Texas Fishing Forum

Vault Hubs

Posted By: StratVoodoo

Vault Hubs - 07/15/19 09:47 PM

I have Vault hubs and have a very small (couple of drops) leak on the black cap of the outer assembly after the grease heats up travelling. The hubs were serviced less than two years ago at McGill's, but hate to drag the boat all the way out there if it's something I can service. Has anyone done the o-ring replacement on these and if so, how difficult is it? Not wanting a small problem to turn into a side of the highway repair. Can't find anything on YouTube or the web.
Posted By: leethefishking

Re: Vault Hubs - 07/16/19 12:16 AM

I believe you can just replace the entire front cap and refil. They hammer on just like a bearing buddy. The only difference I have seen is that you use RTV around all seals.
Posted By: MikeW07

Re: Vault Hubs - 07/16/19 12:18 PM

Replacing the o-ring is pretty simple - just walk the hub off and put new o-ring on - do it with cold hubs - if they are hot that grease will run out like water - assuming you don't loose any grease from inside the hub fill the hub as full as you can with the grease and tap it back on - the trick on these is you can't use a block of wood like you can on bearing buddies you might crack that plastic insert since as you tap it on it begins to come out. You can go to lowes or home depot in the plumbing department and get a coupler that has a small ridge in the middle but just fits over the vault hub but doesn't actually touch the plastic middle. Hope that makes sense.
Posted By: adam_p

Re: Vault Hubs - 07/16/19 12:34 PM


vault hub PDF

https://www.pacifictrailers.com/products/ufp-trailer-buddy-vault-system-hybrid-lubricant-14-oz-07036
https://www.pacifictrailers.com/products/the-vault-trailer-wheel-bearing-protector-1-980
Posted By: Dan21XRS

Re: Vault Hubs - 07/16/19 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by leethefishking
I believe you can just replace the entire front cap and refil. They hammer on just like a bearing buddy. The only difference I have seen is that you use RTV around all seals.


This... ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^.... Dan
Posted By: StratVoodoo

Re: Vault Hubs - 07/16/19 02:09 PM

Thanks for the info everyone. Anything needed to fill the new bearing protectors? What pressurizes them?
Posted By: adam_p

Re: Vault Hubs - 07/16/19 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by StratVoodoo
Thanks for the info everyone. Anything needed to fill the new bearing protectors? What pressurizes them?



The cap is spring loaded. When you fill it to the correct level shown in the PDF the spring is compressed and pressurizes the system.
Posted By: Champion1

Re: Vault Hubs - 07/16/19 04:58 PM

Cool info guys
Posted By: 1oldbassguy

Re: Vault Hubs - 07/16/19 04:59 PM

bearing failures are always one of my big concerns . I have a $20.00 I/R heat gun that I take with me every trip , it is accurate to with .1 degree F and is a cheap way to check your hubs and tires for any increase in temperature . Both side of my trailer run within 2 to 3 degrees F . Any temp increase is a sign of bearing issues .
Posted By: Boone921

Re: Vault Hubs - 07/18/19 07:45 PM

Call Marine Master trailers. They have good deals on kits for vault.
They are real helpful. Told me to keep a tube of the red tacky grease and a bearing buddy in case of emergency. (That hybrid oil will turn to liquid in a hot car. )
Posted By: Jeff From Iowa

Re: Vault Hubs - 07/19/19 06:29 PM

I dont unerstand what is supposed to be better about the vault hubs, I never had any issues with greased bearings. One of my vault hubs needs a new seal already its seeping a little. The trailer is a 17 and for sure high miles for a boat trailer but Id think grease would have no issues for 10-15 years.
Posted By: 1oldbassguy

Re: Vault Hubs - 07/19/19 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by Jeff From Iowa
I dont unerstand what is supposed to be better about the vault hubs, I never had any issues with greased bearings. One of my vault hubs needs a new seal already its seeping a little. The trailer is a 17 and for sure high miles for a boat trailer but Id think grease would have no issues for 10-15 years.


I have greased hubs using a bearing buddies , The trailer shop advised me the following --- as your towing , the hubs create significant heat , the grease expands and some will almost always leak out , when the grease leaks out , it creates a tiny air void , then boaters submerge the trailer into the lake and a small amount of cold water fills the air gap . Eventually the amount of water increases and ultimately sits at the bottom of the hub . When the trailer isn't being used , that water rusts area's of the bearings and ultimately you end up with bearing failure .
I was told to bring a grease gun with me every trip , before putting the boat into the water , take the grease gun and put a " tiny" amount of grease into the hubs and push out any possible air gap , then put your boat in the water . You have to be extra careful to not overfill the hubs and you could possibly push out the rear seal .
10-15 years ?? I would never go that long , two years or maybe three . I take the I/R gun with me to detect any increase in hub heat --- make sure I don't have premature failure.
Posted By: Jeff From Iowa

Re: Vault Hubs - 07/19/19 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by 1oldbassguy
Originally Posted by Jeff From Iowa
I dont unerstand what is supposed to be better about the vault hubs, I never had any issues with greased bearings. One of my vault hubs needs a new seal already its seeping a little. The trailer is a 17 and for sure high miles for a boat trailer but Id think grease would have no issues for 10-15 years.


