EZ Lube Bearings on Dexter Axles

[bvansnell]

I remember reading that the type of bearings normally installed need to be periodically repacked. The videos that I have seen illustrating how to do this show it would not be something I would want to do myself. I notice on Dexter's website that they have something called "EZ Lube Bearings" available. This sounds more like the type of bearings available on cars where a grease gun can be used to lubricate bearings, rather than having to disassemble the bearing.

Does anyone have experience with these? Why are they not more generally used?

I posed this question on the Escape videoconference tonight with Reace and Tammy but Glenn suggested it was a question more appropriate for the forum.

From Dexter's website (http://www.dexteraxle.com/faq_s):

BEARINGS - How often should I grease the bearings?
Along with bearing adjustment, proper lubrication is essential to the current function and reliability of your trailer axle. Bearings should be lubricated every 12 months or 12,000 miles.

E-Z LUBE - What is the E-Z Lube option?
The E-Z Lube option was designed specifically for the marine application where the axles are constantly being immersed in water. This feature provides a convenient method for purging the water from the hub cavity without having to pull the hub every time. The hubs should be removed every 12 months or 12,000 miles to inspect the bearings and it is imperative to replace the seal at this time to assure that the grease does not leak out the back onto the brake linings rendering the brakes non-functional.

Comment: looks like this is not the option I thought it was.

Brian

 

[escape artist]

Hi: bvansnell... I have a great RV. Tech who serviced the bearings, adjusted the brakes and replaced the burnt element in the water heater for $75. parts lab.& tx.inc. He has a special pump that squeezes the grease thru the bearings to ensure full lub'ing. I figure for that kind of money why should I get dirty??? Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

 

[Jim Bennett]

I have repacked bearings on trailers a fair bit. A tandem axle will take a good hour to do all 4, for me. Most of the time is getting the wheels on and off, cleaning and repacking the bearings only takes 10 minutes max.

Though, like Alf alluded to, it is pretty cheap to have it done. I really doubt you could find someone around here to do what he got done for $75 though, I would be it would be at least twice that.

 

[patjul]

I had ez-lube axle on my old scamp 2005. Typically we did about 8000km per year with the trailer. I had put some grease with the zerk for the first two years and than check after the third years of usage. Of course we didn't have some electric brake.....

Pat ;D

 

[padlin]

EZ Lube is not as simple as it sounds, they still need yearly inspection per the EZ-Lube manual http://dexteraxle.com/i/u/1080235/f/6-8K_Service_Manual_3-08/Hubs__Drums____Bearings_2-08.pdf. That said I took mine apart last year after about 15k miles, they were good as new. Disassembling them required replacing the seals.

 

[genec]

Escape Artist
You mentioned brake adjustment. I removed the drum/wheel assm on daughters '08, 5er, 20k+ miles, to check the shoe ware which was very good but did not occur to think about adjustment. Am familiar with the old shoe brake systems we all grew up with in the 50s and 60s before disk systems. When I get 5er back here to house is there a good way to check that. Only way I know is use a brake spoon like we did years ago before self adjusting systems, which I still have.
Gene

 

[escape artist]

Hi: genec... Yepper He popped the rubber stoppers out of the back plate and adjusted the brakes with a spoon. All I had to do was go in the truck and hold down the Husky brake controllers hand control. Some things never change!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie