Greasing Trailer Wheels

There are a couple of manufacturers of similar systems. In the owners' manuals, some say to jack it up, and others don't say you have too. I always jack it up as that is what I am used to from my boat trailer days, and I feel you get better distribution of the grease and lessen you chance to blow out the rear seal if something gets plugged up. I still make sure they get disassembled, cleaned, inspected, and repacked the old fashioned way at least every 10,000 miles or so.

If it is the Dexter EZ-Lube system, then yes you do need to jack up each individual wheel so you can turn them while adding grease. If you don't you stand a chance of grease getting past the seal and into the brake shoes. Not a good idea. It's a bit of a pain, but beats pulling all the wheels off and manually repacking IMO.

Yep, we have the Dexter axles.

My main complaint in greasing the wheels was getting a good point to raise the trailer. The rig has a "floating" tandem axle that pivots in between the wheels making them move semi-independently. The rig also has the axles flipped making it dammed high. My new work-around for this is to use some 4 inch long 4x4s with a 4x4 underneath as a lifting point. I lagged bolted the 4x4's together into a U-shaped form that lifts the leaf springs at each wheel without putting pressure on the tubular axle.

Sorry I don't have an area I am willing to post a photo on that is accessible to everyone. If you want a photo PM me an I will email it to you.
Thanks
Bill

I simply place a 12k rated low profile bottle jack under the axle at the shackle (one wheel at a time) and raise so the wheel I am working on is about 1" off of the ground. I add grease while spinning and check brake adjustment at the same time. I don't worry about jack stands this way because I am not removing the wheel and trailer movement is minimal. Usually takes about 45 min to do all 4.

I forgot, I also grab hold of the wheel and check to make sure there is no movement of the wheel on the spindle to confirm that the bearings or raceways aren't worn/loose.

That should work okay, you only need to raise them enough to spin them.

BillandCarole wrote:
I have been told that you need to jack up and turn wheels with the center grease fittings as you pump in the grease. Is this true? I've been doing it and its a pain to jack up all 4 wheels.
Thanks
Bill

curious... are you pumping until you see grease come out of the front bearting or just putting a few pumps in there?

Puddles wrote:

BillandCarole wrote:
I have been told that you need to jack up and turn wheels with the center grease fittings as you pump in the grease. Is this true? I've been doing it and its a pain to jack up all 4 wheels.
Thanks
Bill

curious... are you pumping until you see grease come out of the front bearting or just putting a few pumps in there?

I am not quite sure how much to pump in. The instructions are vague. Too much will get on the brakes and too little won't reach all the bearings. Suggestions on how to tell?
Bill

If this is the first time you've greased them you will have to fill the cavity between the front and rear bearings with grease. Otherwise you will not get any grease to the front bearing as that cavity has to be full of grease. Use a manual grease gun, take your time, spin the wheels, and watch for grease at the front. It can take a couple tubes to do all four wheels. Then clean the excess grease out so it doesn't make a mess.

Be advised that some people say they have followed the directions from Dexter and have had seal failures. Some people say they have never had any issues. Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer cherce.

Get a TrailerAid plus. Easy Cheezy to work on one wheel at a time!

therink wrote:
I simply place a 12k rated low profile bottle jack under the axle at the shackle (one wheel at a time) and raise so the wheel I am working on is about 1" off of the ground. I add grease while spinning and check brake adjustment at the same time. I don't worry about jack stands this way because I am not removing the wheel and trailer movement is minimal. Usually takes about 45 min to do all 4.

I forgot, I also grab hold of the wheel and check to make sure there is no movement of the wheel on the spindle to confirm that the bearings or raceways aren't worn/loose.

x2. Exactly what I do, though I use a 12t jack under the axle perch. My 6t jack was too damn much work to lift the axle, even though my entire rig only grosses 11,300. :-)

Lyle