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07-17-2020, 07:33 AM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Atoka
Posts: 10
M.O.C. #13477
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Buddy Bearings - good for my Monty?
I’m getting ready to go long distance with my 3 year old 3721RL Monty. Was talking to my buddy about greasing the bearings and he recommended installing Buddy Bearings. Has anyone out there used them? Is it recommended for my big fiver?
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07-17-2020, 08:47 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,932
M.O.C. #20477
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Dave,
Welcome to the forum! This is a great place to learn and share.
You already have the ability to add grease to your bearings on the Lippert axles with a grease gun but I do not recommend it.
Bearing Buddies or the Lippert system work best on axles on trailers without brakes as grease often gets past the seals and ruins your brakes. You really need to pull the brake drums every year or two to check, clean and inspect the brakes plus inspect and pack the wheel bearings.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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07-17-2020, 09:39 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2017
Location: new caney
Posts: 1,050
M.O.C. #19873
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Buddy bearings are not recommended for our 5th wheels . Inspection of brakes and bearings are just as important as packing bearings. I am sure there are some that have the buddy bearings but most people think more grease is better and you wind up with grease on the brakes as Az Traveler stated. Safe travels.
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07-17-2020, 12:54 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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Best to pull to hand inspect/grease bearings/races and also inspect brakes. If not comfortable doing it yourself get a trusted mechanic to handle it for you. Greasing with a grease gun can ruin your brakes when a seal is blown and they WILL blow even if following instructions to the letter. While at it also check the torque on the axle U-Bolts.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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07-17-2020, 04:13 PM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Beloit
Posts: 283
M.O.C. #17535
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I will respectfully disagree with most people on Ez-lube but that is my opinion and to each their own. BUT bearing buddies are not for campers . They are really designed to be used on boat trailers to help keep water out of the axle when you back a warm axle/hub into cold water. The cold water causes the air/grease in the hub to contract and can suck water into the bearing / hub. Never a good thing. The spring loaded plunger is designed to counter this situation.
__________________
Steve & Lisa
2015 Montana High Country 353 RL | Sailuns | Kodiak Disc brakes
2015 F-350 DRW Crew Cab | Reese Goosebox
Retired and Lovin’ it!
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07-17-2020, 06:24 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,550
M.O.C. #2283
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They are mainly for boat trailers and not a lot of benefit for a camper.
Lynwood
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07-18-2020, 05:42 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,788
M.O.C. #14547
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Hand lube and inspect bearings and brakes every 12,000 miles (or 12 months which is a CYA from Dexter). From past experience when I had a boat, now, thankfully owned by someone else, Buddy lubers push grease past the seal with remarkable ease. If you feel the need to use the axle end Zerks, jack the wheel up and have someone spin that wheel while you very carefully HAND pump in grease
__________________
Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
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07-18-2020, 10:05 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2017
Location: new caney
Posts: 1,050
M.O.C. #19873
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Twopetes
I will respectfully disagree with most people on Ez-lube but that is my opinion and to each their own. BUT bearing buddies are not for campers . They are really designed to be used on boat trailers to help keep water out of the axle when you back a warm axle/hub into cold water. The cold water causes the air/grease in the hub to contract and can suck water into the bearing / hub. Never a good thing. The spring loaded plunger is designed to counter this situation.
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Actually i think most people agree with you in that buddy bearings are more for boats than campers. Grease and brakes don't mix and that is what most people get when using buddy bearings. There are some who can grease the bearings correctly with buddy bearings but they are few and far between but even then you don't inspect the brakes as you should.
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07-18-2020, 02:41 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mountain Home
Posts: 839
M.O.C. #20949
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Since your RV is 3 years old ... have the hubs ever been pulled to take a look see at the bearings, races, and brake hardware? The axles on your year model have EZ lube feature but .. my opinion.. I would not ever use them
Dexters axle service manual also states the EZ lube feature wasn’t intended to replace annual bearing maintenance...
Here is what a 2018 Dexter axle bearing and brake assembly looked like form another OP that had never pulled the hubs... it’s not worth the time and money let alone potential for severe damage to not pull those hubs..
The last two pics are from my 2014... 7K lb axles with EZ lube...never used.. the bearings are OEM Dexter.. about 26K miles on them now
The brakes and hardware are all OEM Dexter... they’ve been on since 2014... and I tow in Idaho and Montana on some pretty good grades...
Just saying....
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