Wheel Bearing Question

I'll pass along some of what I found out from Dexter. A good company I might add, where the customer is still part of their business.

In talking with their tech service I asked the question on why put the EZ lube feature on a TT or a 5er? The answer I got was interesting. They know one of the leading causes of axle death is lack of lube of the bearings. They went on that the average person never even looks at the running gear, less grease them on any type of frequency. By bringing the EZ lube into trailers other then the boats they were made for, gave the axle a better chance the owner may actually give the bearing some lube giving it a chance to survive. A point I never considered that the issue was this bad. So there is part of the reason EZ lube shows up on TT's.

Now what do I do? I do all my own service. Including installing and aligning my new axles to meet and be well inside dexters spec here in my own yard. Proper axle alignment on a TT is a whole other topic. I use quality name brand grease and I hand pack so "I" know what I have. Even though I bought my new axle tubes with the Ultra lube (alko's version of EZ lube) prep but I do not use it. I have it in case on a very long trip out west 5,000 miles from home I need to add grease from bad dusty conditions etc. I have yet to use it.

Since I have done the re-pack I have no issues going beyond a year. Even 3 years but that would be it. Don't trust the brake any more then that. The grease from my hand pack still has good grease on both sides of the bearing after 3 years. It's not hard, it is quality grease. BUT, I know what I have. There are no short cuts taken and I use quality double lip seals when ever the wheel comes off. If I had to hire this out, I would not trust it like this.

And yes, I too bring parts and grease in the camper to do an axle job on the side of the road. Hope I never need to use it.

I upgraded to self adjusting brakes when I put the new axles in. So they are always up in adjustment. Between the self adjusters and the #10 gage star pattern wiring upgrade right to each wheel, I have as good as I feel I can get on a brake drum setup.

Observation is key. When on long trip, every time the truck stops for gas, the camper gets a walk around. Hubs felt for temp, look for wicking grease, look at the tires, look at the hitch. Amazing what you can find just looking. Stuff happens. But doing the simple looking can go a long way to catching issue before big problem come.

The once a year recommendation from the manufactures, they have to give something that is reasonable and fits what the open public can handle. Remember one of the causes of axle death? lack of lube. Not that it fly's out, that it doesn't get done. If a manufacture was to give 3 years, they may never get grease...

I will say a brand new axle wants and needs a look and repack no more than the 1st year. No way would I trust the modern day axle lube job from the factory. All 6 of the trailers I bought, cargo and TT all had bare minimum grease in the bearings. When I bought the 6 x 12 cargo trailer, the dealer even said, don't go too long on your 1st greasing. I was shocked it was so light. Then I got use to it not coming when new.

Axle greasing is an individual thing. Do what you feel is right for you and you can trust.

PS. This is the wheel off my camper I bought used, hand packed bearings. I bought this camper from a state that does annual required inspections. Odds are high when they pull the wheel for brake inspection, pull it look and put in back on. No new seal. Well that nicked the seal and you get this. Again I trust no ones work other then my own or someone I have taught or who taught me.

trail-explorer wrote:

bfast54 wrote:
In the spring I rotate the wheels for awhile to get the bearings, grease heated up and I choose a warm day ----and I pump in new grease into my EZ Lube hubs.

How do you rotate them enough to get them warm, while the trailer is up on blocks?

Pretty simple, choose a WARM DAY, you know sun shining on hubs


Or,use an Electric motor,with something grippy on the shaft.........Hold up against tread...tire spins.

When you are a do it yourselfer...who has rebuilt many trucks,maintained vehicles...you get Creative.:W

For those comparing trailer bearings to auto/truck wheel bearings, remember your TT has fixed axle(s) that create very different forces

Think about how your TT's tires twist and flex during turns. Your bearings are on the receiving end of all that torque.

Highway 4x4 wrote:
A bearing buddy is a spring loaded device that puts the greese to the front bearing first and then out the back. There is usually no brakes on a small boat trailer. The EZ lube puts the grease to the rear bearing first then out the front. Dexter said do not use the power grease guns on them. Yes if the rear seal leaks, big problems. The Dexter Never Lube bearing are good for 100K or 5 years so why are the EZ lubes have to be inspected and repacked every year? Don't get me started on that Never Lube bearing, not a good system as the inner and outer bearings are next to each other and they have to be pressed out and in. EZ lube is better and stronger. Catching a bad bearing on the yearly inspection is rare as when they go bad, the go quick and just eat everythig up quick. That's why I have a TPMS system that also tells me the temp. Just one more hope of catching it before it turns the dust. My TT is a year old with < 10K miles on it so a pump or two this year then a tear-down next year. I really think under normal conditions the bearings should go for 3-4 years easy.

