Re-packing bearings
I have a 2007 Fuzion fifth wheel and paid $125 per axle (X3 axles) 2 years ago to have the bearings serviced. I can't see paying that again when it seems easy enough to do it myself. I took the tir...
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If the seal is not leaking and the grease looks great ( and there's enough of it) I would just re-install the hub, adjust the brakes and go camping.
I just repacked the bearings and replaced the seals on my 12 year old TT, the bearings and seals were original and still looked great but I figured it was time to replace the seals. I used Amsoil Synthetic HD(Moly fortified) wheel bearing grease, it exceeds Dexter's specifications and because it's synthetic I feel comfortable going a little longer between inspections and repacking. This is only my second time repacking and the grease and bearings looked new. I don't have the EZ Lube axles.
If you need to repack or replace the seals, repack bearings, the bearing packers listed below do a better job and less mess too.
KD Bearing Packer
Lisle Bearing Packer
Be sure you don't over tighten the bearings if you do repack them. Best way to do this is to repack the bearings, replace the seal, apply a thin layer of grease on the spindle, re-install the hub (on the spindle), install outer bearing, washer, nut, hand tighten with pliers-channel locks-adjustable wrench-etc, spin the hub a few times, hand tighten the nut again, spin the hub again. After all that back off of the nut until the cotter pin slides into the hole on the spindle, most of the time you can actually rock the nut back and forth a little after the cotter pin is installed.....you don't want it to be too tight. Install the dust cap and spin the hub a few times, if you did it right, there will be a little back and forth play (the play should be barely noticeable....not sloppy/loose) when you grab the hub/drum on either side and wiggle it. This play is more noticeable if you install the wheel and wiggle it while the wheel/tire is off the ground.
I just repacked the bearings and replaced the seals on my 12 year old TT, the bearings and seals were original and still looked great but I figured it was time to replace the seals. I used Amsoil Synthetic HD(Moly fortified) wheel bearing grease, it exceeds Dexter's specifications and because it's synthetic I feel comfortable going a little longer between inspections and repacking. This is only my second time repacking and the grease and bearings looked new. I don't have the EZ Lube axles.
If you need to repack or replace the seals, repack bearings, the bearing packers listed below do a better job and less mess too.
KD Bearing Packer
Lisle Bearing Packer
Be sure you don't over tighten the bearings if you do repack them. Best way to do this is to repack the bearings, replace the seal, apply a thin layer of grease on the spindle, re-install the hub (on the spindle), install outer bearing, washer, nut, hand tighten with pliers-channel locks-adjustable wrench-etc, spin the hub a few times, hand tighten the nut again, spin the hub again. After all that back off of the nut until the cotter pin slides into the hole on the spindle, most of the time you can actually rock the nut back and forth a little after the cotter pin is installed.....you don't want it to be too tight. Install the dust cap and spin the hub a few times, if you did it right, there will be a little back and forth play (the play should be barely noticeable....not sloppy/loose) when you grab the hub/drum on either side and wiggle it. This play is more noticeable if you install the wheel and wiggle it while the wheel/tire is off the ground.
