duty service. If your not following these instructions, you will have issues ! Follow them to the letter and you won't......