Bearing Buddies or Not?

[Kab Dreamin]

Friday night on the way to Mille Lacs, I burned up a hub just north of Mora (my first one in 27 years of towing boats). The spindle was really messed up so I took it to a local welding shop to have them evaluate whether they could clean up the spindle or if I needed a new axle. I told them to re-pack the bearings on the other side as long as it was there and to put on a new set of bearing buddies (I lost one Friday night). The service writer told me not to put on bearing buddies since they didn't work and according to him "were the best thing to happen to their service department".

I have only heard good things about bearing buddies and have had them on every trailer I have ever owned. Anybody heard anything different about them?

[MNice]

IMHO, buddies are a good thing, by their design the pressure will help keep water out of the assembly, however, they do NOT replace regular maintenance.

[Mark Christianson]

I heard the same thing from Crystal Welding/Trailers.

The guy there was dead set against Bearing Buddies.

Well, I took his advice and took them off because I thought he knew best.

Cripes, blew out the hub assembly big time last year.

After getting it fixed, the bearing buddies went right back on. I don't care what he says any longer, I like giving a squirt of fresh grease every now and then.

Its a peace of mind thing for me, even if they don't work according to the people in the know.

[Eric Wettschreck]

The reason bearing buddies may be the best thing for their service dept is people have a false sense of security with them.

You still need to remove and re-pack your bearings. However, buddies will keep pressure on the bearing and hub therefore keep water out. Plus, you can "Hit" them with a shot of grease from time to time.

Yes, buddies are good, but not a replacement for normal re-packing.

[musky hunter]

In nearly every bearing failure there is heat, heat that is detectable. After every trip all you have to do is touch near the hub. If it's running cool your ok. If it's warmer than normal, it's time for maintenance. Bearings warm up when lubrication is gone, when the wearing surfaces begin to pit, when a bearing gets a flat spot, when bearings breakdown due to fretting, crazing, or extended wear, or when foriegn substances, like dirt, enters the race. Bearing Buddies are absolutely the best thing for preserving bearing life. The pressureized design keeps water out and grease in. I would always have bearing buddies. But I check the hub temp periodically too, because the warning signs of bearing failure are most likely there if you look for it, and it's generally cheaper to replace the bearings before they catostrophically fail. But when the conditions are held, trailer bearings should go for a very very long time.

[ChuckN]

Indeed!

I have never had a problem with Buddies on my trailers, but I also tear them off every year to repack and replace the seals. I put a lot of miles on and I don't need issues.

The only trouble I ever had was last fall with my small boat trailer without buddies. I thought I repacked them after the prior duck hunting season, but I forgot. The bearings were welded to the spindles on both spindles. After new spindles, bearings, seals, races and lost duck hunting time I learned my lesson.

Stick to buddies and repack every year.

[Jeremy airjer W]

If your repacking the bearings like you are supposed to then don't waste your money. If you use them and don't service your bearings regularily, plan on wasting alot of money.

I just bought a used boat and trailer. It had the bearing buddies on it. Guess what? The inner bearings were trashed. I opted for new hub kits and the bearing buddies went in the trash. Yes I agrea that the shot fresh grease they provide can't hurt, but that fresh grease never makes it to the inner bearing. The inners are usually the ones that fail.

Repack the bearings at least once a year (maybe twice a year if the trailer sees alot of water) and you will never need them. I suggest doing it in the fall after the open water is over. This way the bearings will be in storage with fresh grease and no moisture, and its ready to go in the spring!

By the way, most of the axles I replace have the bearing buddies on the hubs! So in my opinion I agrea that they are good for business. Most people just don't understand the concept behind them. So I guess thats also good for business!

[Kab Dreamin]

It was Crystal Welding that told me that this morning, too. I am religious about re-packing the bearings before it goes in storage each year and with only one problem in 27 years, I think I am going to stick with the bearing buddies, regardless of what Crystal Welding is saying. I think Boilerguy is right and people treat think that with the bearing buddies, they don't haave to be as vigilent with the maintenance and from that standpoint I understand Crystal's position.

I will be picking up a new set this evening.

[Kab Dreamin]

The interesting thing about when these bearings burned out on Friday night was that the hubs were cool when we stopped for gas in Mora. I always check them whenever I stop. 10 or 12 miles down the road, they were smoking.

[musky hunter]

You had a sudden catastrophic bearing failure if indeed the bearings were cool one minute and the next, smoke and flames. It would be interesting to autopsy the race and parts to see what the exact cause was. I have read quite a bit about bearing life. Without getting technical, it has to do with loading, speed, and the number of rpm's. Yet there is a statistical range of bearing life and even under the best conditions a bearing has a small but very real chance of extremely premature failure. So the best you can do is fix it, maintain it, and hope you didn't get the 1 in a thousand bad bearing.

