trailer hubs- grease or oil filled hubs?

[double trouble]

i just repacked my trailer hubs today. it was a messy and nasty job , but i am good to go for another season or 2. i use bearing buddies and fill them or check them durring every trip.the trailer has never failed me.i have a couple questions. this year i had to replace the seals because one was leaking a bit.. every time i try to remove a seal , i mangle them. is there any way to get them out without any damage? i also used penzoil synthetic grease for the first time. does anyone else use synthetic grease?

i was also wondering if any of you use oil filled hubs? there are 2 main brands. liqua-lube which uses synthetic oil and turbo lube which uses 80-90 weight gear lube.tell me what you think about each one and if it would be worth switching.i dread spending an afternoon immersed in grease and wonder if there is a better alternative?

[Josh S]

Hello Iwould stick with the synthetic grease. If you have a leak the grease will stay in the hub also the synthetic will protect the bearing's better. You can buy a seal tool from a tool dealer(Mac/Snap-on). If you are in the Detroit area go to Performance tool in Warren.

[Priority1]

Harbor Freight has seal tools very reasonable. Seals should be replaced once they are removed. Here is a good place to buy bearings seals etc.
http://www.etrailerpart.com/mywebs/myweb/catalog/index.htm

[enfield]

I always replace seals when I repack wheel bearings.

My last boat trailer had a Dexter axle with Zerk fittings on the ends of the spindles. That way I could pump new grease into the hubs without tearing them down. Loved it!

[perchguy]

I have a new boat on order and the trailer comes with bearing buddies so I cna shoot grease into the hubs without haveing to pull the hub off and grease the bearings. If I use the bearing buddy to lub the axel, do I need to pull the hubs and repack the bearing? I was told by a dealer that I did not have to but I wonder if he was correct.

If I do have to have the bearings packed, is there a place on the eastside that can do it for me?

[double trouble]

which side of the road you want to sit at. seriously ,if you read the bearing buddy brand site ,some guys go 5 years without repacking hubs. i went 2 years on 1 side and was going on 3 years on the other.both bearing still were in good shape and the grease still looked good but 1 seal was torn up a bit and leaking (the one i didn't replace) .
on a new trailer , i would think you could go at least a couple years without changing grease if you check and/or fill them every trip.look for grease on the inside of your wheels. that indicates a torn seal or adding too much grease.ask the dealer if he can find out what type grease that trailer manufacturer used. some are not compatible. hopefully it is a synthetic white grease like i used. .do not use immitation bearing buddies from fulton or other cheapies.i have had nothing but trouble until i started using the real deal.the other ones would fall off or crack if they were plastic.

[perchguy]

Thanks for the information. I am going to make it a point to grease the axels every time I use it. Just one thing though. I was told to add grease through the bearing buddy until I saw it coming out the back of the hub. An I doing it right?

[double trouble]

there is a spring on the inside of body of the buddy. you will learn to know when the pressure is correct without pushing grease past the seal. that is too much and you could damage the seal by constantly pushing grease out of it.

the spring will compress as you add grease until it moves toward the outer side of the buddy. thats enough when the spring and cup compress about 1/4 inch from the outer ridge. easier seen than described.

[perchguy]

Thanks again. I will take a look at the axels on my trailer and make sure they are greased properly.

[Priority1]

Good point on those Bearing buddy springs. I bought a used boat this past Summer and replaced the brakes and bearings this Winter. One of the brake assemblies had about a 14 oz tube of grease in it from a over zelous grease gun user. I watch the springs and only add grease when the spings are not compressed. When I see the spring compressing I stop. 2 or 3 yrs is ok on repacking the bearings unless you do a lot of travelling or suspect trouble.

[waterfoul]

Stay away from the oil bearings for boat trailers.... they don't like to be immersed in water when hot. The oil breaks down fast when you cool a hot bearing by putting it in water. I tear down and repack my bearings every other season... replacing any parts as needed. Synthyetic lube too...

[William H Bonney]

:yikes: , you guys are starting to scare me. I don't have bearing buddies, I have the kind that I can shoot grease right in. One seal is leaking and the other one is fine, but I can't remember the last time the bearings were repacked. It has to be at least 6 or 7 years(300-400miles). Is that too long? LOL. I was thinking of doing it before this weekend. I don't know where to start. LOL:rolleyes: