Buddy Bearings

[chrismoore701]

All of you guys that use buddy bearings, you know the ones that you just hook a grease to and squeeze. Be sure to exercise your lug nuts. I had a snowmobile trailer with them years ago and needed to change a tire, luckily in my garage, but broke two (2) studs in the process. They should be exercised at least once a year. Just my two (2) cents

Chris

[wwsmith111]

I use anti-seize on my lug nuts so they will never seize. Most auto parts stores carry it.

[mcfarmall]

Originally Posted by wwsmith111

I use anti-seize on my lug nuts so they will never seize. Most auto parts stores carry it.

I prefer to run my nuts dry. The friction between the taper and the wheel is what helps them stay tight. Trust me, I'm a believer in anti-seize...we live and die by the stuff at work but it has no place on wheel lugs. Remember to de-rate your torque values by 10% when lubricating threads as torque values are stated with unlubricated fasteners.

[wwsmith111]

I drive a big truck for a living. Without some sort of anti-seize on the wheel lugs one would never get them off again. Most big truck tire shops use some sort of anti-seize. They are torqued at 475 ft-lbs. I've been using anti-seize on every vehicle I have owned for the last 20 years or so and never had a lug loosen up. Of course the anti-seize I am talking about is for wheel lugs. It doesn't change the friction at all, it just prevents corrosion. I just put new Maxxis tires on my Eagle. One of the questions they they asked me was did I want anti-seize on the lugs? Yep! No doubt about it and they put it on. I double checked my Jayco Eagle Manual and my TV manual and there is nothing in there about lubricating lug nuts at all. Not sure which "Most if not all" manuals you are taking about. I use to work at a Land Rover dealership and we were required to use anti-seize on all lug nuts. I was trained at the factory to do this. Finally, I've driven over 2,000,000 safe miles in a tractor trailer with anti-seize on 180 wheel lugs and never had one come off. BTW, I have both Permatex and Napa brands of anti-seize and both say right on the bottle for use on wheel lugs. I use the Permatex as that is what many big truck tire shops use.

[Crabman]

I also use the never seize on my boat trailer lug nuts. Without it in this hostile salt water environment removal would be a nightmare. I do not use it on the TT lugs.

[wwsmith111]

Originally Posted by Crabman

I also use the never seize on my boat trailer lug nuts. Without it in this hostile salt water environment removal would be a nightmare. I do not use it on the TT lugs.

If you had used it on your TT lugs you could have changed out that blown tire a lot faster and easier! lol

[mcfarmall]

Originally Posted by wwsmith111

I drive a big truck for a living. Without some sort of anti-seize on the wheel lugs one would never get them off again. Most big truck tire shops use some sort of anti-seize. They are torqued at 475 ft-lbs. I've been using anti-seize on every vehicle I have owned for the last 20 years or so and never had a lug loosen up. Of course the anti-seize I am talking about is for wheel lugs. It doesn't change the friction at all, it just prevents corrosion. I just put new Maxxis tires on my Eagle. One of the questions they they asked me was did I want anti-seize on the lugs? Yep! No doubt about it and they put it on. I double checked my Jayco Eagle Manual and my TV manual and there is nothing in there about lubricating lug nuts at all. Not sure which "Most if not all" manuals you are taking about. I use to work at a Land Rover dealership and we were required to use anti-seize on all lug nuts. I was trained at the factory to do this. Finally, I've driven over 2,000,000 safe miles in a tractor trailer with anti-seize on 180 wheel lugs and never had one come off. BTW, I have both Permatex and Napa brands of anti-seize and both say right on the bottle for use on wheel lugs. I use the Permatex as that is what many big truck tire shops use.

You win. I'll shut up.

[Crabman]

Originally Posted by wwsmith111

If you had used it on your TT lugs you could have changed out that blown tire a lot faster and easier! lol

I can tell you one place I put it. The first time I rotated the tires on my 2500 which I bought in 2012 for the life of me I could not remove the rear wheels. The rims were frozen to the hubs. And the tires were like new, date coded 2011 so it was not that long since they were off. . I pulled, yanked, banged, and cussed and they would not budge, a first for me. Truly a head scratcher. Eventually I put a piece of wood against the inside of the wheel and hit it with a sledge until it broke loose. You can best believe when those babies went back on there was never seize where the rim meets the hub!

[WVDusty]

Originally Posted by Crabman

I can tell you one place I put it. The first time I rotated the tires on my 2500 which I bought in 2012 for the life of me I could not remove the rear wheels. The rims were frozen to the hubs. And the tires were like new, date coded 2011 so it was not that long since they were off. . I pulled, yanked, banged, and cussed and they would not budge, a first for me. Truly a head scratcher. Eventually I put a piece of wood against the inside of the wheel and hit it with a sledge until it broke loose. You can best believe when those babies went back on there was never seize where the rim meets the hub!

LOL. I no thats right my ram was the same way. I think it is the dissimilar metals. alloy wheel against steel hub. fresh coat of never seize every time I rotate the tires now.

[chrisb]

I guess to each his own, I do heavy haul for a living and we never use it on truck or trailer which usually grosses around 180k all day, never had a problem. I wouldn't use it personally on a tt but like I said to each his own

[wwsmith111]

Originally Posted by chrisb

I guess to each his own, I do heavy haul for a living and we never use it on truck or trailer which usually grosses around 180k all day, never had a problem. I wouldn't use it personally on a tt but like I said to each his own

Haven't you ever had a tire changed at a T/A or Petro? If so you've probably used it. They use an oil based anti-seize. I can't remember a time they didn't use it. How do you get the lug nuts off without anti-seize??? Answer, you have to cut them off with a torch.

[norty1]

Originally Posted by wwsmith111

Haven't you ever had a tire changed at a T/A or Petro? If so you've probably used it. They use an oil based anti-seize. I can't remember a time they didn't use it. How do you get the lug nuts off without anti-seize??? Answer, you have to cut them off with a torch.

This thread quickly got away from Bearing Buddys and onto greasing lug nuts. Anyone have any comments on Bearing Buddys? I have never used them on a travel trailer and would not even consider it.

[wwsmith111]

Originally Posted by norty1

This thread quickly got away from Bearing Buddys and onto greasing lug nuts. Anyone have any comments on Bearing Buddys? I have never used them on a travel trailer and would not even consider it.

I suggest you reread the original post. It was about exercising lug nuts because of corrosion for those who use Bearing Buddys. Using anti-seize has everything to do with that. The original post wasn't about Bearing Buddys per say.

[Paintinfool3]

guess I better antiseize mine huh bill

[wwsmith111]

Originally Posted by Paintinfool3

guess I better antiseize mine huh bill

lol

[chrismoore701]

In my opinion the buddy bearings are a lazy mans way of greasing. I like to get the bearings in my hand and have a look and ensure they are good and greased. how often do you guys grease?

[norty1]

Bearing Buddys were only used by me on boat trailers and in salt water they only gave me a false sense of security. I would never consider using them on any trailer that was not going under water at a boat landing.

On my fifth wheel they are repacked every other season.

[Ela1948]

I like most of the rest of you use never seize on all lug nuts. Being a farmer, we have bought multiple pieces of machinery that had set around for years and rusted up the threads. After a time or two of wringing off or stripping treads, you become a true believer in never seize.

[eldermike]

Not sure it should be applied to the mating surfaces (face of the nut) but it's not a bad idea on the threads. I would think that lubricating the face of the nut would cause an increase in the axial load on the stud. My opinion.

[eldermike]

http://fleetowner.com/equipment/tire...debunking_myth

Intresting read.