Bearing buddies
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Bearing buddies
I do service my T Trailers wheel bearing`s ever year in the spring, but on the road i was wondering if anyone has used bearing buddies so you can give them a shot of grease when on a long trip, ive used them on my boat trailer, snowmobile trailer , but never on a travel trailer, cant think of ever seeing them on a TT , thanks guys any info appreciated.
#2
Chapter President
I just put some on my tandem Jeep hauler....like you, I have used them on small trailers over the years but nothing else. A fews guys tried to tell me that I will destroy the inner bearing seals by pushing grease through them but I have never experienced a seal related problem with the bearing buddy equipped smaller trailers so I figured I would give it a shot. When I questioned these guys on why the small trailers never appeared to have inner seal issues with the bearing buddies installed, I didn't get much of an explanation!
If anyone has any feedback on larger trailers with bearing buddies, I too would love to hear about it.
If anyone has any feedback on larger trailers with bearing buddies, I too would love to hear about it.
#3
Registered User
I've talked with people who like Fiftygrit have used them with no problems, but I have also talked to people who ruined their brakes.
If you don't go nuts with the grease gun, I think you would be OK.
Personally, I feel more comfortable laying eyeballs on the bearings and brakes once a year or so anyway, and if you repack with quality grease at least once a year (like CTD Nut does), I don't think there is any need for bearing buddies.
Even if the risk of getting grease on the brakes is small there is nothing to gain by taking the risk if you repack regularly anyway.
Just my personal opinion, I have no problem using the bearing buddies on the ATV trailer (that doesn't have brakes) but prefer hand packing on my fifth wheel. Grease doesn't seem to leak from the ATV trailer much, but if it did it would just end up harmlessly dripping off...
If you don't go nuts with the grease gun, I think you would be OK.
Personally, I feel more comfortable laying eyeballs on the bearings and brakes once a year or so anyway, and if you repack with quality grease at least once a year (like CTD Nut does), I don't think there is any need for bearing buddies.
Even if the risk of getting grease on the brakes is small there is nothing to gain by taking the risk if you repack regularly anyway.
Just my personal opinion, I have no problem using the bearing buddies on the ATV trailer (that doesn't have brakes) but prefer hand packing on my fifth wheel. Grease doesn't seem to leak from the ATV trailer much, but if it did it would just end up harmlessly dripping off...
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
Ya my TT is around 28 ft, so its not like my quad trailer, snowmobile trailer, the only problem with blowing out the inner seal is over greasing, then it gets on the brakes, I repack every 10 thou, but some summers i go over that, and if your on the road no place to repack, if you grease just so that the spring in the bearing buddy compresses it should be kool. just was hopeing that someone else was doing it so i could justify using this method, on my 20 ft jetboat trailer i greased every second time to the river just to keep the water out, never pushed the inside seal out. the bearings have been good for years now,
#5
I'd say that most of what has been posted is correct. Bearing buddies aren't going to mean that you never need to pull a wheel apart but they are a quick way to get a shot of grease in there.
I've had 3 trailers with 'em. A 20' boat trailer, dealer said they'd keep the water out and I'd never need to touch them. Sure. I gave 'em a shot or 2 after every dunkin'. Bearings lasted a year. Same as before.
Small utility trailer with BB's seems to work OK. Then again I don't really use it much and never very far.
Last trailer is a 15K construction trailer I had custom built. Wanted oil bath axles but the 'genius' builder said that these with the Bearing Buddies are the greatest thing and everyone wants them. They totally suck! Why? Bearings ran hot from too much grease. Plus the mess and ruined seals.
What you say, too much grease? Yes. Bearings need grease/oil to run but too much causes excess friction and resistance. Thus heat and wear. With a correct amount of grease available the bearing can run in a film of almost liquid with virtually no wear.
I know this is a little long winded but in my job I'll see pressure greased bearings where the vent has clogged and the bearing is so packed it has seized. So what do the techs do? Must need grease. Add more. Idiots all.
For me I'd forget the BB's (or be real easy with the gun) and hand pack them. You'll get plenty of grease and get to inspect the bearing to boot.
Scott
I've had 3 trailers with 'em. A 20' boat trailer, dealer said they'd keep the water out and I'd never need to touch them. Sure. I gave 'em a shot or 2 after every dunkin'. Bearings lasted a year. Same as before.
Small utility trailer with BB's seems to work OK. Then again I don't really use it much and never very far.
Last trailer is a 15K construction trailer I had custom built. Wanted oil bath axles but the 'genius' builder said that these with the Bearing Buddies are the greatest thing and everyone wants them. They totally suck! Why? Bearings ran hot from too much grease. Plus the mess and ruined seals.
What you say, too much grease? Yes. Bearings need grease/oil to run but too much causes excess friction and resistance. Thus heat and wear. With a correct amount of grease available the bearing can run in a film of almost liquid with virtually no wear.
I know this is a little long winded but in my job I'll see pressure greased bearings where the vent has clogged and the bearing is so packed it has seized. So what do the techs do? Must need grease. Add more. Idiots all.
For me I'd forget the BB's (or be real easy with the gun) and hand pack them. You'll get plenty of grease and get to inspect the bearing to boot.
Scott
#6
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Cary, NC
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I installed them on my utility trailer and jet ski trailer. My tandem boat trailer came with a bearing buddy "type" system on it. I have a 35ft TT and it has a similar system to bearing buddies on it from the factory (grease fitting on each axle). If you stop when you feel some resistance, you shouldn't have any problems. I don't have any issues with any of mine.
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#8
Chapter President
I've talked with people who like Fiftygrit have used them with no problems, but I have also talked to people who ruined their brakes.
If you don't go nuts with the grease gun, I think you would be OK.
Personally, I feel more comfortable laying eyeballs on the bearings and brakes once a year or so anyway, and if you repack with quality grease at least once a year (like CTD Nut does), I don't think there is any need for bearing buddies.
Even if the risk of getting grease on the brakes is small there is nothing to gain by taking the risk if you repack regularly anyway.
Just my personal opinion, I have no problem using the bearing buddies on the ATV trailer (that doesn't have brakes) but prefer hand packing on my fifth wheel. Grease doesn't seem to leak from the ATV trailer much, but if it did it would just end up harmlessly dripping off...
If you don't go nuts with the grease gun, I think you would be OK.
Personally, I feel more comfortable laying eyeballs on the bearings and brakes once a year or so anyway, and if you repack with quality grease at least once a year (like CTD Nut does), I don't think there is any need for bearing buddies.
Even if the risk of getting grease on the brakes is small there is nothing to gain by taking the risk if you repack regularly anyway.
Just my personal opinion, I have no problem using the bearing buddies on the ATV trailer (that doesn't have brakes) but prefer hand packing on my fifth wheel. Grease doesn't seem to leak from the ATV trailer much, but if it did it would just end up harmlessly dripping off...
You brought up an excellent point about the brake axles.....since the inner seal is not visible because of the backing plate, it would be impossible to know if excess grease has seeped out of the seal and into the brake assembly....I can't believe I failed to recognize that. That point alone is enough to make me not use bearing buddies on large/heavy trailers....and of course, regular inspection should not be neglected because bearing buddies are installed. There is just too much at stake to tolerate a bearing/brake failure on my Jeep trailer - especially if it was my own fault because of lack of maintenance - I would never forgive myself!
Thanks for the feedback guys.....I'm going to put the dust caps back on.
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