Does Bearing Buddy Replace Bearing Packing on Trailer Hub

Updated 09/16/2020 | Published 09/14/2020

Question:

Hi, you have mentioned a couple of times that there is no need to disassemble and pack the hubs if bearing buddies are used and properly maintained. I have always heard that bearing buddies only provide grease to the outer bearings and that the inner bearings must be packed by hand every couple of years or so. Can you please explain how the inner bearings get greased through the zerk on the bearing buddies? I have always had bearing buddies on my boat trailer and maintained them as required. I may have even over greased them a time or two because the grease has come out and made a mess of my wheels. I also had to replace an axle recently due to an inner bearing going out causing irreparable damage. Thanks for clearing this up for me once and for all!

asked by: Jeff S

Helpful Expert Reply:

With Bearing Buddies it is still recommended that you pack the bearings by hand. The Bearing Buddy can only push grease through the front of the hub which can be helpful but does not take the place of packing the bearings properly by hand. I honestly am not the biggest fan of the Bearing Buddies only because it is too easy for people to over fill their hubs with grease which eventually blows out the seal like you mentioned.

expert reply by: Jameson C