billyray50 wrote:
Gdetrailer wrote:
jjjandrbaker wrote:
Well, went this morning and got the bearings repacked. They installed bearing buddies and taught me how to grease them. All in all, I am very satisfied with the service and the price. Anyone who knows me knows how often my attempts at minor repairs or DIY projects routinely lead to disasters and much more expensive repairs. Like some people have no green thumb and can't keep a plant alive, I have no handyman skills.
Stupid "mechanic".
Hope he didn't charge you for the bearing buddies, they are not for RV trailers.
They are for BOAT trailers.
The "idea" behind bearing buddies is to JAMB every nook and cranny full of grease.. This is supposed to reduce water from being sucked into HOT bearings when you dunk a boat trailer into water.
The idea does not "translate" very well to RVs which the axles typically are not submerged into water.
The use of bearing buddies on a TT will eventually lead to BRAKE FAILURE when you start pushing grease PAST the inside grease seal which is not designed for PRESSURIZED GREASE..
The grease seal does not take kindly to pressure, properly hand packed bearings will leave a lot of empty air space between the bearings. This space allows for any expansion or contraction of the grease without pushing it past the seal.
That grease ultimately ends up INSIDE the brake drum..
Then the grease will get slung around and COAT your brake shoes..
Once the brake shoes get grease on them you no longer will have brakes.
FIND YOURSELF A REAL MECHANIC IF YOU ARE TOO LAZY TO DO IT RIGHT..
That last statement is uncalled for. Just because one wants to pay to do bearings does not mean one is lazy..
The NEXT "poor sap" (IE mechanic) who ends up removing the drums to INSPECT and adjust the brakes WILL be saying the very same thing plus cussing all the while..
Poor guy will end up with nearly half a tube of grease in each drum it will be all over the brakes, drum, floor, clothing..
Nothing like a lazy mechanic to encourage the owner to be even lazier.. Ultimately the OP will pay for it in the end at the worst possible moment when the brakes fade out..
Friends don't let friends use bearing buddies..