Wheel Bearings

[ALL_IN]

So as the summer is fast approaching I have a couple questions to ask the other FM'ers out there... Topic Wheel Bearings on the boat.

1. How often do you do a full repacking on your bearings?

2. Have you ever bought the pre-greased hubs and replaced your bearings that way?

3. How often do you grease through the certs, on the bearing buddy, between repacking?

I bought a boat two years ago and I am thinking that I would like to do a full repack job on the bearings so I know that they are ready to go, and I have different options like bringing them in to a place to have them done, doing it myself, or buying the pre-greased hubs and doing it that way. I have not done it before so I know there is going to be a learning curve to the project but I feel it can be done. I usually watch my bearings and give them a couple pumps with the grease gun through the certs on the bearing buddies, but I wanted to get a feel for what others are doing out there.

Thanks

ALL-IN

[harvey lee]

Numerous topics on wheel bearings in the forums.

here is one and I will try to post a link to a fewothers also.

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/565067/all/Wheel_Bearing_Repacking_101

[mrpike1973]

for question no# 2. i think preloaded bearing hubs are the best thing since sliced bread. there fast and quick after your done check your bearings often and all you will have to do is repack them. just my nickels worth. there is a great thread on this in the boating section.

[ALL_IN]

I have had people tell me about the pre greases hubs called THE VAULT, does anyone know where I could find those? I did a internet search and I found all the information but not a place that sells them.

[Tom7227]

Why would you spend that much money when you can do it in about an hour for next to nothing?

[ALL_IN]

Why would you spend that much money when you can do it in about an hour for next to nothing?

Are you refering to buying "the vault" system? I have no idea what they cost... I know I can do it myself, I am just looking at all the different options, and getting input on some of the different options out there.

IMO, if I can get it done cheap from a place, I would have more piece of mind, than me doing it for the first time.

[Tip Up Rookie]

I think Tom was referring to the cost of replacement seals and grease. This past weekend I cleaned and packed my bearings for the first time myself. I bought a used boat last year so I wanted to check the bearings out. If you have a jack, stands and a greasegun, should be 15 bucks at the most for replacement seals and grease. It can be a bit messy but its not a hard job at all. I recommend the instructions in Harvey's link, they were a huge help, great step by step with photos.

[hydro]

If you are going to pack the bearings yourself, buy a bearing packing tool at the auto store. It looks like a couple of flat cones that the bearing gets sandwiched between and you pump grease in with the grease gun. It gets the grease all the way through the roller cages and is not very expensive. Also, be sure to pack the space between bearings in the hub to displace as much air as possible, so that the Bearing Buddies work properly.

[Tom7227]

Northern wants $45 for the cheapest hub that has greased bearings in it. You can buy a bottle jack and some jack stands for the money you would spend on one of the hubs, and you'd need them to replace the hubs anyway.

Look at the thread on it in this forum - http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubb..._101#Post565067

Problem with bearing buddies is that you'll end up over filling them and blowing out the rear seal and end up with a mess.

Once you get the equipment it will cost you about 25 cents to repack the bearings. If you do it properly and every year chances of ever needing to replace the bearings are slim. How often have you replaced the ones on your car and that has thousands of miles on it every year.

[raymondk]

northern bearings and hubs are china made good luck!!!!!!

[Jeremy airjer W]

1. Check them after a year. If the grease is still clear clean them up, repack and go every other year.

2. Not worth the extra cash. If the bearings are shot the hub kits are the way to go. Grease the new bearings with the grease of your choice and with proper service intervals they should last a lifetime.

3. IMO, bearing buddies at at best a false sense of security. More often than not the trailers I see with grenaded bearings have bearing buddies. Also, the inner bearing is the most likely to fail when the bearing buddies are used. Follow number one above and you should never have any foreseeable problems.

[1johntimm]

northern bearings and hubs are china made good luck!!!!!!

I looked at Reese bearings today at menards and they are also made in China.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I have used many northern bearings with no problems.

[Barbelboy]

Have a bearing go out in the middle of nowhere Ontario in the dark. You won't care where the replacement bearing was made. I keep up on my bearing maintenance, but I won't travel anywhere without a spare pregreased hub. It's like a spare tire for the trailer. And just about as easy to put on. If you don't have one, you are just taking unnecessary risks.

[Genofish]

Northern Tool hub on trailer, with over 2000 miles, spare one in truck.

no issues

[1johntimm]

Wheel bearings are on sale now at Fleet F. For those that are looking for 'em.

[thatoneguy]

Just the bearings or the pre-packed hub set?

[1johntimm]

Just the bearings. Asst. sizes for $9.99.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I have a hub with packed bearings ready to go in the boat at all times. You just never know!

[Bobby Bass]

I replaced both of my hubs this year simply because I bought new pre packed ones on sale for 35 bucks each and the old ones were 23 years old. Plan on doing a lot of fishing this season and I wanted to know that was not something I was going to have to worry about. Bought new tires while I was at it to. I did redo one of the old hubs and have it as a spare, something I should always have had done but just now got around to it.

[harvey lee]

Sounds like your ready to go BB. Great to not have to worry about the trailer.

[DTro]

You can get pregreased hubs at Northern Tool For $29 for a 1200lb rating and $31 for 1350lb. $45 is not the starting price point.

They might not be the best quality, but they have worked great for me for the past 4 years. At that price the convenience is worth it to just replace the whole darn thing.

Throw a spare set in the vehicle and if you have a failure, big deal.

[Shorelunch]

I understand the value of keeping bearings lubed and to repack them, but have not been able to have someone show me how.

Would someone be generous to post a few you tube links to applicable bearing repacking/replacing videos with either the kit or regular way?

[c0untryf1sh3r]

I understand the value of keeping bearings lubed and to repack them, but have not been able to have someone show me how.

Would someone be generous to post a few you tube links to applicable bearing repacking/replacing videos with either the kit or regular way?

There is a great thread that is about repacking bearings on the equipment board, you can find it here. Very informative with plenty of pics so anyone can do it.

[amateurfishing]

are there different sizes of bearings? how does someone know which size to get? i have an '84 trailer with with tires that you cannot even buy anymore.