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Old 02-15-2011, 09:27 PM   #1
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buddy bearings?

I installed buddy bearings on my popup, but do most install them on hybrids? I just bought a 2006 18 Rockwood Roo and was wondering whether to install them or not. I will be going on a 600 mile trip this summer and was curious.
Thanks,
wc
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Old 02-15-2011, 10:09 PM   #2
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No. Bearing buddies are designed to keep water out of the spindle bearings. The big problem is that with brakes on the same spindle there is then no effective way to keep the grease off of the brake shoes, effectively destroying your brakes.
All you need to do is pull the wheels and remove the bearings and repack them once a year.
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Old 02-16-2011, 08:39 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wcostin View Post
I installed buddy bearings on my popup, but do most install them on hybrids?
wc
I think you'll be fine. You do need to know how your
spindle works tho..... Most travel trailer spindles have
a hollow spindle. There is a hole drilled down the
center that exits at the back side of the back bearing.
Just in front of the rear seal.
This is so you can put a grease fitting in the threaded hole
in the end of your spindle and slowly and carefully pump
grease into the hub assembly. The grease travels thru
the drilled spindle and comes out at the rear bearing.
The grease should hit
the rear seal and be directed thru the rear bearing and
fill the void in the hub and finally exit around the front
bearing. This totally fills the hub with grease.

A bearing buddy is designed to add grease at the
front end and to keep a slight pressure on the hub.
This greatly helps to prevent water from entering the
hub when the axle is dunked in the lake as a boat
is launched or retrieved. The problem is that if the
rear seal fails it will allow grease to get out the
back of the hub and inside your brake drum.

I have bearing buddy caps on my trailer.
I grease my hubs as described in my first paragraph.
I use the bearing buddy cap because it's stainless
and looks much nicer than the ugly bent up grease
caps that were on there.
I just don't add grease thru the bearing buddy.

My 2¢
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