Great Post, some questions: I have never done this, and I just got a trailer last summer, and I have a feeling the bearings have never been repacked in the five years the previous owner had it. Anyway, where does one buy new seals? Auto parts store? And are all seals the same size? How do I find the size of mine? Can someone give a little insight to this for me? Sure would appreciate it..
Thanks from a newbie to trailer maintenance.

Most auto parts stores or a marine dealer will have the seals, and bearings / races should you need them.

No, all seals are not the same. The best bet would be to try and get a P/N off your current seal or take the hub with the old seal to the parts store to make sure you get what you're after.

Good luck!

marine_man

Works for me, thanks..

I just got bearing buddies put on my boat trailer. The guy who did it for me (and I think I should mention he works on trailers for a living) told me that you don't need to repack bearing buddies. Just keep them full of grease and you are good to go. Watch the spring though as to not compress it too much or you'll end up blowing the seal. As this is a new thing for me I am wondering should I be worried and repack them by hand? I've had trailer wheels fly off before and I DO NOT want it happening again.

If the grease seal is good and have a bra on you can go longer periods without inspection. To inspect your bearing and race they'll need to be cleaned. Its not always a matter of lack of grease that'll cause bearing failure, water intrusion of the least will pit a bearing or race. Where you have contact of bearing and race thats where the pitting starts. The longer the trailer sits the deeper the pitting. For that reason not only miles on bearing determine inspection rate but time sitting also determines inspection rate. The system isn't completely water tight. A warm hub assembly put in cold water will contract. That can draw water in. As I said it just takes a small amount of moister to pit.

With bearing buddies and good seals I'll tear down and inspect the bearing and races every few years. Of coarse new grease seals at that time.

IF YOU NEVER WANT ANY BEARING PROBLEMS DON'T DEPEND ON BEARING BUDDYS YES THEY WORK BUY THEY ARE NOT 100% WATERPROOF . YOU SHOULD ALWAYS REPACK YOUR BEARINGS BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR BOAT AWAY FOR THE WINTER ALWAYS REPLACE THE SEALS AND USE A GOOD GRADE OF WATERPROOF GREASE. IF THERE IS WATER IN YOUR BEARINGS THEY WILL PIT YOUR RACES AND BEARINGS THIS IS WHERE BEARING FAILURE STARTS, I JUST LAUGH AT PEOPLE THAT TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE BEARING BUDDYS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO REPACK BEARINGS THEY ARE THE ONES THAT CHECK THERE BEARING EVERYTIME THEY STOP AND CROSS THERE FINGERS. BEARING BUDDYS ARE GREAT THEY KEEP MOST OF THE WATER OUT BUT NOT ALL . I REPACK BEFORE I PUT IT AWAY AND I ALWAYS KEEP THEM PUMPED UP WITH GREASE I PUY ALOT OF MILES ON MY TRAILER EVERY YEAR AND IT IS ONE THING THAT I NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

99% of the axles/spindles/hubs/bearings that I replace are "protected" by bearing buddies. When properly used I'm sure than can help prolong the life of the bearings but bearings still need to be cleaned/inspected at least every other year. I prefer to do mine every fall right before the boat is stored that way I know there is no water in there while it sits and its ready to go in the spring!

Okay, I will be attempting this, soon, but I have drum/surge brakes on my trailer, is that gonna cause a problem with my removal of bearings? I would love to do this my self and save some money, since I need new tires as well.....I have had my trailer for 3 years and I don't trust my tires or bearings anymore. I have never had hot bearings after traveling to Mille Lacs, but I always bring the grease gun along and give it a shot before I leave to come home.

If there is no difference in surge brake bearing replacement, I will hopefully get this done in the next couple of weeks........

Great post Dave

I have a question. I have read alot about "bearing buddies" and this got me woundering what mine are. I have "sure lube system" by reliable. After checking their website they are saying that this system never needs to be repacked. It has a double lip system that by putting in 4.5oz of grease you are changing the grease out completely. I am not sure if I should trust this. Has anyone experienced these bearings? Ever taken them apart? The diagram on their website looks really straight forward. Should I still tear them apart or just do what the company recomends? Thanks...Nate

Anybody have super lube hubs? folks on another site claim they
like them, but would like more input before spending
the money on them. Seems like a pretty decent hub
although I am not sure how well the cap is
constructed and how well it keeps water out.
Anyone?

Thanks