question about trailers with ez lube spindles and rubber plugs on dust cap

it's not the cap that's leaking water. It's your inner seals

the seal all the way to the right named double lip seal.

that's just the replacement for the front dust cap. It's spring loaded to push grease into the bearings. The rest should be the same and the hub should have an inner seal.

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Another option many do now is get the Vortex hubs. They’re supposed to be pretty solid.

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i was just about to mention the Vortex. We put them on my friends trailer 3 years ago and they're doing great.

I have no experience with vortex hubs but they seem like a great idea. You’re going to want to go with bearing buddies at the very least.

The issue you’re having is that the hub gets warm on the way to the launch, then when you back it down water quenches the hub and causes water to be sucked in through any little leak in the seal. Bearing buddies use a plunger to allow for expansion and contraction while always keeping the hub under slight positive pressure. Unless you inspect and repack your bearings once a month then bearing buddies are a must on a boat trailer imo. Closely inspect the spindles and make sure they’re absolutely smooth, any little burr or dirt will cause seal failure since they’re now going to be actually sealing hydraulic pressure applied by the bearing buddy. They do sell sleeves that help a lot and I would recommend them.

Vault hubs solve the same issue, they’re just completely sealed, and obviously you pay for it.

These are the spindle seal sleeve kits. They ended me having grease slung around the inside of my hubs after installing bearing buddies. They create new smooth surfaces for the lip seal to ride on and eliminate a lot of issues.



LINK

I have the exact same set up on my boat trailer. Never an issue the 6 years I've had it. Water will get in there no matter what. You have to regularly maintain them. Check the grease before each trip. I replace my bearings and races every year. I use a plastic grease press to push fresh grease into the new bearings before install. Then, once everything is installed I start pumping grease in until it comes out the end and is packed full from the back to the front. After each trip I thoroughly rinse the trailer, wheels and bunks along with boat. Also, I replace the rubber seal regularly! I buy them in bulk. I guess I'm weird. Honestly, these are the simplest to maintain and, personally, wouldn't consider changing a thing. I've lost both dust caps and seals on the ride back to BR from Delacroix this past summer and, despite losing a lot of grease all that was needed was to repack after buying a new caps/seals. Can't do that on those open bath hubs. You lose a seal you aren't getting home unless you have a replacement.

If it’s slinging grease the seal is shot and or it’s over greased.

For those whom may not know... When installing a new seal and or set up be sure to put grease in the V groove of the seal where it rides on the spindle also.

just to add more info, the axle is toast so i gotta swap everything out.

its a torsion axle and the spindles are welded on and not replaceable. the spindle has 2 deep gouges, one right in the rear seal area where it seals and the front bearing inner sleeve has seized onto the shaft as well as having a deep gouge partially where the outer bearing needs to sit at. best way to describe it is imagine taking a side grinder and grinding a good 1/8" off the bottom of the spindle in both places

got a new axle on order (comes complete right down to the lug nuts and buddy bearings) so in about 7-10 days to 2 weeks i can go fishing again

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Another option many do now is get the Vortex hubs. They’re supposed to be pretty solid.

i was just about to mention the Vortex. We put them on my friends trailer 3 years ago and they're doing great.

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I just had the Vortex hubs I ordered delivered today, will be installing shortly.