Wheel Bearing Dust Cap???

[gm280]

I recently purchased two new 5 bolt hubs/bearings/seals/caps to replace the old 4 bolt type that were on my trailer with the 12? rims that were completely shot. Since I am refurbishing this trailer with new 13? wheels and tires I bought the 5 bolt type as replacements. I received these type wheel bearing dust caps. Does anybody know why they are supposed to be better or how they are used? I understand you could take the rubber front plug off and apply grease without removing the entire dust caps, but other than that why else are they supposed to better then a solid cap? If that is there only use, I will just get some Bearing Bubby types and move on... Just wondering!

 

[bigdee]

Re: Wheel Bearing Dust Cap???

I recently purchased two new 5 bolt hubs/bearings/seals/caps to replace the old 4 bolt type that were on my trailer with the 12? rims that were completely shot. Since I am refurbishing this trailer with new 13? wheels and tires I bought the 5 bolt type as replacements. I received these type wheel bearing dust caps. Does anybody know why they are supposed to be better or how they are used? I understand you could take the rubber front plug off and apply grease without removing the entire dust caps, but other than that why else are they supposed to better then a solid cap? If that is there only use, I will just get some Bearing Bubby types and move on... Just wondering!View attachment 185979

My guess would be that the rubber plug could flex in or out to compensate for any pressure/vacuum? Possibly preventing water intrusion or grease expelling past seals.

 

[ken51k]

Re: Wheel Bearing Dust Cap???

Some axles have a grease fitting on the end to grease the bearings, that is what this dust cap is for. If you don't have a grease fitting on the end of the axle you can use the Bearing Buddy caps no problem.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Wheel Bearing Dust Cap???

My Accu-Lube axles have those black rubber dust caps to access the grease zerk in the center of the axle...I added the Bearing Buddy Bra caps to go over the whole hub cap and dust caps...sorta like a double/redundant water seal...also keeps the sunlight/UV off of those rubber caps....2 caps gotta be better than one!

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Wheel Bearing Dust Cap???

What brand of hubs did you buy?

 

[gm280]

Re: Wheel Bearing Dust Cap???

I actually bought the hubs on Ebay and they were the best deal I seen yet. They also shipped very quickly and even sent tracking data and email responses to verify I was happy. Here is the link to the hubs I purchased...

2000 lbs Trailer Axle 5 x4 5 Lug Bolt Idler Hub 2200 with Bearing Al KO Dexter | eBay

They were purchased to replace the 4 bolt hubs that came with the boat/motor/trailer I bought. However the bearings/races were bad and the seals were not the correct ones so I decided to replace the hubs with 5 bolt new ones since I wanted to upgrade from 12" rims to 13" rims... The price delivered was actually less then just purchasing new bearings/races and seals alone. So I got them in and they are very nice and included new lug nuts as well. Good deal in my book.

 

[Handyman663]

Re: Wheel Bearing Dust Cap???

My Accu-Lube axles have those black rubber dust caps to access the grease zerk in the center of the axle...I added the Bearing Buddy Bra caps to go over the whole hub cap and dust caps...sorta like a double/redundant water seal...also keeps the sunlight/UV off of those rubber caps....2 caps gotta be better than one!

I don't think 2 gotta be better than 1. I think you are competing two different designs. The designs with the zerk in the center of the spindle pump grease thru the axle to a outlet hole behind the inner bearing and then back thru the hub toward the outer bearing. Bearing Buddies pump grease directly thru the outer bearing, hub and into the inner bearing. I recommend sticking with one or the other. I have had bearing failures with both, so am not championing one or the other. Nothing replaces pulling the bearings, cleaning and repacking. Both of these are somewhat better than the old days, but neither replaces bearing due diligence.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Wheel Bearing Dust Cap???

Some axles have a grease fitting on the end to grease the bearings, that is what this dust cap is for.

Thanks I learned something new today!

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Wheel Bearing Dust Cap???

Thanks I learned something new today!

The rubber center dust caps are standard on the EZ-LUBE System.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Wheel Bearing Dust Cap???

I don't think 2 gotta be better than 1. I think you are competing two different designs. The designs with the zerk in the center of the spindle pump grease thru the axle to a outlet hole behind the inner bearing and then back thru the hub toward the outer bearing. Bearing Buddies pump grease directly thru the outer bearing, hub and into the inner bearing. I recommend sticking with one or the other. I have had bearing failures with both, so am not championing one or the other. Nothing replaces pulling the bearings, cleaning and repacking. Both of these are somewhat better than the old days, but neither replaces bearing due diligence.

The black rubber caps can deteriorate and crack from sunlight/UV, while the bearing buddy bra caps are a neoprene material that holds up to UV much better....so the outer cap protects the inner cap...don't want water entering your hub through cracks in caps!

 

[cr2k]

Re: Wheel Bearing Dust Cap???

OK you do not grease the bearing with the caps. If you pump grease in there you run the risk of blowing the seals out of the hubs.
Bearing buddies are only to be greased lightly until the inner just moves NOT stops moving with greasing.
The spring is only to keep a small amount of positive pressure in the hub when you launch the boat which put the hubs in the water and cools them off. This prevents a negative pressure in the hub which would suck water in.

Wheel bearings should be checked (by disassembling and cleaning and re packing with grease annually.