Dexter EZ Lubes, use or not?
My TT has Dexter EZ Lube bearings/axles. The video on their web site show that the bearings can be "re-packed" without removing the wheels/seals/bearings in the traditional manner. However, some fol...
Forum Discussion
Not! Nope, never, not a chance...
You should periodically remove drum - then inspect brakes, then remove old grease and inspect bearings and then repack by hand using new seals. If you don't, how are you going to know what the condition the bearings, seals and brakes are in? Besides, the EZ lube feature just does not work well. Sometimes the bearings weren't lubed correctly lubed or seals correctly installed at the manufacturer and sometimes dealers add grease via the EZ Lube grease zerk on new trailers and cause problems. The photo below is courtesy anothr forum member and shows what the cheap Chinese bearings can look like. The owner of a local frame & axle shop has one just like it on display on his counter.
Two out of 3 new TTs we've owned had leaking seals and bearing problems from new and both had grease on the brakes. The second time I discovered there was a problem was at the end of the 2nd season (on current TT) after finding that one bearing was running much warmer than the others. Also found leaking seals and grease on the brake shoes. Although it still had life left on the factory warranty, I ended up installing new US-made Timken bearings and hand packing. The dealer already messed it up once and decided it's better to take care of it myself. EZ Lube is just another sales gimmick like "outdoor showers" and "bumper sewer hose storage" features.
You should periodically remove drum - then inspect brakes, then remove old grease and inspect bearings and then repack by hand using new seals. If you don't, how are you going to know what the condition the bearings, seals and brakes are in? Besides, the EZ lube feature just does not work well. Sometimes the bearings weren't lubed correctly lubed or seals correctly installed at the manufacturer and sometimes dealers add grease via the EZ Lube grease zerk on new trailers and cause problems. The photo below is courtesy anothr forum member and shows what the cheap Chinese bearings can look like. The owner of a local frame & axle shop has one just like it on display on his counter.
Two out of 3 new TTs we've owned had leaking seals and bearing problems from new and both had grease on the brakes. The second time I discovered there was a problem was at the end of the 2nd season (on current TT) after finding that one bearing was running much warmer than the others. Also found leaking seals and grease on the brake shoes. Although it still had life left on the factory warranty, I ended up installing new US-made Timken bearings and hand packing. The dealer already messed it up once and decided it's better to take care of it myself. EZ Lube is just another sales gimmick like "outdoor showers" and "bumper sewer hose storage" features.
