Bearing Buddy loose

The Bearing Buddy on the right side of my trailer works itself loose in about twenty miles. Replaced ones do the same. I have dimpled the inside sleeve of the Buddy with a nail set. It did not help. Is there a cure?

First thing I’d have checked is the balance of the wheel and tires. 2. How hard to you have to rap the buddys to set them in? You may need a new hub.

Letsgo,

One thing you want to be sure of is the conditon of your bearings on that particular hub. Take apart and inspect bearings, races, seals, etc… I have seen a worn bearing put pressure on the bearing buddy and push itself right off the hub and replacing the bearing buddy will only result in another lost buddy. This may not be your problem, but most of these conditions were due to something inside the hub putting excessive pressure on the bearing buddy.

Good luck to you!

All good advise so far…..

Have you considered removing the BB’s and simply using a 50 cent dust cap? That’s what I would do. I am not a fan of BB’s. Bearings that are properly cleaned and repacked annually do not need any further maint. during the season.

Every set of BB’s I have had failed. Blown rear seals spraying grease on the inside of the hub, BB caps falling off on the road, and total bearing failure have all occurred with hubs using BB’s. I will never use another set again.

Good Luck,
Jon J.

Switch to the LiquaLube system, http://www.liqualube.com, and you wont have to worry about it. Plus, no annual repacking of bearing, etc. I’m going on my 5th year with them. Just change the liquid biodegradable lube every other year. Quite a few pros on the circut have it installed.

Thanks for the information guys. I do repack each fall. The Liqualube looks interesting, have e-mailed tham for for info. If it is too expensive will go to the dust cap as per Jon. Hope I do not need to go the new hub route. But I have gone threw three buddies on this problem. Thanks again.

letsgo, I put the liqualubes on about a year ago, if I remember they cost me right around 100.00 bucks. One of the best investments I’ve made.

Sounds like a bad bearing making the hub hot to me.
I just got the “pleasure” of changing both sides in 1 trip on my new/used rig. The first one I stopped to check the tarp flapping and always check my hubs when on a trip. In checking the hubs I left finger prints on one of them. OUCH! I decided to drive 10 more miles to a rest stop to get off the highway in that time the bearing protector worked out 1/4″ from the hub. I have lost a Bearing Buddy on a long trip with my old boat. It turned out that bearing was on it’s way out also! I learned it’s much easier to work on bearings in your garage than on the roadside I’m still undecided as to Bearing Buddies or dust caps???

Later,

Ferny.

Half a popcan and a big hoseclap have kept my BB’s on for over a year now. Simple is often better.

Kerry,
did you install the liqualubes yourself?