fence_it
Well-known member
How well do they actually work? Got a couple new trailers with them and I'm skeptical. I'm used to manually packing them, usually twice a year as our trailers get 40-50k miles a year on them.
fence_it":1t3f5r1u said:How well do they actually work? Got a couple new trailers with them and I'm skeptical. I'm used to manually packing them, usually twice a year as our trailers get 40-50k miles a year on them.
True Grit Farms":2rsqye8y said:Do not use buddy bearings on hubs with electric brakes, other than that I like them.
There's no real benefit to using buddy bearings if your not going to grease them regularly. The rear hub seal can't hold any pressure so the grease ends up on the brake shoes.fence_it":18yh2blg said:True Grit Farms":18yh2blg said:Do not use buddy bearings on hubs with electric brakes, other than that I like them.
Why is that?
If If you don't want to pull the hubs, squirting brake clean between the drum and backing plate will get you by for a while. I've fought this battle for 20+ with boat trailers. If you don't keep the hub packed full of grease saltwater gets in the bearings, and packing the hubs the grease gets on the brakes. I'd rather have good bearings than good brakes most of the time.Nesikep":2n91t260 said:I would guess the squeeze grease out the inside and that contaminates the brakes.. could be one of my problems with weak brakes right now
Atimm693":1rmolnm5 said:I think they're better than nothing, but not as good as easy lube spindles, which have the zerk on the spindle, not the cap.
Texasmark":prpbtj1x said:I've used them for years on boat trailers. Only had one problem over the years and I may have overpacked it....was running down the highway and it just blew out and disappeared. Other side held.
I don't worry about refilling them as long as the spring loaded disc is centered in the Buddy:
Empty the spring pushes the disc toward the axle. As you install grease the disc pushes against the spring and moves toward you. The spring loading of the disc is what keeps the water out. When you see the disc back against the inner stop it means that the grease has migrated inside the hub and you need to add more. Keep track of it till it quits moving in and your hub will be packed.
Too much grease, aka running the disc all the way out to the stop and continuing to pump grease in can push your inner seal out if the hub is full. That's why I only fill half way on the disc movement.
Atimm693":2h7o8wfx said:Texasmark":2h7o8wfx said:I've used them for years on boat trailers. Only had one problem over the years and I may have overpacked it....was running down the highway and it just blew out and disappeared. Other side held.
I don't worry about refilling them as long as the spring loaded disc is centered in the Buddy:
Empty the spring pushes the disc toward the axle. As you install grease the disc pushes against the spring and moves toward you. The spring loading of the disc is what keeps the water out. When you see the disc back against the inner stop it means that the grease has migrated inside the hub and you need to add more. Keep track of it till it quits moving in and your hub will be packed.
Too much grease, aka running the disc all the way out to the stop and continuing to pump grease in can push your inner seal out if the hub is full. That's why I only fill half way on the disc movement.
There is supposed to be a relief hole on the side of the housing. Once the disc moves past it (just before it bottoms out), grease just runs out of the hole instead of blowing out the seals. That is until the hole gets plugged with crap and dried up grease.
Atimm693":22krooto said:Real bearing buddies have a relief port that is supposed to prevent blowing grease past the wheel seal.
I think they're better than nothing, but not as good as easy lube spindles, which have the zerk on the spindle, not the cap.