Hub Savers: are they worth it and can they cause issues

[rbflapjack]

I am getting my annual bearing repack done and bought a device called hub savers that are basically a large washers that go inside the castle nut. If the outer bearing fails, this enlarged washer keeps the entire wheel from falling off. However, when I brought them to the shop mechanic he said he had not seen them before and commented on two things. First, he has never seen a bearing fail if they are properly maintained so according to him if I do my regular annual maintenance including repacking and bearing inspection I shouldn't have a problem with bearing failure. Secondly, he was concerned that if the outer bearing did fail the spindle would now be riding on this enlarged washer and would damage the axle to where it could not be used again. Does anyone here have any experience with these hub saver devices and any thoughts about what this mechanic told me?

Here is a link to what the observer devices are:

The Hub Saver

The only patented safety device that catches your wheel if a bearing fails. Made in the USA

thehubsaver.com

 

[M and E]

I looked into them after @2 Allies brought them up to me. Good product as far as I can tell. Incompatible with independent suspension, however.

Your mechanic has had a charmed career. Even well maintained bearings fail. Manufacturer’s defects, bad batch of steel, seal fails, you name it, bearings fail all of the time even with proper maintenance.

 

[BryanValRox]

While I have no experience with the product.
I fully agree with Mike’s second paragraph related to bearing failures.

 

[rbflapjack]

I looked into them after @2 Allies brought them up to me. Good product as far as I can tell. Incompatible with independent suspension, however.

Your mechanic has had a charmed career. Even well maintained bearings fail. Manufacturer’s defects, bad batch of steel, seal fails, you name it, bearings fail all of the time even with proper maintenance.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by incompatible with independent suspension. Not sure what the suspension would have to do with the hub itself but I'm no expert on these things.

 

[M and E]

I'm not quite sure what you mean by incompatible with independent suspension. Not sure what the suspension would have to do with the hub itself but I'm no expert on these things.

I should have been clearer. It's not the fact it is independent suspension that makes it incompatible. The spindle and hub assemblies on Mor Ryde IS are different than those on Dexter or Lippert leaf spring axles. D shaped retention washers (flat spot on spindle D washer prevents spinoff i guess) on Lippert/Dexter and round spindles with retention clips on Mor Ryde IS. Dust cap clearances are also different. Going off of recollection from what the tech told me when I asked about them. He did also say that Hubsaver intends on developing a solution.

 

[rbflapjack]

I should have been clearer. It's not the fact it is independent suspension that makes it incompatible. The spindle and hub assemblies on Mor Ryde IS are different than those on Dexter or Lippert leaf spring axles. D shaped retention washers (flat spot on spindle D washer prevents spinoff i guess) on Lippert/Dexter and round spindles with retention clips on Mor Ryde IS. Dust cap clearances are also different. Going off of recollection from what the tech told me when I asked about them. He did also say that Hubsaver intends on developing a solution.

Oh boy, I wonder if they will fit on mine. I'll wait and see.

 

[M and E]

Oh boy, I wonder if they will fit on mine. I'll wait and see.

I hope so also. The tech did endorse them. They make sense.