Oil To Grease - Bearings

[BassnChris]

Finally got around to inspecting the wheel bearing on my 'new to me' boat trailer.

 

With the 2015 BR Road Trip beginning next Monday, I decided it was time to get the bearing inspection done.

My trailer has oil bath wheel bearing system.......of which I am not too familiar with.....but it is amazing what 15 minutes and a little googling can get you these days.

 

After pulling the hubs off I found one minor fractured bearing race and another bearing missing a needle bearing.........so decided to clean everything up and install new bearing, races and seals........with grease instead of oil bath. (Bearing Buddies arrive today)

 

If I had replaced everything and went back with oil......I would not be as inclined to pull everything apart the next time as I will with the grease. I would probably have just checked the oil level as instructed and headed down the road with a damaged bearing and a damaged race.....possibly leaving me stranded somewhere along my 7-1/2 hour route.

 

I know the oil bath are supposed to be better......run longer with less maintenance.......but this is the way I have always done it.....so I will be more comfortable going forward......and now have an excuse to play in the grease - ugh ugh ugh (Tim the Tool Man Taylor sound)

 

if there is a moral of the story......CHECK YOUR WHEEL BEARINGS!

 

Happy trailering and fishing.

[slimshad]

I have cool hubs (oil) and I change out the oil every year.  I have been in them over the years tho.  Knock on wood, I haven't had any major issues yet.  My trailer is a 2002.  I keep thinking about going to a grease hub, but I never pull the trigger.

[cadman]

I have cool hubs (oil) and I change out the oil every year.  I have been in them over the years tho.  Knock on wood, I haven't had any major issues yet.  My trailer is a 2002.  I keep thinking about going to a grease hub, but I never pull the trigger.

 I have a 2007 trailer and like you "knock on wood" never had any issues with them. I too sometimes wonder if I ever lose oil, I would definitely be stranded, and if I should go to greased bearings. However I never changed them. I hear a lot of horror stories, but I also know lot of guys that love them. I so far like my oil cool hubs.

[BassnChris]

I would have liked to have kept them.........but I need to feel good about it.....that is why I changed them out.

[cadman]

I would have liked to have kept them.........but I need to feel good about it.....that is why I changed them out.

So what is the process on this? I have a Ranger trailer and I don't know if that matters

 

#1 Drain oil, clean and add new bearings and grease seals, grease etc?

#2 I believe it's called buying Vault hubs which are for grease?

 

Any help on this info would be appreciated.  Cost per hub to do this?

 

Thanks in advance

[BassnChris]

So what is the process on this? I have a Ranger trailer and I don't know if that matters

 

#1 Drain oil, clean and add new bearings and grease seals, grease etc?

#2 I believe it's called buying Vault hubs which are for grease?

 

Any help on this info would be appreciated.  Cost per hub to do this?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Here is the response I got from etrailer:

Expert Reply:

Actually all you really have to do is remove the oil from the hub and then pack the hubs with grease and then get the correct bearing buddy to match the threaded hub bore. You will need to measure the inner diameter of where the old grease cap installed on your hub to pick out the correct bearing buddy.

 

I removed the hubs and went ahead and replaced and grease packed the bearings, races and seals on all 4 wheels. The bearing buddies arrive today. I do not think they are required but I do like them. I had to order the threaded type....a little more difficult to locate but possible. Since I was replacing the seals....I just drove the inner bearing race out......that takes the race, bearing and seal out all at once.

 

I thought about replace the entire hub assemblies.........but 2 of my wheels have brake rotors and this would have made it a little more difficult. I bought the bearing/race/seal kits at Academy Sports and outdoors for $14.99/set.......bought a bearing race installer kit at harbor freight $35.....and a bearing packer for $24 at harbor freight (save your money and do it the old fashioned way with your hands....I will from now on).....bought a 8" long punch set a harbor freight for $8.99.....they made the job very easy. Got 2 tubes of Marine grease at autozone for $4.99/ea I think.  Having the right tools make the job very easy.......beats struggling with make shift tools.

[cadman]

Here is the response I got from etrailer:

Expert Reply:

Actually all you really have to do is remove the oil from the hub and then pack the hubs with grease and then get the correct bearing buddy to match the threaded hub bore. You will need to measure the inner diameter of where the old grease cap installed on your hub to pick out the correct bearing buddy.

 

I removed the hubs and went ahead and replaced and grease packed the bearings, races and seals on all 4 wheels. The bearing buddies arrive today. I do not think they are required but I do like them. I had to order the threaded type....a little more difficult to locate but possible. Since I was replacing the seals....I just drove the inner bearing race out......that takes the race, bearing and seal out all at once.

 

I thought about replace the entire hub assemblies.........but 2 of my wheels have brake rotors and this would have made it a little more difficult. I bought the bearing/race/seal kits at Academy Sports and outdoors for $14.99/set.......bought a bearing race installer kit at harbor freight $35.....and a bearing packer for $24 at harbor freight (save your money and do it the old fashioned way with your hands....I will from now on).....bought a 8" long punch set a harbor freight for $8.99.....they made the job very easy. Got 2 tubes of Marine grease at autozone for $4.99/ea I think.  Having the right tools make the job very easy.......beats struggling with make shift tools.

Thank You very Much for the write-up.

[matuka]

There's some serious wood knockin goin on here. I guess the guys that love em never had a problem with them. On the other hand, I've know a few who have, and hate them now. One guy had a failure on the freeway coming back from a tournament. The bearing fried, seized, something failed, (the axle?) and the wheel broke loose. It rolled off into a dry field with summer wildgrass. It all caught fire and the fire dept ahd to put it out. I had them too and was lucky I guess. My current boat has old school grease and bearing buddies. At least I can maintain these, which I do.

[lmoore]

^ I had the exact same thing happen to the family walleye boat when I was in high school. My whole family was headed for vacation when I noticed our trailer tire passing us on the interstate. Can happen to grease also.

I will say I think that trailer was at a disadvantage since the boat was shared between my family, my uncles, andy grandpa. It was probably a little tough to know who was doing what for maintenance. Even so, I repack my bearings every year without fail and replace every 3ish just to be safe.

[WIGuide]

Wheel bearing failures can happen regardless of what system you use. Even if you properly maintain them. Most of the time when they have issues the bearings will seize an very possibly blow apart and your wheel is pretty much free to come off the axle. I'd rather have the oil bathed hubs. They run cooler, easy to maintain, and are trusted by over the road trucking companies on all their trailers. They put on WAY more miles than I'll ever put on my boat trailer so if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me.