Bearing Buddies
I just Installed new hand packed wheel bearings. I was wondering if bearing Buddies would be a good idea?
Forum Discussion
Huntindog wrote:
Bearing buddies are a great product ,,,,, for boat trailers.
Boat trailer bearings have a special problem. When the bearings heat up on the way to the lake, they slowly push any air in the hub cavity out past the seal to equalize the inside and outside air pressure. At the lake, the trailer and bearings are submerged in cold water, instantly cooling the bearings and air cavity BELOW (in most cases) the ambient air temperture. This creates a vaccum inside the bearing cavity, which is under water.... So rather than sucking air past the seals, it will suck water past them.
The bearing buddy system pressurizes the bearing cavity, and reduces or eliminates air in it. Since it is under pressure, a water dunking will reduce the pressure, but not create a vaccum... Problem is solved.
TTs don't have this problem, and don't benefit from bearing buddies.
The EZ lube system mentioned is totally different.... It is NOT for boat trailers, but can be a benefit for TTs, which is what it is designed for.
That is the best explanation I have ever read, and it is accurate. I hope Huntindog keeps a copy in his computer to quickly paste when the question comes up again.- If the goal is to blow the rear seals and grease the brakes, Bearing Buddies are a great idea. If that is not the goal, they are a bad idea.
jimw606 wrote:
Thanks everyone for your answers. I'll just keep doing it by hand. I had a fifth wheel with EZ Lube, but I still hand packed them every couple of years.
This
I'm always amazed how many folks think Bearing Buddies,and EZ lube are the same thing!:R- Thanks everyone for your answers. I'll just keep doing it by hand. I had a fifth wheel with EZ Lube, but I still hand packed them every couple of years.
- Bearing buddies are a great product ,,,,, for boat trailers.
Boat trailer bearings have a special problem. When the bearings heat up on the way to the lake, they slowly push any air in the hub cavity out past the seal to equalize the inside and outside air pressure. At the lake, the trailer and bearings are submerged in cold water, instantly cooling the bearings and air cavity BELOW (in most cases) the ambient air temperture. This creates a vaccum inside the bearing cavity, which is under water.... So rather than sucking air past the seals, it will suck water past them.
The bearing buddy system pressurizes the bearing cavity, and reduces or eliminates air in it. Since it is under pressure, a water dunking will reduce the pressure, but not create a vaccum... Problem is solved.
TTs don't have this problem, and don't benefit from bearing buddies.
The EZ lube system mentioned is totally different.... It is NOT for boat trailers, but can be a benefit for TTs, which is what it is designed for. jimw606 wrote:
I just Installed new hand packed wheel bearings. I was wondering if bearing Buddies would be a good idea?
I thought they were a good idea, so I put them on. Turned out not so good. When bearings get a little bit warm (think traffic jam)with brake on for long time. I noticed after a time (months later) they seemed to ooze out a just a little bit of grease. No big deal until some months later when you get that feeling of "I'm going to clean this thing up" and found out that grease is not that much fun to clean when it gets all over the rim. And also got the "bearing budding BRA", little soft plastic cup covers to put over buddies. Helped somewhat, but still not happy. Carried a small grease gun, never needed any grease, once full. I used "hi temp" grease bought at discount auto part store. And also got some so called called best grease "cat" sales, but still ozzed out after a time.
Overall didn't help, But you might like them, I didn't.
Just my overall opinion. In my owning tt over 11 years never went thru bearings and never had a problem except grease ozzing some.- Bearing buddies are an aftermarket item designed to be used on boat trailers and primarily boat trailers without brakes…
The original bearing buddies has most likely ruined more inner grease seals than anything else, and mostly because the users didn’t follow directions for their use…
The newer bearing buddies are designed to apply 3 pounds of pressurized grease then allow excess pressure weep out from the spring loaded disk… they require the use of a double lip inner seal be installed…
This works for boat trailers because of the sudden emersion and rapid cooling can allow water to be drawn in…
The EZ lube systems are entirely different, are not pressurized, come with the double lip seals, and work pretty well… but the directions still need to be followed… - There is a huge difference between the EZ-Lube spindles which force grease between the bearings and Bearing Buddies that just push grease in the cavity without giving a good dispersed amount of grease throughout the bearing area. The EZ-Lube is much better.
- I have always ran them on all my trailers and have had great luck with them. I swear by them.
But if you do decide to get them make sure you get the original "Bearing buddies", not a knock off. Knocks offs will be messy as can be. - I doubt there are put on trailer axles just for the sake of making a mess. As the above poster stated, he has had great success with them.
I am for an inspection-but annually is overkill IMHO!
