I have E-Z lube hubs, but the wheels have chrome hub covers that insert from the inside, which means that if I want to grease the hubs, I need to remove the tires. Has anyone replaced those hub cover inserts with something that facilitates the access to the lube zerts for the hubs?

You have the wrong parts, they should have a center that pops out. That said, I have no use for that way of greasing.

Forget the grease gun... inspect /hand pack brgs and inspect brake shoes...

Though Puddles is correct I had the same type of hub covers on my last TT. I pulled the wheels and threw the covers away then purchased Bearing Buddy covers and only used the zerk grease fittings sparingly and no I never popped a grease seal.

If it's time for greasing the bearings, it's also time for inspecting them, which requires removing the wheel and hub.EZ-lube type systems may be useful on boat trailers, where you might want to replace the grease more often in case water gets in. But Bearing Buddies should keep that from happening in the first place.In addition to needing to inspect the bearings, using an EZ-lube system often results in grease getting past the seal and onto the brakes. Then you've got a much bigger job than simply removing the hub in the first place. It will take about a full tube of grease on each hub to displace the all the old grease, which there will be a lot of (if you pump a tube in, a tube's worth comes out), so it's no less messy than just repacking by hand. You have to jack it up and rotate the wheel when pumping the grease in, and it takes a lot of pumping a grease gun to push a full tube through. So you really don't save much, if any, time or effort.Do you get the idea that I'm not a fan of using an EZ-lube system?

phemens, did you have any idea that you would create such a hub a balou when you posted? :W i got the same deal on mine. :h If I ever service my bearings again I will take look at how ugly things are without the cover.

E-Z lube hub cover replacement? | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

fj12ryder
Explorer III
Oct 17, 2018
Actually you don't really need to grease the wheel bearings between services. As long as you know the bearings are in good shape and well greased when you first service the trailer, then you don't need to add grease unless you're putting on many tens of thousands of miles. The other grease isn't going anywhere, and you can service the bearings when you pull the wheels to check the brakes, and that can be 3-5 years easily. Annual repacks are mostly a waste of time and money.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Oct 17, 2018
Lynnmor wrote:
You have the wrong parts, they should have a center that pops out. That said, I have no use for that way of greasing.

X2
Lynnmor
Explorer
Oct 17, 2018
I have aluminum wheels and stainless caps. Although the trailer is always garaged when not in use, there is spider web type corrosion tracking out from the caps. My guess is that the unlike metals are the cause. If I could find the cheap plastic caps, I would replace them. Expensive isn't always better.
phemens
Explorer
Oct 17, 2018
I have the wheels off now anyways to replace the suspension shackles and equalizer, so will do it by hand this time, but wanted an option to replace the chrome caps for future access.
Boon_Docker
Explorer III
Oct 17, 2018
phemens wrote:
Mike S posted pics of what I was asking about, thanks Mike. And no, wasn't expecting all the advice on how I should not be using the E-Z Lube ;)

Good to see that you at least got a couple of answers to your question out of all the typical drivel.
phemens
Explorer
Oct 17, 2018
Mike S posted pics of what I was asking about, thanks Mike. And no, wasn't expecting all the advice on how I should not be using the E-Z Lube ;)
time2roll
Nomad
Oct 17, 2018
That solid cap is doing you a favor....
allen8106
Explorer
Oct 17, 2018
I have easy lubes also and there's a center cap on the hub cap that should pop out and then you remove the rubber plug to grease them. Don't use an air powered grease gun, use a manual one.

You need to make sure you jack the wheel off the ground and turn the wheel while injecting the grease.
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Oct 17, 2018
I just happen to drive by a trailer shop (not 18 wheelers) all the time so it is handy.

I walked in there and they had the plug in stock in different sizes. Walked out with the plug I needed. :C
MFL
Nomad II
Oct 17, 2018
I had an enclosed snowmobile trailer with the cheap covers over the zerks. They needed removing to grease, like yours, and rusted quickly. I replaced them with stainless steel covers, that had the rubber plug. No more cheap tin rusting, and easy access to zerks.

Jerry