Here we go, another EZ lube debate!
I am the owner of a 2011 Keystone Sprinter with EZ lube hubs. I have been using the zerk fitting for annual greasing using a manual gun for 5 years. I also perform annual manual brake adjustments. ...
Forum Discussion
aftermath wrote:
I am not a fan of bearing buddies, which I believe to be the same sort of thing we are talking about.
I recently re-purchased an older tent trailer that I had owned from 1989 to 2005. One of the more recent owners installed bearing buddies and then began to pump grease into them. When I jacked up the trailer to grease and inspect the bearings I could not get the wheel off of the trailer. The new caps with zerts did not allow enough clearance between the axle and the body. I had to knock them off to get the wheel off. Upon inspection there was grease all over the brake shoes and everything else.
I believe that the owner thought he was doing the right thing but pumping grease under pressure damaged the seals and let the stuff out. It was quite a sight. If you have a boat trailer that goes under water regularly the bearing buddy makes sense as long as you don't overdo it. On a regular trailer bearing and brake shoes need to be inspected every year, based on mileage of course.
Actually, the "Bearing Buddy" for boat trailers is an entirely different thing than "E-Z-Lube" hubs.
The "Bearing Buddy" is a spring loaded dust cap that holds pressure on the grease to help prevent cold water from being sucked past the seal. It is not intended to be an easy method of lubing bearings, and does not have a relief function to keep from blowing the seal out of the hub. When used improperly, blowing the seal is inevitable.
The "E-Z-Lube" axle, however, has a grease passage drilled through the spindle, which allows the grease to exit between the inner bearing and the seal. When the grease is pumped slowly, while spinning the wheel, the grease flows through the bearings and out the hub. This flushes the old/dirty grease out, effectively repacking the bearings. Using a high pressure grease gun, pumping too fast, and/or failing to spin the wheel can blow the seal, resulting in contaminating the brakes.
Both systems will do their jobs as intended, if used properly. Following the instructions is highly recommended.
