Reese Towpower 74177 Wheel Bearing Protector, Grey and Chrome

These are excellent replacements for the bearing buddy, but you'll have to use a traditional mechanics technique to install them. Freeze the protectors for an hour before installing them. It's a good time for a beer right now. Abita Amber is one of my favorite brands. Allow the hub to sit in the sun (if you live in Louisiana like I do) or warm it thoroughly with a torch after removing the existing hub cap. To begin seating the protector, take it out of the freezer and tap it with a hammer, then place a block of 2X4 on its face and sledge it. Drink another beer, pat yourself on the back for using science to accomplish what many people say is impossible, and repeat on the other side; this technique will solve the installation problem discussed in the previous reviews.

Cassidy Maddox

| Oct 27, 2021

After one of the original plastic bearing buddies broke, I decided to replace it with these steel bearing buddies! I ordered and received them quickly, and when I went to install them, I was astounded at how tight they were. I had to freeze them for 30 minutes before putting them in, as others have stated. br>The issue arose after I removed one to service the bearings a few weeks later. It appeared to go back in fine, but when I checked it after the first 20 miles of a trip, it had vanished! Not only do I lose the bearing's protection, but this thing also becomes a hazard to other drivers. Beware, it appears to be limited to a single application! br>I'm not going to order anything else. If this was helpful, please click the 'Helpful' button.

Davis Boyer

| Dec 14, 2021

This is a 4' x 8' cargo bed trailer with a standard axle, 15" rims, and LT tires on a single axle. br>br>A 2x6" and a hammer were used to install these replacement wheel bearing protectors. The old bearing cups, which I had "buttered" with axle grease a few weeks before this trip, were replaced. Apply a little grease to the outside of the bearing protector before installing it. Tap lightly to get it straight, then use the board and a BFH. It takes about 30 seconds per wheel, including a rest break, with no sweat and no mess. br>br>Included is a single image that explains everything you need to know. The beaten 2x6" (I didn't have a small 2x4") and the old bearing cup are shown in this photo, as well as the second, not yet installed protector sitting on the rim so you can see the interior. Also take note of the grease from the weep hole, which indicates when the protector is full when you use your grease gun to fill it.

Noelle Schmitt

| May 30, 2021

I'm not sure why people think these things aren't going to work. I'll admit that they're a pain to install, but with a 2X4 and a rubber mallet, they go in with a few love taps after you remove the rubber cap and freeze them for about an hour. You should have no trouble installing them if you have any mechanical skills and understand that they must be pressed in so that they do not fly off as you drive down the road and slam into someone's window.

Kehlani Mills

| Mar 16, 2021

As I was going through my hubs on this NTM tent trailer, I noticed all the talk about these types of fittings and decided to order a pair. To get these in place, I had to use a metal mallet and a block of wood. Everything seemed to be going smoothly and that everything would be completed soon. When I put my new grease gun on the zerk fitting, nothing happened. My grease gun got stuck when I tried to remove it. I tried everything I could think of to get it free, but it didn't work. I had to repeatedly rotate the gun, which pushed the zirc away from the nut inside the unit, allowing me to remove the gun. The next step is to get this off the hub, which can be extremely frustrating. It did not disappear as shown in some YouTube videos. In order to get it off the hub, I had to destroy it. So, while the grease gun contributed to the problem, I would still have had to remove these to check bearings down the road. After doing some more research, I discovered that some people despise these because they don't adequately lubricate the inner bearings unless the entire hub is greased. Make sure your grease gun isn't too tight, as these devices flex on a spring, preventing you from twisting and turning the gun off. You'll have a hard time if the gun is too tight, so I'm sticking with standard dust covers or maybe the ones with the removable rubber flap, whatever is easy to put on and take off.

Macie Clarke

| Jul 04, 2021

When I borrowed a friend's trailer, I noticed that the bearing protectors had been damaged. I ordered these and found them to be a little challenging to install, but perseverance with a hammer and a block of wood paid off. br>br>The grease zerks were excellent, and I was able to grease the bearings without difficulty; my only criticism is the cheap dust cap. I installed it on a day with a high of 103 degrees, and they began to loosen up within minutes. They would have taken off if I had taken the highway. I used hose clamps to keep them in place. They've lasted a few months, but I'm expecting them to crack and burn in the heat. It's a pity, because the sandy desert is exactly the kind of place where you'd want a dust cap.

Ari Kirk

| Apr 17, 2021

These are far more secure than bearing buddies in the hub. I also like how they have a weep hole on the side so you don't have to worry about overflowing. For those who aren't familiar with how bearing buddies work, grease them. If you have too much grease in them, they will spit grease on your wheel, but this is preferable to pressuring the hub and blowing out your wheel seal. They're half the price and far superior to bearing buddies.

Wyatt Schwartz

| Oct 03, 2021