spring loaded wheel bearing covers

[Danmer]

Hello,
I would like to know how good are the spring loaded wheel bearing covers and how beneficial will be if I install them on my TT. Thank you for your time.


SWIFT 185RB 2013
TOYOTA TACOMA 2011

[RVhiker]

This is my opinion, and others may disagree.

I think that any external wheel bearing grease system (eg, EZ Lube) on a travel trailer's axles does not make sense and is in fact not helpful. On a boat trailer, likely a different story due to frequent immersion in water. But a proper grease job on a travel trailer's bearings will last many thousands of miles and at least a couple of years. There just is no need to inject extra grease. After a couple of years or many thousands of miles (I think 24,000) its time to remove your drums, inspect the brake system, and clean and re-grease the bearings. But, adding extra grease through a zerk can cause an internal seal to fail, and to get grease all over your drums and shoes. I understand that spring loaded wheel bearing covers have a relief valve to prevent busting the seal, but since (in my opinion) adding extra grease is not needed, there is no point in adding spring loaded wheel bearing covers.

Good luck with your trailer; thinking about wheel bearing maintenance is a good thing to do!

[clutch]

Well said RVhiker. My feelings exactly.

[Danmer]

Thank you RVhiker for your very well detailed explanation, good luck.

[TeamFoxy]

I would mostly agree with RV Hiker in that I would not pump more grease into the axles at intervals just for the sake of doing it. However, I think there is a lot of benefit to having the wheel bearings totally full of grease when packing and I don't see how you do that without the gun fittings. I prefer the fittings in the ends of the axle and covers with the rubber end seal to the "Bearing Buddies" that are spring loaded. The former push grease from back to front and there is no external restriction when you are adding grease. The spring loaded "bearing buddies" force grease in from the outside back towards the seals and I think it is easier to blow a seal.

[clutch]

From my personal experience, our trailer came from the factory (either Dexter or Jayco) with a lot of extra grease. The end result was that the brakes were full of grease do to seal failure. The bill came to $1100 to change everything. We were reimbursed by Jayco 100%. I am not a fan of grease fittings on wheel bearings.

[wwsmith111]

Bearing buddies do nothing for the inside bearing. Several repair techs have told me they have many times had to change out a whole axle when someone used bearing buddies due to inside bearing failure. Nothing replaces inspecting and repacking the wheel bearing at recommended intervals. Reviews on EZ-lube axles I have read are 50/50. I just bought a new TT with them so I am interested to see how they do. I plan on following the directions exactly. I drive an 18 wheeler for a living. One thing I do in the big rig and with my RV and pickup is check the tire pressures and I also check how hot my tires/rims and bearings are every time I stop. I use the back of my hand. Everything should be cool or warm. If it is hot one better check it out!. I had all my bearings replaced for piece of mind for a long trip over xmas. I went 100 miles and one bearing was very hot. It turned out to be a dragging brake but I found it by stopping and checking it on purpose. Otherwise I might have had a major failure!