Protecting your Trailer Bearings

Every year your boat trailer will need to be taken in to get a Warrant of Fitness. The trailer is inspected to ensure safety its reliability and safety on roads, therefore you may decide to give it a wash and check the brake lights beforehand.

The most common reason for Warrant of Fitness failure; damage in the bearings.

Damage in the bearings is very common in trailers being submerged in ocean water, due to saltwater and the minerals within the water finding their way into the bearing. This can cause ‘pitting’ in the bearing as it rolls, which is the erosion of the outer metal ring. These pits grow over time and if the bearing is not replaced it will break. Pitting can be detected by simply spinning the wheel and if there is a frictional noise coming from the hub then you know there is damage.

Providentially, there is a solution. Bearing buddies are attached at the hub of your wheel and are designed to protect your wheel bearings by keeping water and dirt out of the hubs whilst ensuring there is enough grease within the hubs. If your trailer has been submerged in water you simply pump grease into the nipple of the bearing. Stop pumping once grease starts to come out through the side via an automatic pressure relief valve, which is a nice benefit to the bearing buddy as it prevents overfilling and rear seal damage.

For these reasons, Waiheke Central Marine will be strongly recommending bearing buddies to all boat trailer owners. Then hopefully your trailer will not require a bearing change next time you take it in for a Warrant of Fitness, saving you time and money.