Bearing Buddies...

[Sonicrunch]

I've had it with bearing buddies. It's is a gimmick.

But if you think you have to have them, Red-eyes are a far superior design.

When it comes down to it, the grease seal is more important.

[Kyhl]

Based on the experiences in this thread, I've been lucky with bearing buddies.

On my last boat I replaced and repacked the bearings once in year one then never touched them except to add grease once a year.

I ran that boat up and down the freeways in this state for ten years, regularly at 75mph. Went through two sets of tires, broken springs, and a broken wheel, but never had a hub issue with a bearing buddy.

With the current boat I am counting on the same thing, replaced and repacked in year one and expect another six years out of them.

[Wanderer]

I'm guessing user experience may vary with the bearing buddies.

Also on the Karavan hubs there's really no open space behind the race to pound them out with a punch. Not sure how to get them out so I'll take them to the shop tomorrow. Probably the reason the dealer didn't change them either.

On the Karavan hubs, the "Shop" didn't have any better idea than, "Hey, buy some new hubs and save yourself some time". I took the hubs home and got after them with the Dremel. I ground out reliefs on the back side of the races so the punch could get a grip. They knocked out decent after that.

[kfk]

Of course user experiences vary with Bearing Buddies, but in my experience, if you treat them right and what I mean by that is don't overfill them with grease to the point of blowing out seals(I've done it) by giving them just enough grease to move the spring once they are filled and not too much (most times only a pump or two will do), give your axle bearings an annual once over like many of you have referred to and carry an extra cap with you if one is lost. Overfilling Bearing Buddies with grease is the worst thing you can do to them. If they aren't leaking, a shot of grease every few trips is all they need.

I've been using them since the 1980s without any problems. Sure I've lost them because I didn't have them properly seated and I've blown out seals but the only times I've had trouble with them I'd consider it my fault. I've never had an axle bearing fail that had a Bearing Buddy installed on it. Lucky? I don't think so. They work.

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

+1 I agee!!!!!!!!!!

Mike