www.iFourWinns.com

My suggestion is if you are going to remove the entire dust cap you might as well toss them in the trash and install bearing buddies. A bearing buddie is a sturdier dust cap with a grease zerk. They allow you to pump grease into the hub under a bit of pressure to keep the water out.

Also, look for signs of grease on the back side of the hub/wheel. If grease is getting out the rear seal, water is likely getting in.

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

Many swear by BB's, but many also swear AT them. They either fall off too easily, or they're too easy to install incorrectly - not sure which. Popping the dust caps off and on is almost effortless with the right tools.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I would not replace the super lube caps with a bearing buddy because:
The BB cap has a zerk but there is no way that it can do a full exchange of the grease in the hub like the super lube system can.
BBs can over pressurize the seal if you're not careful, not so with super lube.
Super lube will show you if there is water in the grease, BB will not unless you take it all apart.

For these 3 reasons Super Lube is superior.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Sure, I like the idea of super lube also. Having said that it would be a much more expensive and involved upgrade than the BB.

The way I read the OP's response is that he has only confirmed he has a rubber centre plug on the dust cover, not what hub he has.

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

>I ended up with a pin hole in one of my metal caps that let water in and led to bearing failure.

On mine, there's no way this area was designed to be water-tight. I'm pretty sure water can and does touch the outside of your bearings no problem... problem is neglect of adding new fresh grease every now and then...

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2007 FW Horizon 200 5.0GXi/SX-A

I must be lucky because over 10 years of salt water use with the super lube hubs I never had water in the grease. The only times I had the drums off was to replace the wheel cylinders every 4-6 years or so.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

All the fancy caps and buddies are questionable. My car does not have them and it is dunked in water every time the trailer is and I have never replaced the bearings in my car...

Bearings are cheap, and are easy to replace. Pull the wheel off, pull the hubs off and check each bearing. If in doubt pack a new bearing and replace. Job done for another year.

There is nothing worse than sitting on the side of the road with the family in the car, mates parked behind you, and your bearing has failed. The sun is shining, the beer is cold and the water is calling your name and you are stuck on the side of the road..... What would you pay for that not to happen. (Speaking from experience... )

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Cheers

Mark
Melbourne
Australia

Boats:
Current: 2004 FW 190
2001 Mastercraft X5
1998 Malibu Response
1999 Sea Ray 180
17 ft Scimitar Barefoot (200hp Yamaha)
16ft Scimitar Ski (Yamaha 115)
1988 Ski Nautique ( Called Ski Antique)

I live by the lake and you would be surprised how many people it happens to... I see trailers on the side of the road all the time. The better question is why the trailer mfg companies do not use a hub/bearing assembly with sealed bearings like your truck has... I guess they cost a bit more, but its worth it. I don't buy into the argument that unsealed bearings are better for water use. They used to say that about gimbal bearings, and I can tell you first hand that I love my sealed gimbal bearing in the boat! Its been fuss free for 8 years now... no telling how long it will last.

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2007 FW Horizon 200 5.0GXi/SX-A

I have bearing buddies, and I agree with all that LouC said except the over pressurization. My bearing buddies have a relief hole that lets excess grease out if you pump so much in that you almost completely compress the spring. I can pump in the grease until a little comes out this hole and stop.

However, if your axel is drilled with the grease passageway and has the zerk fitting on the end, then that is a better way to get fresh grease to the bearings.

I have great bearing life with my bearing buddies, and they are easy, but they are also messy.

Ray

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

Due to current low lake levels here in TX, we are now driving about 120 miles round-trip to use our boat. But that doesn't stop me... just means more use on the trailer. Our trailer gets dumped in the water multiple times over a weekend at the lake. Because of this and the added mileage, I pump a little extra grease into the bearings (w/ Super Lube caps) after every trip. Just for added security. I just recently rebuilt the hubs/brakes on our trailer and am using nothing but marine-rated grease. The marine grease is specifically for a water environment so why use anything less?

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1999 180 Horizon OB Fisherman Pkg
2013 Grand Cherokee 4x4 w/ 5.7 Hemi
San Antonio, TX

120 miles...that's dedication

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Jon Miller
1998 four Winns Horizon H200
Volvo Penta 4.3 GL
Newtown, CT

untitled-545 by millerjont, on Flickr

LOL dedication that's for sure. Here in Long Island, the cost of living is sky high but we are surrounded by water, and never have low water levels/droughts etc. You just gotta know how to deal with the SALT....lots of OMC triple guard grease and OMC gasket sealer...
Our house is 350 ft from the water, so we have to use a coastal insurance company (even though we are about 80-100 ft above sea level and will never have a flood)...that costs more because most standard insurance companies won't insure costal regions especially after Sandy....

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

220 miles each way for us, and I used to tow all the way. I've since moved the boat to be near the lake, so now my tow is about 5 miles.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic