Dexter Easy Lube Axles and those similar appear to be a great system (not to be confused with Bearing Buddies). I have always considered that hand repacking of bearings was a good way to introduce dirt into the system regardless of how much care is used. Consequently I like bearing packers to push out the old grease without soaking the bearings in cleaner and drying before hand packing. Easy lube axles, if greased according to instruction appear to be the best system. Pneumatic grease guns (not recommended by Dexter) over pressure the system and sometimes result in the seal failure reported by some. Who among you had the most service life using the Easy Lube Axles? Please share your experience to validate whether this is an excellent system.

Have them on my 2005 fiver. This year i have to take the drums off to i spect the brakes. So far plenty of grease on the one I have looked at.

donn0128 - Not clear. Do you have grease on the brakes or just where it is supposed to be?

I am interested in hearing responses. I have a new 2013 fiver and am considering jacking the wheels and giving them a few squirts to make sure the factory adequately lubed them. I have read cases where they weren't, causing premature bearing failure. Steve

No grease except where its suppose to be. Had my break away switch pull last month and now i have some funny noises that i need to investigate. Thus the reason for pulling them apart. The one i have pulled so far had lots of grease and the bearings looked perfect.

On mine, 2 of the 4 leaked onto the brakes and I greased them EXACTLY per the instructions. My results seem to be common from what I read here. FWIW, a few squirts wont grease the front bearing if it's the first time. If the EZ lube portion has never been used before you have to pump grease in until it fills and slightly pressurizes the rear bearing cavity area. Only then will it flow forward towards the front bearing. Greasing is not completed until you see grease movement at the front bearing around the zerk area. The first time takes lots of grease because the factory lubes the bearings before they are installed and leaves lots of air space in the cavity.

Longest Satisfactory Use of Easy Lube Axles? | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

SCClockDr
Explorer
May 20, 2013
Dave H M wrote:
SCClockDr wrote:
Learjet wrote:
I had problems and I greased it very carefully per instructions. I just put new brakes on and WILL NOT use the EZ-lube again. I also, found a pitted bearing once. You really need to check, these are made in China bearings after all.
Replace with Timken Bearings and wave China byebye.

Where do you think Timkens are made?
There are 2 factories right here in Union SC USA
coolbreeze01
Explorer
May 20, 2013
I've had a total of 12 EZ Lubes on boat trailers and travel trailers. I never had to replace bearings or brakes on any of them. They work for me.
az99
Explorer
May 20, 2013
They have been out for a long time and have had the same problem since day 1. Seals leaking. I have had a lot of them over the years and some seals leak and some don't. When they do you almost wish you did not have them as it soaks the brakes with grease and makes a big mess. Oil bath is the way to go if there is an option for it on your trailer.
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
May 20, 2013
SCClockDr wrote:
Learjet wrote:
I had problems and I greased it very carefully per instructions. I just put new brakes on and WILL NOT use the EZ-lube again. I also, found a pitted bearing once. You really need to check, these are made in China bearings after all.
Replace with Timken Bearings and wave China byebye.

Where do you think Timkens are made?
SCClockDr
Explorer
May 20, 2013
Learjet wrote:
I had problems and I greased it very carefully per instructions. I just put new brakes on and WILL NOT use the EZ-lube again. I also, found a pitted bearing once. You really need to check, these are made in China bearings after all.
Replace with Timken Bearings and wave China byebye.
Learjet
Explorer
May 20, 2013
I had problems and I greased it very carefully per instructions. I just put new brakes on and WILL NOT use the EZ-lube again. I also, found a pitted bearing once. You really need to check, these are made in China bearings after all.
RCMAN46
Explorer
May 19, 2013
Once grease has got on a brake shoe it can not be cleaned off. The shoe has to be replaced. If it is used after cleaning it will not have the same braking effort that the other wheels have. It is recommended that all shoes be replaced at the same time for even braking on all 4.
If braking is not even one or more of the tires may be flat spotted or have excessive wear.

I inspect my brakes every two years and repack and replace the seals. No need for Easy Lube if you inspect brakes.

When my trailer was new I had brake problems and found grease on three of the four wheels from the factory. Even with a new trailer I would recommend inspecting the brakes and replacing the cheap factory grease seals before the first trip.
fla-gypsy
Explorer
May 19, 2013
Dog Folks wrote:
Been using them as our only source of greasing on our full time trailer just shy of 7 years now. Grease the bearings once per year. So far so good.

X 2, I have the AL-KO Ultralube version but my TT was built in 2005 and I have only greased through the zerks and have no bearing issues
Rob_Fla
Explorer
May 19, 2013
We have the Dexter Easy Lube, but with a little over a year and a half of fulltime use and a little over 10K Towing miles, I decided to pull the hubs and inspect the brakes, repack the bearings and replace the hub seals.
On the right rear brake, I found the self Adjuster Spring broken and the self adjuster not working and on the left rear side I found the hub seal leaking grease onto the brakes.
There was not a lot of grease on the brakes yet, was able to clean up and installed the new seal.
Also I was installing a MorRyde Wet Bolt kit due to squeaking noise from suspension, found one spring with no evidence it ever had a busing in it. All the other spring bushings were in place.
sh410
Explorer
May 19, 2013
We like to check the condition of the brakes every two years--and inspect and repack the bearings.