Good post. I also think for many RV users, a good grease job will last several years. On a new trailer, you need to check the amount of grease from the factory. If the EZ-lubes have not been used, it will take many pumps to fill, before the grease starts to come out the front. After the first filling of the hubs, like mentioned above, a few pumps will move the grease out the front.

I don't pull the hubs every season to check the brakes either, unless there is a change in braking to indicate the need to do so. I adjust them as needed. At some point, depending on use, you need to pull the hubs, check the brakes, and clean, inspect, and hand pack the bearings.

Jerry

A bearing buddy is a spring loaded device that puts the greese to the front bearing first and then out the back. There is usually no brakes on a small boat trailer. The EZ lube puts the grease to the rear bearing first then out the front. Dexter said do not use the power grease guns on them. Yes if the rear seal leaks, big problems. The Dexter Never Lube bearing are good for 100K or 5 years so why are the EZ lubes have to be inspected and repacked every year? Don't get me started on that Never Lube bearing, not a good system as the inner and outer bearings are next to each other and they have to be pressed out and in. EZ lube is better and stronger. Catching a bad bearing on the yearly inspection is rare as when they go bad, the go quick and just eat everythig up quick. That's why I have a TPMS system that also tells me the temp. Just one more hope of catching it before it turns the dust. My TT is a year old with < 10K miles on it so a pump or two this year then a tear-down next year. I really think under normal conditions the bearings should go for 3-4 years easy.

The cartridge bearings in most new vehicles (on front axles) is a totally different animal than a trailer bearing. The construction is not the same, hence, wear and durability are also different.

Mileage effects the service interval as grease deteriorates with the forces endured by the bearings. If you had a new bearing set that had an adeuate amount of grease and only rolled the axles a few feet every year, there would be no need to repack at yearly intervals. Storage doesn't effect bearing condition greatly, even if you park on the beach. A few years ago I dug a loaded boat trailer out of a swamp. The boat and trailer had sunk to the point that the wheels were mostly underground. I pulled the wheels and hubs, cleaned the bearings, repacked the bearings and went about hauling it home. I believe it sat submerged for over ten years.

I'm in agreement with some here that annual repacking of RV bearings may not be necessary. BUT, observation is the key to good servicing and you can't observe what you can't see. If nothing else, removing the hubs will give an owner a clue as to the condition of the brake parts and that isn't a bad thing. It's easier to replace a worn magnet or brake pad than buy a new drum or have an accident.

FWIW, I was servicing wheel bearings back in the days when all vehicles had serviceable bearings. That was before some were born :B.

OH48Lt wrote:
It all depends on your individual situation. If you put a lot of highway miles on your trailer, you need to repack a little more often than normal. If you immerse your hubs in water, you'd be wise to repack. If you are only going 5000 miles a year, it is not necessary to repack every year.

Exactly opposite what I have always heard. I wish we could hear the truth from the manufacturers. I have always been told that using the trailer regularly keeps the grease distributed in the bearings and therefore they don't need to be checked as often. Letting the trailer sit "squishes" the grease away from the load point leaving metal on metal contact. This causes the bearings to get wear spots and need to be repacked more often. Does anyone know the truth? I have repacked every other year for years without any problems but most manuals say to repack every year.

Lynnmor wrote:

4X4Dodger wrote:
nobody ever thinks of repacking their cars wheel bearings every year. And it's wheels are subjected to the same if not tougher conditions than a trailers.I cannot find a single reason to do this yearly re pack.

Bring a trailer bearing along to an auto parts store. Ask to see a wheel bearing for your truck. Now ask yourself "What could possibly go wrong"

The issue is RE PACKING not bearing strength. Re packing is an issue of loss of grease or degradation of the grease or contamination. There are differences in bearings of course. But simply repacking will NOT make your bearing stronger.

But essentially the two bearing types are the same. They see the same forces (in varying degrees) and types of wear. They are both lubricated either by grease or oil and they perform the same function.

If you feel that the Quality of the bearings is bad then replace them. But the issue is the same, I dont believe there is a need to repack them every 12 months.

bfast54 wrote:
In the spring I rotate the wheels for awhile to get the bearings, grease heated up and I choose a warm day ----and I pump in new grease into my EZ Lube hubs.

How do you rotate them enough to get them warm, while the trailer is up on blocks?

Well...for what it's worth I put my trailer up in the air (the frame on blocks )every winter.


In the spring I rotate the wheels for awhile to get the bearings, grease heated up and I choose a warm day ----and I pump in new grease into my EZ Lube hubs.

Amazingly enough the old grease comes out (right where its supposed to ) .by using a hand gun I can tell just how much pressures. I use.:W

Not a big deal if you do it like were supposed to.:R

Every other year, I pull one,(in a rotation).....just to see how brakes and seals are.
Now those of you who have problems ----well don't know what to say....:h