I have greased hubs using a bearing buddies , The trailer shop advised me the following --- as your towing , the hubs create significant heat , the grease expands and some will almost always leak out , when the grease leaks out , it creates a tiny air void , then boaters submerge the trailer into the lake and a small amount of cold water fills the air gap . Eventually the amount of water increases and ultimately sits at the bottom of the hub . When the trailer isn't being used , that water rusts area's of the bearings and ultimately you end up with bearing failure .
I was told to bring a grease gun with me every trip , before putting the boat into the water , take the grease gun and put a " tiny" amount of grease into the hubs and push out any possible air gap , then put your boat in the water . You have to be extra careful to not overfill the hubs and you could possibly push out the rear seal .
10-15 years ?? I would never go that long , two years or maybe three . I take the I/R gun with me to detect any increase in hub heat --- make sure I don't have premature failure.


wow thats crazy... my 84 glastron trailer single axle under a 18 footer had the original bearings in it when I sold it in 201. It had bearing buddies and I topped them off once a year at best. My dad bought that new and I had it since 1995 and never had a hub apart.


As for some grease seeping out. I have NEVER seen that happen in my life, and it makes zero sense. IF any seeped out it would be on your wheel.
Posted By: Fishinfellow

Re: Vault Hubs - 07/19/19 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by 1oldbassguy
Originally Posted by Jeff From Iowa
I dont unerstand what is supposed to be better about the vault hubs, I never had any issues with greased bearings. One of my vault hubs needs a new seal already its seeping a little. The trailer is a 17 and for sure high miles for a boat trailer but Id think grease would have no issues for 10-15 years.


I have greased hubs using a bearing buddies , The trailer shop advised me the following --- as your towing , the hubs create significant heat , the grease expands and some will almost always leak out , when the grease leaks out , it creates a tiny air void , then boaters submerge the trailer into the lake and a small amount of cold water fills the air gap . Eventually the amount of water increases and ultimately sits at the bottom of the hub . When the trailer isn't being used , that water rusts area's of the bearings and ultimately you end up with bearing failure .
I was told to bring a grease gun with me every trip , before putting the boat into the water , take the grease gun and put a " tiny" amount of grease into the hubs and push out any possible air gap , then put your boat in the water . You have to be extra careful to not overfill the hubs and you could possibly push out the rear seal .
10-15 years ?? I would never go that long , two years or maybe three . I take the I/R gun with me to detect any increase in hub heat --- make sure I don't have premature failure.


Sounds pretty accurate to me. I've always been told that the reason bearings give out on boat trailer so much quicker (as opposed to non-marine trailers) is because of the water. It very well may be from rust but I just figured that even without the rust, the water with the grease causes higher heat and eventually a higher failure rate. But I've had Vault hubs and traditional hubs fail on me. There is no bullet-proof option out there.
Posted By: adam_p

Re: Vault Hubs - 07/20/19 03:40 AM

Originally Posted by Jeff From Iowa
I dont unerstand what is supposed to be better about the vault hubs, I never had any issues with greased bearings. One of my vault hubs needs a new seal already its seeping a little. The trailer is a 17 and for sure high miles for a boat trailer but Id think grease would have no issues for 10-15 years.



Seeping in the back or the front? If it is the back, that is normal. That is just a byproduct of the pressurized system. Some grease comes out of the back seal which keeps water out. If your cap is protruding you are fine. If the cap is flush it needs attention. I just replaced a cap on mine this evening, it was seeping out around the black cap and the black cap was flush with the silver cap meaning there wasn't enough grease in it anymore and the system wasn't pressurized.
Posted By: wagonwheel

Re: Vault Hubs - 07/21/19 10:57 AM

I check my hubs for heat with my hand and for any signs of leakage every time I stop when traveling with my boat. We travel often and pull the boat up to 10 hours in a day. If I see any grease leaking out, I will stop and check for heat more often, lack of grease or if the grease has lost its viscosity (watered down) will cause bearing failure. I keep a spare, per-greased ready to install, hub with me at all times. I can replace the hub on the side of the highway if needed but have never had to do it. Once grease is leaking out, remove the hub and rebuild it with new seals. I have had to do this 3 times in the last 9 years and we put our boat in the water pretty much every weekend. The bottom line is: keep an eye on your hubs, be prepared in case one fails.
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