[Shorelunch]

I know zip, zero, nadda about bearings - except to give my bearing buddies a shot of grease every so often. Is re-packing bearings an easy do-it-yourself job or is it a job for Tires Plus or a boat dealer?

[Dave]

Shorelunch,

Glad you asked

Bearing Repack 101

[buzzsaw]

Quote:

---

I know zip, zero, nadda about bearings - except to give my bearing buddies a shot of grease every so often. Is re-packing bearings an easy do-it-yourself job or is it a job for Tires Plus or a boat dealer?

---

Oh come on John, don't sell yourself short! Remember to "always have your bearings greased well before a long road trip".

[fishing-addict]

Bearing Buddies(BB) do not replace a yearly service BECAUSE THE GREASE DOES NOT GET TO THE INNER BEARING. I like BB because they do a good job keeping pressure on the grease for the outter bearing, which keeps water out. If you tow a lot like I do I feel keeping fresh grease on my outter bearing during the year is better than nothing.

[Shorelunch]

Thanks Dave. Doesn't look too complicated.

Buzz, yepper, I do know to give 'em the 'ol shoot o grease but that's about it though

[Finns]

Bearing Buddies(BB) do not replace a yearly service BECAUSE THE GREASE DOES NOT GET TO THE INNER BEARING.

If the grease doesn't get to the inner bearing how come I have blown the inner seal (once) using a BB?

Which brand do people usually use. I switched from BB to Belkamp (sp) because the BB had too heavy a spring pushing the grease to the bearings and blowing inner seal.

Finns.

[trollingforeyes]

Besides the Bearing Buddies there are the oil filled hubs. There are a little more spendy, however you do not have to mess with them every year unless there is water that gets in them. These are very easy to check since there is a sight glass in place on the end of the hub. A simple walk around the trailer is all ytou need to check them for correct oil level and if it looks milky-- you got water! To change the oil yearly or every other year you unscrew the allen screw on the side of the hub and let the oil drain. Rotate the hub so the hole is facing up and refill to level recommended by the hub manufacture. These are available at Cabelas and many of the marinas. My Ranger Trailer came with these and after 6 seasons I noticed some discoleration in the oil. I drained it and sure enough there was a little water. I replaced the seal and refilled the hub in May and so far after many trips no problem. Could these be the next best thing to a cold beer???!!!

[chris63]

I thought i would chime in about oil hubs..........you guys allways beat me to the punch.anywho....,my vote is for oil hubs only,grease,bearing buddys,ect.........pain in the but,...............happy trailering

[fishing-addict]

I have never seen or heard of these, but they sure sound like the ticket. I will being checking into these, thanks for the info.

[MIKE IN lINO III]

Now you have me thinking.... I need to repack my bearings. What type of info from the trailer do I need to have in order to get the correct seals?

Can I get them from a auto parts dealer or does it have to be from a Northern Tool type of place.

I have a 1980 Shorelander and a floe smowmobile trailer that I should do.

[Eric Wettschreck]

If you think you need to replace the seals, Northern Tool has pretty much everything you will need. Lot's of auto parts stores will have them also. Not a very hard to find part.

[ChuckN]

Mike,

You need to get the numbers off the seal itself. I would pull the hub off and you will easily see the numbers and manufacturer of the seal (to be cross referenced if necessary). I usually call an auto parts store to see if they have the seal.

[MIKE IN lINO III]

Thanks guys,

Looks like I have something to do tonight.

Mike

[Jeremy airjer W]

Mike, autoparts stores will be able to help but it is easier to walk up to the trailer section and northern, fleet, cambells and grab what you need. all you need to know is what size spindles you have ( 1" - 1 1/4" - 1 1/2") or sometimes they will have a small outer bearing and a larger inner bearing. The bearings come in kits, 2 bearings with races, grease seal, dust cap, and cotter pin for around $10. The seals come in a 2 pack for around $6. Hub kits, 1 hub with races already installed, 2 bearings, grease seal, dust cap, and cotter pin for around $20.

[Dave]

I had trouble finding seals for my Shorelander at a few auto part stores. Ended up going to a marine dealer and the seals were only $5 for two. If you have the seal number, I'd call ahead to see if they're stocked before wasting the gas driving around.

[Crusty old Swede]

Airjer almost touched the key thing missing about this topic, read the instructions that come with bearing buddies. When you repack the bearings AND hubs make sure you get the hubs as full of grease as possible. Then the buddies will expell most of the trapped air as you drive. This means that you need to top off the grease regularly for the first trip or two. This is the part that many people don't comprehend, that their freshly packed hub is not full of grease and when the trailer hits the water trouble starts. Once most of the air is gone grease will in fact reach the inner bearings and if you have the right amount of grease water can not enter the hub. And the spring tension of the buddy takes care of the slight expansion and contraction due to temp changes. Should you way over fill the buddies you will get grease all over both the front and rear of your wheels, trailer, boat & the guy behind you.