Bearing Buddies: keep or trash?

[eggsalad]

Since my little trailer was originally for a PWC, it came with Bearing Buddies. If I choose to believe the sticker on the chassis, the entire axle was made/sold by the Bearing Buddy company! (It's possible - the Bearing Buddy website says they made whole axles at one point, and my trailer was built around 1986.)

After reading this board and other Internet information, I understand that the purpose of the BB is really about keeping a little pressure inside the bearing, so that cold lake water doesn't get sucked into hot bearings.

The general consensus is that there is no reason to ADD Bearing Buddies to a trailer that doesn't get submerged in water. I get that. But since they are already on my trailer, is there a valid reason to REMOVE them and replace them with ordinary dust caps?

Or should I save the $4 that I would spend on standard dust caps and just leave the BB in place?

Thanks,

eggsalad

[Kevin A]

I would leave them on, just be careful not to pump too much grease in as you can blow the seal out the backside of the hub.

[48Rob]

ES,

I'm with Kevin.

You may have already done so, but it is good practice to remove the bearings, clean, inspect, and re-grease.
Sometimes the "add on" helpers like bearing buddies tend to encourage (some) owners to just shoot some grease in now and then and they never get around to making sure the bearings and races are in good condition.

Rob