How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

[SS Flasher]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

Condensation will occur when you launch your boat. During a trip the fluid friction in the grease or oil will warm it, and then the hub will be submerged in cold water causing condensation. This moisture in the grease may disipate but should be checked. Grease and oil is designed to tolerate some water but this should be changed out as necessary.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

I have Henschen torsion axles with Sure Lube spindles ion my tandum. The spindles have holes drilled through them that come out behind the main seal. As you pump grease into a zerk on the hub dust cover, the old grease oozes out the hole. Fresh grease is always going in the front and out the back as it ages.

I really like this setup, I can monitor the grease coming out near the rear seal and see if it has water intrusion and I can check the quality.

So I voted I dont repack. - I think this is better than a bearing buddy.

 

[Seon]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

On my recent acquired boat & trailer, I decided to check the bearings prior to leaving on Monday on my trip from CA to Or. I have bearing buddies, both hub filled with marine grease. Good thing I checked because on one wheel the outer bearing was going out. I replaced both inner and outer as well as the seals on both wheel. Now I'll check them once a year.

 

[Eshaw150]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

once to twice a season due to times this season cause of bad seals replaced all added new brakebackingplates new lines new surge acuator and new wheel bearings and seals

cant use bearing buddys on mine the akle has a grease point on each end of it

Super lube

 

[56 rude]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

30 plus years trailering.packed bearings once in that time and then found gods gift to trailers,bearing buddies.

 

[driz]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

I forgot to add that because some of the mountain lakes I fish are accessible only by miles & miles of gravel roads I also use the vinyl bonnets made by the folks at Buddy Bearings. They fit over the end of the BB, much like that of a cap.

They help to keep a lot of the dirt/dust & gravel particles out of the spring area. The bonnet also cuts down on the amount of grease slinging that might occur if the BB happened to be overfilled, but hey? this never happens?.

Mine are 18 years old and I pulled them and repacked when the buddies went on in 98. One of these days I am going to pull mine for a reinspection but as long as the grease coming out of the weep hole looks free of water intrusion. Those outer plastic sleeves are called "bras". They work like a dream at keeping the crud and water at bay. Cheap insurance and only about $5 a set last time I saw them.

 

[onwaves]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

My trailer has Sure Lube spindle hubs. So, every time I dive it in the water I pump enough in to displace the old grease out basically repacking them several times a season. They run nice and cool. Grease is cheap.

 

[wvstriper]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

EZ lube from dexter for me.

 

[nimmor]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

I use the Red Eye ones, you can get them at Wal-Mart. They have a red cap on them that sticks out when they have plenty of grease. I never thoughtabout the saltwater aspect of them being aluminum, I don't live anywhere near saltwater. I pop my off everty 2-3 months and make sure there is no water in them.

 

[cr2k]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

It is important to remember that the grease you put in a bearing buddy will NOT go through to the rear bearing unless you have a leaking rear seal. You must pull and re-pack at what ever interval is suited for your situation.

Bearing Buddies are made to retain a slight positive pressure in your hubs so when you back in to the cooler water your warm hubs will not suck in water when the cool.

DO NOT pump them full to the point of the spring being completely compressed because as they warm up on the road the pressure will force the rear seals out of the hub and expose the rear bearing to dust and water. Just pump until you see movement and call it good.

NEW ITEM is the oil filled hubs. There is a conversion kit available for most axles. These use oil instead of grease and have a reservoir (similar to a radiator tank) for the expansion/contraction due to heat. A clear cap lets you see the oil level at a glance!

 

[myles27]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

Every spring my 12yr old and I spend a Saturday morning pulling bearings on all of our trailers ( 2 boat, log splitter, yard carts, etc. and greasing them. It's a dirty job but it gives you a piece of mind each year knowing your bearings are good. It also teaches a kid how change/pull tires and be prepared to use a tool. He loves holding the bearing and glopping grease between hands and working it into the bearing. We run the NYS Thruway to Adirondacks each summer with our boat and have stopped numerous times to help others who have tried to make the trek and burned up a dry trailer bearing. There are enough things to worry about when towing a boat, knowing your bearings are good is a quick piece of mind.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

Since i recently purchased my boat I tore them apart and installed new races, bearing, seals and bearing buddies. I was glad that i did! The one bearing completely feel apart as i pulled the hub off of the axle.

Now that i know everying is good to go, i will repack every fall and check the bearing buddies every couple of trips to make sure there is enough grease in them.

 

[wellsc1]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

Depending on the grease used, 10+ years could have wax more than grease in the hubs. Since I experienced wax, I use nothing but marine-grade lithium bearing grease on everthing. With Bearing Buddies, I'm all set for longevity.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

I also have Bearing Buddies, and give them a squirt or two every 2-3 trips. I voted that I repack more than once a season although I know that what I do isn't really repacking, it merely bolsters my peace of mind. I understand that Bearing Buddies are a positive pressure device, I guess I thought there would be more circulation at highway speeds.....Guess what I'll be checking

 

[BCorn]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

i just pulled my hubs and installed new inner and outer bearings and rear seals. I hand packed the bearing with marine grease before installing them. My question is about how much grease to pump in after re-assembled? how do you know. i think on a bearing buddy you pump until some movement is seen, but i have standard factory set up so there is nothing to move. when i pulled the hubs the inside cavity of the hub was entirely filled with grease. all of that was cleaned out before re-installing. i assume that is what i am trying to acomplish is to fill that inner hub cavityfull......is that correct. if so, how do you know when it is full. i am afraid to overpump in fear of blowing the new rear seal. any advice would be appreciated. thanks

 

[pmat1]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

have never done it. i live right by my lake, it is a 3/4th mile ride to the lake, and we have a slip so it only gets towed a few times a year.

 

[jmarty10]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

Has anyone ever heard of the vault system. I have this type of bearing system on my 2008 ez loader trailer. I called ez loader on maintenance and the guy said there good for 10 years maybe more depending on use. they use an oil system instead of grease.

 

[SS Flasher]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

Having used bearing buddies, I have not found a huge advantage to them. I believe that for them to work, the entire cavity between the front and rear bearing must be filled with grease. Unless this is done only the front bearing will get new grease. When it is filled and the rear bearing has grease going through it the grease has to go somewhere ? like leak through the rear seal or push the rear seal out. I quit using bearing buddies and have found no problems. It only takes a little effort to pull off the hub and take clean out the old grease, inspect the condition and repack the bearings. Some folks never check the condition of the bearings and just keep adding more grease to their bearing buddie. This is taking a shortcut and someday will cause bearing failure that potentially has fatal outcomes on the highway.

 

[Rampfever]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

Ok, bearing maint is a must. short trips or long every day or once a year.
I,v been threw the night mears on this post and worst.

I carry a hub and bearings and grease along with tools. It never happens at a good time or place. others i know do the same they also have been threw the damage of a hub or new bearing going out.

Cleaning and repacking is dirty but so is setting in the mud long side the road.
bearing buddys help but do not mean you should stop checking them.

The more weight on a bearing means the more heat and stress. The older rigs that pull the big boat with one axle have to be watched close.

Heres what i do when boat is setting at dock after i go to lake. get a hold of wheel with both hands and pull side to side then push in and out on top of wheel. if bearing is going you may feel more play they then you have felt in pass from checking them. A little chuck does not mean you have a problem, it could be dry, never over tighten them heat will take them out. Note: i also check for heat on hub when towing on long trips when i stop.

Repack them every two years if you check them on every trip like i do.

my 2 cts.

 

[ebentraywick]

Re: How often do you Repack your Wheel Bearings?

every 6 months