Dexter E-Z-Lube axles - Page 2 - Escape Trailer Owners Community
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Old 03-19-2013, 07:37 AM   #21
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Princess auto ushualy carries kits to service most trailer axles.
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Old 03-19-2013, 07:52 AM   #22
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If you are mechanically minded even in the least, repacking bearings is real easy. There is a plethora of info available on the net. If not, a bit of shopping around will find you a decent price to do it. I don't do mine every year (but it can't hurt), but more based on mileage and use. If I was travelling a lot more, I would do it yearly.

Not that there is a lot of actual wear if proper maintenance is kept up, but I too like the idea of doing the bearings myself and being able to give them a physical inspection. Should the bearings be failing for any reason, just pumping more grease through on the E-Z Lube axle is not going to fix it. I have rarely replaced the bearings, just the seal covering the inner race.

I guess for me, it is one of those things that when already easy to do, and proven to work good, why mess with it. 1-2 hours a year to deal with the bearings seems minor to me. I have wasted much more time on other things.
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Old 03-19-2013, 09:06 AM   #23
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I now prefer to do ours since I believe, but can't prove, that it was a poor bearing pack that led to our problems; not generous enough with the grease and I believe the locking nut was too tight. I can second that even for a non mechanic that it is pretty straight forward.
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Old 03-19-2013, 09:18 AM   #24
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I agree. I learned to re-pack and inspect the bearings on our pop-up after I paid somebody else to do it the first time. A few weeks latter we stopped to buy some souvenir tires in Rapid City South Dakota after a blow out. When the mechanic pulled the tire, he noticed the castle nut was loose, and missing the cotter pin. Really shook me up. ( I did not learn to remove the bias ply tires for winter storage until I bought souvenir tires a couple of years latter in Amarillo) No more trouble for almost 20 years after that. Next year I'll be doing four sets instead of two on the new 19!
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Old 03-19-2013, 12:55 PM   #25
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Are Dexter 3500# axles the same as the 2500# on the Escape? I'm confused as to why some people say 3500# axles bearings and Escape says 2500# axles are what is on the trailer?
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Old 03-19-2013, 01:14 PM   #26
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Are Dexter 3500# axles the same as the 2500# on the Escape? I'm confused as to why some people say 3500# axles bearings and Escape says 2500# axles are what is on the trailer?
Presently the Escape site specifies 3,500 # on the 15', 17' and 5.0 and tandem 2,500 # on the 19'.
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Old 03-19-2013, 01:19 PM   #27
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So the single axle units are 3500# axles and the duals are 2500# axles (with the new 21' having dual 3000# axles) So there are 3 different sets of bearings and bearing kits in use.
Chuck, do you carry the 2500# bearings, I see you have the install kit and the grease kit, what about the bearings and dust covers for the 2500# axle?
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Old 03-19-2013, 01:24 PM   #28
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Via e-mail from Reace 3/19/13
Are the Dexter easy lube axles standard equipment on the 19' Escape or are they an option ? Is the 2500lb axle the standard axle on the 19' Escape ?

Eze lube axles are an upgrade at $50.00 per axle. I don’t stock these, so if you want to order them, I would need to know now to have them in time for your chassis. The axles are 2500 lb capacity each.

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Old 03-19-2013, 02:39 PM   #29
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I wish I had known about this, saves a ton of work on a dual axle set up. I'll have to bone up on my bearing repack, I remember doing it on cars years ago.
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Old 03-21-2013, 09:33 AM   #30
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I heard back from Dexter, you have to replace the entire axle for the E-Z-Lube feature, no upgrades are made. So I'm going to stock some bearings and grease and dust covers and a bearing kit.
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Old 03-21-2013, 04:49 PM   #31
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Jim, no need to stock bearings. If you do the maintenance yearly the bearings will last a long, long time. You could have a set around should there be any signs of pitting or damage, or I have always just ran out and picked them up if needed. There is likely less chance of needing new bearings than with an E-Z Lube axle.

Dust caps can be reused, just be careful getting them off. The grease seal may need to be changed up, though I have been able to reuse them too. Regardless, they are pretty cheap, and you only need to pick them up before setting out to repack your bearings.

I keep thinking I would pick up one of those bearing packing gizmos, but always forget, and just force the grease in by hand.
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Old 03-21-2013, 05:28 PM   #32
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True, but I have to get my order up to $60 to get my free shipping, I will buy unnecessary items in order to save a $, not sure where I get that from?
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Old 03-21-2013, 06:03 PM   #33
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No auto parts shop near you? Do you have to order on-line?
Pretty soon there will be no stores. Just Amazon.
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Old 03-21-2013, 06:07 PM   #34
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No auto parts shop near you? Do you have to order on-line?
Pretty soon there will be no stores. Just Amazon.

Agreed!!!!! And Amazon will be owned by China.

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Old 03-21-2013, 06:09 PM   #35
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Chuck has the right parts and I wanted to give my business to a member here.
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Old 03-21-2013, 06:32 PM   #36
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I use red grease extreme pressure high temp bought it at NAPA Parts store.
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Old 03-21-2013, 09:13 PM   #37
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The bearing and seal numbers were the same between the Escape 19 and a 2001 Bigfoot 21RB. Bigfoot specs says 7000# axles divided by two equals 3500#.
Yes, Bigfoot likely uses 3500 pound Dexter axles and springs, but the lighter Escape 19' uses more appropriate 2500 pound suspension... of the same brand but a different type. A 2500 pound capacity Dexter Torflex axle is the Torflex #10 model, which can go up to 3500 pounds, with the rubber trimmed for 2500 pounds; a 3500 pound capacity Dexter beam axle uses the same hub component group, and thus the same bearings.

Quote:
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Presently the Escape site specifies 3,500 # on the 15', 17' and 5.0 and tandem 2,500 # on the 19'.
This means that the bearings for the Escape 19' should be the same as for the models with a single axle, and the same as for the coming 21'.
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Old 03-21-2013, 09:16 PM   #38
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Thanks, Brian for clarifying that. It is very helpful, thanks again.
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Old 03-22-2013, 01:04 AM   #39
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Axles

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P View Post
Yes, Bigfoot likely uses 3500 pound Dexter axles and springs, but the lighter Escape 19' uses more appropriate 2500 pound suspension... of the same brand but a different type. A 2500 pound capacity Dexter Torflex axle is the Torflex #10 model, which can go up to 3500 pounds, with the rubber trimmed for 2500 pounds; a 3500 pound capacity Dexter beam axle uses the same hub component group, and thus the same bearings.


This means that the bearings for the Escape 19' should be the same as for the models with a single axle, and the same as for the coming 21'.
I know the bearings and seals are the same numbers. I once owned a 2010 Escape 19 repacked the bearings wrote the numbers down and the seal number. Then I bought a Bigfoot 21ft and repacked the bearings and replaced the seals. Referring to my notes both trailers had the same bearing numbers and seals. A friend owns a big stick built trailer the axle hubs had the same bearings as the Escape 19 and the Bigfoot 21. I hope this clears up everyone's concerns.
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