Axel Modification.... Why Yes, Why No?

[Honair]

ETI states there is an axel upgrade available.

To do or not to do?

Why?

From ETI:

"Axel: standard is the #10 Dexter EX lube with a clearance of approximately 9 ½”. The upgrade is the Nev-R-Adjust Dexter Axel includes both the EZE lube Axles and self-adjusting brakes the cost is $475.00.""

What say you?

[Brian B-P]

"EX" and "EZE" were presumably just typos; the feature is "E-Z Lube".

It appears that the only upgrade offered here is Nev-R-Adjust (the self-adjusting brakes feature). I find adjusting brakes annoying, so I would probably get Nev-R-Adjust... although it's not cheap.

[cpaharley2008]

I'm waiting for the Nev-R-lube axles.....

[Porsche Pilot]

The brakes are very easy to adjust. It takes only about 10 minutes per wheel to adjust. No need to pull the wheel hub, just use a flat head screw driver to a adjust. The instructions are on YOUTUBE from the Dexter website.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I'm waiting for the Nev-R-lube axles.....

They're available from Dexter in the #10 Torflex, as long as you're willing to use 6-on-5.5" wheels (which would be an annoyance in production). Jim, did you ask Reace if he were willing to provide these as a special order?

[Eggscape]

I asked about them ordering axles with the self adjusting brakes in November and they said they would for $450. At that time I was asked not to share the info.
I find it hard to pay that kind of money when you can get the whole replacement unit for about $40 US. I will wait until I need new brakes to do the upgrade. I can’t imagine the difference in ordering axles with and without the nev-r-adjust being very much cost.

[Rossue]

Same thought; at Etrailer the Nev-R-Adjust backing plate, which is the whole assembly is $10 more than the standard. Will change out my stock ones when ready for new shoes.

[Brian B-P]

The low incremental cost is a good argument for adding Nev-R-Adjust if replacing the backing plate assemblies.

The factory price... well, few options on any vehicle are anything close to at-cost offers from the manufacturer; auto manufacturers routinely charge thousands of dollars to turn on software features with no physical change at all. I also assume that the option cost is affected by the pricing of components to Escape: a few units of different specification will not be priced as well as the much larger quantity of the standard specification... which is probably part of the reason that E-Z Lube is now standard rather than optional.

[Eggscape]

Originally Posted by Rossue

Same thought; at Etrailer the Nev-R-Adjust backing plate, which is the whole assembly is $10 more than the standard. Will change out my stock ones when ready for new shoes.

That is what I found at the time I was searching as well. I thought if Escape doubled the price for them to upgrade, it would run around $100...but guess I was way off.
Maybe this will be a standard feature for Escape in the future. This way they can get a bulk deal with all axles being self adjusting.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Porsche Pilot

The brakes are very easy to adjust. It takes only about 10 minutes per wheel to adjust. No need to pull the wheel hub, just use a flat head screw driver to a adjust. The instructions are on YOUTUBE from the Dexter website.

I find it takes about 2 minutes tops per wheel to adjust, the extra time is jockeying around the trailer to raise the next wheel off the ground.

[thoer]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

They're available from Dexter in the #10 Torflex, as long as you're willing to use 6-on-5.5" wheels (which would be an annoyance in production). Jim, did you ask Reace if he were willing to provide these as a special order?

I did and the answer was no. It is reasonable actually since they would then have to deal with two different wheel sizes - but I was hoping...

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I find it takes about 2 minutes tops per wheel to adjust, the extra time is jockeying around the trailer to raise the next wheel off the ground.

It is easy to adjust the brakes, and, more than that, it's also a good opportunity to take a look round underneath at the same time. I've found various items like a dangling wire or a crimp connection for brake wiring that needed repair.

I ignore my E-Z Lube feature. Too easy to pump in too much grease and shove it out past the seal and contaminate the brakes. I don't think that it's really needed unless it's for a boat trailer that gets immersed in water.

So, no sale on either items for me.

Ron

[AllanEdie]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

It is easy to adjust the brakes, and, more than that, it's also a good opportunity to take a look round underneath at the same time. I've found various items like a dangling wire or a crimp connection for brake wiring that needed repair.

I ignore my E-Z Lube feature. Too easy to pump in too much grease and shove it out past the seal and contaminate the brakes. I don't think that it's really needed unless it's for a boat trailer that gets immersed in water.

So, no sale on either items for me.

Ron

I too am not convinced the EZLube is a good idea. I recall another poster mentioning a $400 brake job as a result of a leaking inner seal. I wondered at the time whether the real problem was excess grease from using EZLube.

Any positive experience out there? I confess that pulling the bearings out every year or 12,000 miles as suggested by Dexter is a tad discouraging. Why in the world should that be necessary when front wheel bearings on most vehicles are ok for many times that.

[richardr]

There is a lot of information on the Casita forum about the EZ lub. Larry Gamble, from Little House Customs who does a lot of bearing/brake work on Casitas has very negative things to say about using EZ lub. I initially tried them, but stopped when I found grease on the brake drum backing plate. Now I repack my bearings every 12,000 miles.

I heard the automatic brake adjusters do not work well on trailers. Has anyone used them successfully?

[float5]

Originally Posted by AllanEdie

I too am not convinced the EZLube is a good idea. I recall another poster mentioning a $400 brake job as a result of a leaking inner seal. I wondered at the time whether the real problem was excess grease from using EZLube.

Any positive experience out there? I confess that pulling the bearings out every year or 12,000 miles as suggested by Dexter is a tad discouraging. Why in the world should that be necessary when front wheel bearings on most vehicles are ok for many times that.

We paid extra not to have the EZ lube. Apparently, bearings not used from the trailer sitting become more of a problem but that is just what I have heard, if it means anything to you.

[richardr]

Originally Posted by float5

We paid extra not to have the EZ lube. Apparently, bearings not used from the trailer sitting become more of a problem but that is just what I have heard, if it means anything to you.

Wear due to the affects of bearings sitting isn't something I had considered. If that is the case, then repacking on a calendar basis may make more sense than on a mileage basis. Does anyone know?

[float5]

Originally Posted by richardr

Wear due to the affects of bearings sitting isn't something I had considered. If that is the case, then repacking on a calendar basis may make more sense than on a mileage basis. Does anyone know?

I believe that Trailer Life says once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever first I guess.

I expect that you do not have your trailer sitting for half of the year as many do.

Edit: Just saw on Trailer Life that grease breaks down on stored trailers, allowing corrosion to form.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by richardr

Wear due to the affects of bearings sitting isn't something I had considered. If that is the case, then repacking on a calendar basis may make more sense than on a mileage basis. Does anyone know?

I would, and always have, how bad on mileage. Kinda hard for hastened steel to wear sitting there. If course if it was meant years, that would be different.

The beating had not been repacked in a well over a dozen years on a Trillium axle, and when I repacked them everything was fine. I did replace the seals, but even they looked good.

I only put 5,000 km on my trailer last year, so am not worrying about the bearings until at least later this year, probably next spring.

[float5]

Since we are now in Texas, we will probably treat this a little differently from when in Iowa. I don't expect that the Escape will sit as long. We, of course, were able to winterize later in the year here.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by richardr

I heard the automatic brake adjusters do not work well on trailers. Has anyone used them successfully?

I hope not. I have a box in the garage with 4 Dexter Nev-R-Adjust assemblies for when the brakes need to be done.