Explain bearing buddies to me...

[Bondo]

Re: Explain bearing buddies to me...

"The Bearing Buddy® system maintains a constant pressure of 3 p.s.i. on the grease inside the hub. Since the hub is always full of grease (with proper maintenance) there is no need to repack your bearings."

Ayah.........<br />And, I've Fixed Alot of trailers with Blown Wheel Seals, That Leaked Water into the Inner Bearings......<br />It's the head of Air, Between the Bearings, That holds the 3psi,+ keeps everything Where it belongs.........<br /><br />In a Perfect World, That quote is exactly Right........<br />But, Contaminants Will find their way In,+ Grease Dries Out....<br />And,<br />A Hub that's Literally,Physically Packed with Grease,<br />Is a Waste of Good Grease..........

 

[tangent]

Re: Explain bearing buddies to me...

Bondo - great explanation.

 

[BillP]

Re: Explain bearing buddies to me...

Originally posted by Bondo:<br />

"The Bearing Buddy® system maintains a constant pressure of 3 p.s.i. on the grease inside the hub. Since the hub is always full of grease (with proper maintenance) there is no need to repack your bearings."

Ayah.........<br />And, I've Fixed Alot of trailers with Blown Wheel Seals, That Leaked Water into the Inner Bearings......<br />It's the head of Air, Between the Bearings, That holds the 3psi,+ keeps everything Where it belongs.........<br /><br />In a Perfect World, That quote is exactly Right........<br />But, Contaminants Will find their way In,+ Grease Dries Out....<br />And,<br />A Hub that's Literally,Physically Packed with Grease,<br />Is a Waste of Good Grease..........

I respectfully disagree with you on that one. A hub full of grease leaves no room for contaminates to enter. I pack the hub full, pump the bearing buddies and leave a little wiggle room on the spring. Then I keep checking the spring and pumping grease in until the spring doesn't bottom out anymore. Then I check them after a few miles of driving make sure they are full. That way I know all the air pockets are gone. Once the hubs are full it takes little to no pressure to maintain water proofing. My hubs never get water in them and I've been doing it this way for decades. <br /><br />The only time I've had grease out the rear seal is from a pitted spindle on an old used trailer. I installed BB Spindo Seals and the problem stopped.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Explain bearing buddies to me...

I Respect your respectful disagreement..........<br /><br />My take on it is;<br />You've been living in a Perfect World,+ Wasting Grease...... <br />For Decades.......

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Explain bearing buddies to me...

Doesn't the extra 'wasted' grease act as conduit (I can't think of a better word?) to help dissipate heat?<br /><br />Aldo

 

[BillP]

Re: Explain bearing buddies to me...

If it was a perfect world we wouldn't be having this discussion.<br /> <br /><br />All I know is my bearings never get water in them and the cost of grease is cheap...and I don't have to buy new bearing every couple years. <br /> <br /><br /><br />Aldo,<br />I can't tell a difference in temperature when feeling the hubs on my boat trailers that have packed hubs and Bearing Buddies compared to my utility trailer without packed hubs or Bearing Buddies.

 

[Lowranger]

Re: Explain bearing buddies to me...

Hi all, I just switched to a synthetic grease so I dis-assembled my Bearing Buddies to clean them. http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php I have the newer Stainless and there is no relief hole(see picture). From the bottom it goes: snap- ring, O-ring, piston, spring, snap-ring. As I recall, if the B.B is overfilled the piston rises above the O-ring, allowing excess grease to escape. Pete

 

[demsvmejm]

Re: Explain bearing buddies to me...

Perhaps I described it wrong using the word reservoir. I agree with Bondo that a packed hub is a waste of grease . However maybe it's the lesser of two evils. The best lubrication of bearings is the way big trucks do it, with a low level of heavy oil in the hubs, enough to provide a constant "oil bath". However, in the marine environment as Bondo pointed out is the whole expansion/contraction problem. However I do respectfully disagree that it is air pressure that is being maintained. The grease seal is a hydraulic seal, and the water trying to enter is a hydraulic fluid. The pressure maintained in the hub is hydraulic pressure against the seal to provide a tight leak-proof seal(verb), assuming the axle seal(noun) is in good shape.<br />I once read on the Bearing Buddy package that the BB held extra grease that was forced into the bearing as the grease in the bearing was used up. Have fun with that Bondo (no disrepect), I don't buy it either, grease isn't used up, it does dry out, but otherwise isn't consumed.

 

[BillP]

Re: Explain bearing buddies to me...

I suppose BB really means the grease is "used up" as air pockets are purged and filled. <br /><br />If the hub is filled with grease even a blown seal won't let water in and according to BB the hubs should be filled. In my experience the BBs spring doesn't stay out in the wiggle area unless the hub is fully packed. If the spring isn't out the BBs aren't maintaining pressure. Under the same psi...grease will displace air every time. Air compresses and grease doesn't. Air gets past the rear seals, grease doesn't (at BB spring pressures).