Bearing protectors

[Steve P]

I'm looking for some recommendations on bearing protectors. I've currently got red eyes on my trailer and they seem to be under more pressure then the old bearing buddies I used previously. They tend to push grease out of the rear seal. Are bearing buddies still available? Im curious to hear experiences and suggestions from other users. Thanks, Steve

[Leo Kam]

I installed a system called liqualube. Read about it a www.liqualube.com.

[Gone Again]

Steve
Seriously consider the Liqua Lube system. No pressure in the hub because the bearings are lubed with synthetic oil rather than grease. Never needs repacking, just change the lube each year. This takes only a few minutes. Have installed these for the past 3 years and have never had one leak. Look at the product and I think you'll agree these are the best out there. If you have any questions just ask! Tom

[Leo Kam]

Steve, have to ask you this since you have 3 years experience with the product, this is my first. Is there anything else you have to do for maintenance besides checking the fluid level and changing it, like taking the wheel off, or removing the kit to check the bearings, etc.?

[Hawgman]

Did you install this product yourself? If so, how big a job was it?

[zack]

How often should you repack bearings if you use bearing buddies? How do you get the bearing buddies out of the wheel hub? Can they be reused after you do?

[Jeremy]

I haven't had a problem with my red eyes yet, but I installed them after replacing bearings and seals. I hated the stainless bearing buddies(cheap ones), leaked around its seal

[gpb]

I have a product from a company called Unique Fuctional Products phone number 760-744-1610. This system lubes the hub in the same manner as bearing buddies with a zerc fitting. Passages inside the spindle allow grease to flowinto the space between the inner bearing and seal. As you add grease, it will flow through the bearings toward the front of the hub. there is no need to repack bearings in the traditional manner because you achieve the same result by adding grease through the zerc fitting. All expelled grease and any water will flow toward you. This system is not an add on but is the whole spindle/hub assembly. There are other systems like this that I've seen in catalogues but I can't remember the name. B/B's and R'E's lube from the outer bearing to the inner bearing whereas this type of system lubes the opposite. Hope this helps.
gpb

[Gone Again]

Leo
No other maintenance is required. Check the fluid level at a glance and change once a year. I change mine every 2 years without a problem. Unless there is a leak you will never have to add oil and bearings will not wear out. Water in the lube is what causes bearings to rust and eventually go bad. This lube can absorb up to 30% of its weight in water and it just makes more lube. Tom

[Leo Kam]

I had mine done at my boat dealers. I'm not that mechanically gifted and I wanted it done right, but you can install it yourself. Go to the website in the post I listed above and it will explain the whole process.

[John in MN]

When you're adding grease to get the old grease/water out, can you blow the seal?

[gpb]

I've had these type of hubs on my last two boats and never had a seal go bad. Manufacturer states "the axle spindles are equipped with permanent, polished stainless steel seal surfaces for the seals to rotate on. This system should provide up to 50,000 miles of service before seals need to be replaced." I suppose if exit got jammed up you could blow one out during filling process. good luck.
gpb

[Kevin B]

Zack- I've had my present boat for 12 years. I put it in the water 25 times or more each year, all year long 'cause I fish at Navajo Lake in the winter (doesn't freeze over). I usually go to Canada at least once each year, and put probably 8,000 miles each year on my trailer. I repack my bearings once each year, ususlly in October or November. I use bearing buddys. I use that "blue" marine grease available at Checker, Autozone, Napa, etc. to pack the bearings. To remove them, I place a 2x4 on top of the buddy and swat it with a hammer. That loosens it up, and then you can remove the buddy just like any other bearing dust cover. I degrease everything in mineral spirits, but you can use whatever is your favorite degreaser. After reassembly, do not overfill the hub with grease. Fill it, but don't overfill it. (After a few mistakes, you'll know the difference between filling and overfilling.) Contrary to the popular instructions to "give the bearings a few squirts of grease periodically", I never do that as it will result in causing the grease seal to leak, and sling grease all ove the inside of the wheel, the underside of your boat, etc.
For me, the key to solving the "grease the bearings all the time" is using the blue, non-water soluble grease and not fillng the hub with grease "'til it squirts out." I do not even carry a grease gun with me. Ever.
As a final note, if you are unsure of tackling this job yourself, go to your local RV or Boat repair shop (or any mechanic shop)and ask them to show you how to do-it-yourself. Tell them you'll pay for the bearing pack if they'll let you watch (or participate).That's what I did. The mechanics were glad to show me how because they don't especially like doing wheelbearing packs -- doesn't pay much labor, messy, basically mindless job, don't want to hassle bringing a boat inside the shop just for a bearing pack, blah, blah, blah.
When I had a boat in the early 1960's, bearing buddys weren't even around. Back then, we simply packed the bearings, put the dust cover back on, and forgot about it til next year.
One more thing, my basstracker trailer didn't even come with bearing buddies. I ran it for two years before switching over to them. My auto mechanic has a boat twice the size of mine and does not have bearing buddys. He just packs em once a year like I do.