Is RV Service center about to gouge me for $550? (axles, bearings, brakes)

[whem2fish]

They are not bb

[TMan59]

See I've always just referred to anything with a zerk fitting inside the Hub to grease the axles as a Bearing Buddy as I guess the generic term.
Figured the fitting was there for me to grease as I felt needed.
This would be a good time to learn how the non Bearing Buddy systems work differently from the Bearing Buddy system?

[BFlinn181]

Originally Posted by TMan59

Thank you for the education! So do they need grease every 501 miles or what would your recommendation be?
Like I said my motorcycle trailer has rubber caps on the axles with a zerk fitting behind it. Sounds kind of like what the OP has also.
Again I was just sharing my experience and how well it worked. Your results may be different

I don't think bearings need servicing every 501 miles. Make it a habit to put your hand on the axle after a couple of hours driving. If they aren't all equal in temperature, then I'd pull the hubs and grease the bearings. If you have zerk fittings, give them a small amount of grease. (Too much and you risk blowing grease out past the seal)

[Cumminsfan]

The Bearing Buddy is just a zerk fitting to allow pumping grease in to the bearing cavity.
The EAZY lube spindle has channels in it to allow grease to be pumped in so that when the new grease is pumped in the old grease will ooze out the front.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Reese-Towpo...BoCKGsQAvD_BwE

E-Z Lube System

[TMan59]

So we're putting grease in the fitting the same way?
I sure believe on my motorcycle trailer, but have the fittings behind the rubber boot, there is a little pad in there that is spring loaded. I always felt like that the pad was spring-loaded to keep a constant amount of whatever grease is there filling into the bearings as needed. If the pad was pulled in quite a ways I felt like I should put some grease in it so it pushes the back out and reload the system.

[BFlinn181]

Here are diagrams of Bearing Buddy and Dexter E-Z Lube axles. Similar, but not the same.

[TMan59]

Thank you! Hopefully anybody else reading this learn a little something also. I'd still be hard-pressed ever do anything different than what I've been presently doing as I've never had to change the hub bearings on any of the trailers that I own. I'm just a Christmas tree farmer who tows stuff around feels like he's doing the best he can!

[Hit_the_Rhod]

Last time I had the wheel bearings cleaned/repacked on our old 27' Prowler TT, they charged $114.99 for all four wheels, outer AND INNER wheel bearings. Don't forget the inner bearings. Many places will charge you, but only do the outer bearings. They also replaced all four grease seals, because one of them was showing signs of grease passage through the seal.

Side note. Add on Bearing Buddies will ONLY GREASE THE OUTER BEARING! On MOST hubs, there is no common grease "journal" for want of a better word that will allow you to keep grease pressure on both inner and outer bearings from just one source. Therefore, people who use bearing buddies are operating with a false sense of security IMHO as they THINK they are properly maintaining their bearings, but in reality they are neglecting the inner bearings completely. It would be like changing ONLY the driver's side w/s wiper blade because it's the one you look through most often, so without looking at the PAX side, you just assume it is okay, when it is really deteriorated and wearing a "whitish" line in your windshield!

[babock]

Originally Posted by Hit_the_Rhod

Last time I had the wheel bearings cleaned/repacked on our old 27' Prowler TT, they charged $114.99 for all four wheels, outer AND INNER wheel bearings. Don't forget the inner bearings. Many places will charge you, but only do the outer bearings. They also replaced all four grease seals, because one of them was showing signs of grease passage through the seal.

Side note. Add on Bearing Buddies will ONLY GREASE THE OUTER BEARING! On MOST hubs, there is no common grease "journal" for want of a better word that will allow you to keep grease pressure on both inner and outer bearings from just one source. Therefore, people who use bearing buddies are operating with a false sense of security IMHO as they THINK they are properly maintaining their bearings, but in reality they are neglecting the inner bearings completely. It would be like changing ONLY the driver's side w/s wiper blade because it's the one you look through most often, so without looking at the PAX side, you just assume it is okay, when it is really deteriorated and wearing a "whitish" line in your windshield!

Bearing Buddy's were never intended to grease ANY bearing. There purpose is to keep the hub under a slight pressure.

[42willys]

imho the best way to grease bearings is to remove hubs clean, inspect,grease,new seals.Then you know exactly how much grease is on each bearing.I have easy lube hubs and never use them.

[BFlinn181]

Originally Posted by babock

Bearing Buddy's were never intended to grease ANY bearing. There purpose is to keep the hub under a slight pressure.

I agree.

As I described previously, after towing a distance to a launch ramp, the Bearing Buddy allows you to ensure positive pressure so immersing the axle doesn't cause water contamination of the bearings. The E-Z Lube is a whole different item, allowing lubing without removing the hub. Removing the hub is no big deal, just keep a supply of cotter keys on hand, they are the only consumable item in a hub inspection and lube.

[babock]

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

just keep a supply of cotter keys on hand, they are the only consumable item in a hub inspection and lube.

And rear seals if you want to inspect the inner bearing.

I will never use the EZ-Lube system with my trailer. Too easy to have grease go past the rear seal and all over the brakes. As the OP found out, you can get grease past the rear seal without even using the EZ Lube system. Just makes it more likely to happen though.

[Hit_the_Rhod]

Originally Posted by babock

Bearing Buddy's were never intended to grease ANY bearing. There purpose is to keep the hub under a slight pressure.

I totally agree with you! What I am getting at is that there is a perception out there that a person can install a bearing buddy, give it a pump of grease every so often, and all their bearings are being taken care of! Definitely not true IMHO.

[babock]

Originally Posted by Hit_the_Rhod

I totally agree with you! What I am getting at is that there is a perception out there that a person can install a bearing buddy, give it a pump of grease every so often, and all their bearings are being taken care of! Definitely not true IMHO.

You said it can grease the outer bearing. It can't even do that.