Trailer Losing Grease

Andrew L.

Andrew L.

Well-known member
Good morning all,
This weekend I had a maiden voyage of sorts with a "new to me" boat trailer. After I purchased the trailer I removed the bearing buddies and bearings and re-packed with grease. I did this just as a preventative measure since I did not know the previous owner.
My trip this weekend was not far, 40 miles one way. When I arrived at the launch I noticed that grease was leaking from my passenger side tire, specifically what appeared to be from one lug nut. The bearing was not warm to the touch so I assume I am not losing grease at a huge rate, however, it's enough for concern.
I have not had a chance to do anything but a quick look over. I am not losing grease from behind the tire/hub nor around the bearing buddy.
My assumption is I have a seal on the hub that is bad. Is this correct? Anything else I should be looking for when I can tear into it tomorrow? I have yet to need to dig into any trailer farther than pull out the bearing for inspection and re-packing grease. Thanks for the help.


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That is an interesting one, I've never seen anything like it. Is there a hole/crack in the hub?
 
Andrew,


I'd agree with Tod, look for a small crack in the hub in line with the area the grease is hitting the wheel stud. If the seal was leaking it would be on the backside of the wheel. If the bearing buddy cap was leaking it would show around the cap itself and further out on the wheel than as shown in your picture.
 
Andrew,


I'd agree with Tod, look for a small crack in the hub in line with the area the grease is hitting the wheel stud. If the seal was leaking it would be on the backside of the wheel. If the bearing buddy cap was leaking it would show around the cap itself and further out on the wheel than as shown in your picture.
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Some Armor All on the tires and a rag with some solvent on the wheels would be nice too. :).
 
Andrew,


I'd agree with Tod, look for a small crack in the hub in line with the area the grease is hitting the wheel stud. If the seal was leaking it would be on the backside of the wheel. If the bearing buddy cap was leaking it would show around the cap itself and further out on the wheel than as shown in your picture.
Click to expand...


Some Armor All on the tires and a rag with some solvent on the wheels would be nice too. :).

Tough crowd! I may try and dig into here shortly before a meeting. Will report back.
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Just went out and pulled the tire off. There was some grease on the backside of the tire but not near as much as the front and no grease on the backside of the hub or axle.
No visual cracks or points of leaking on the hub. Only thing I can come up with is grease is making its way between the hub and the threading for the lug nut? There was a very small amount of grease on the hub and threading of the leaking lug nut
IMG_20140805_121748044_HDR_zpsc7703a7e.jpg

 
If you want to find a crack...take the wheel off, clean off the excess grease off the hub with a dry rag. Then lightly dampen the rag with solvent (carb cleaner type) and wipe the surface of the wheel hub exterior. Then spin it a few times and let is sit for a while. Then get some talc powder and dust the surface with the talc powder and leave it sit for about a half hour...if there is a crack you might just see it show up. This is the way that Liquid Penetrant inspection was started...they called it oil and whiting back in the day. Now it has several names...Dye Check etc. You may even be able to get dye check at an auto parts store. By looking at the photos, you either have way too much grease and it's coming from the hub directly or you have an obvious crack.
 
That sure looks like what you say, that would have to be a flaw in the casting, which would mean to me replace ASAP. I'd think you could see it if you pulled it apart and cleaned it up, but grease does have an amazing ability to leak out if minute gaps when being whipped tooling along the highway.
 
Thanks Ron. I had a feeling about the to much grease but wouldn't the bearing buddy be spitting grease as well if that were the case?


Used the same amount of great on that wheel as I did the other as well...


Hubs aren't terribly expensive I think er on the side of caution and just get a new one.
 
Before you start looking for cracked hubs, some bearing buddies have a weep hole so they do not get over greased. Make sure it is not coming out of the weep hole on the side of the bearing buddy.
 
Yes, Tod another project is great. Just when I thought I was done and ready for early goose season. Actually glad the wife begged to go fishing last weekend or I wouldn't have found it until duck season.
Will re-check the bearing buddy in the morning but the grease coming from the lug nut has me puzzled.
Did not grease the lug nuts when I put the tire on so it is coming from the hub somewhere.
 
Andrew,
I think its possible your over reacting to this and its just excess grease that got splattered. If it is a crack causing it it should be obvious when you get things cleaned up. On all the hubs I have dealt with the lugs are fairly far away in the casting from the bearings and grease. I suspect that grease weeping out of the buddy's overflow hole and onto the lug. Let us know what you find.
 
Before you start looking for cracked hubs, some bearing buddies have a weep hole so they do not get over greased. Make sure it is not coming out of the weep hole on the side of the bearing buddy.
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Yep, this is it. I had a wheel that looked exactly like yours. Weep hole on the bearinbg buddy was the culprit. I'd bet there is a weep hole right near that one stud that has more grease on it. At least this is what was causing my "greasing" issue.

Mark W
 
I still did not locate a crack in the hub after everything is clean. Also, there was a fairly low amount of grease in the hub and bearing buddy.


I don't think my bearing buddies have a weep hole, unless I am missing something very obvious, but there are no holes that I can find on the side of the bearing buddy. Model is 1980A


Think I may re-pack the beaing and just put a cap over the tire without the bearing buddy and see if any grease comes out.
 
Cleaned up the tire rim and re-packed the bearing and just put an end cap over the hub instead of the bearing buddy. Took it for a 20 mile round trip errand run and no grease was spewing.


Perhaps there just was to much grease and it was finding a way out between the hub and the bearing buddy?


I guess next test would be put the bearing buddy back on and try it again. FUN!!!
 
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